Italy Investor Visa and Citizenship by Investment 2026

📅 June 10, 2026⏱ 8 min read✍️ CitizenshipByInvestmentPro

Italy offers multiple pathways for investors seeking residency and eventually citizenship. The Italy Investor Visa — also known as the Italy Golden Visa — provides a legal route to Italian residency through qualifying investments in Italian companies, government bonds, innovative startups, or philanthropic contributions to Italian culture.

For full program details including current investment thresholds, processing timelines, and requirements, see our Italy program page.

Italy Investor Visa Options

The Italy Investor Visa offers four qualifying investment routes. Investment in an Italian innovative startup requires EUR 250,000. Investment in an Italian company requires EUR 500,000. Investment in Italian government bonds requires EUR 2,000,000. Philanthropic donations supporting Italian culture, education, or immigration requires EUR 1,000,000. Each route grants a two-year renewable residency permit.

Italy Flat Tax Regime

One of the most attractive aspects of Italian residency for high-net-worth individuals is the flat tax regime introduced in 2017. Qualifying new residents can pay a flat annual tax of EUR 100,000 on all foreign-sourced income regardless of the amount. This is particularly attractive for investors with significant investment income from outside Italy.

Pathway to Italian Citizenship

Italian citizenship through naturalization requires ten years of legal residency for non-EU nationals. However, Italy also has one of the most generous citizenship by descent programs in the world, with no generational limit in many cases. Investors with Italian ancestry may be able to claim citizenship by descent far more quickly and cost-effectively than through the investor visa pathway.

Living in Italy

Beyond the investment and legal requirements, Italy offers an exceptional quality of life — world-class cuisine, culture, healthcare, and lifestyle that makes it one of the most desirable destinations for relocating high-net-worth individuals. For investors who genuinely want to live in Europe, Italy combines lifestyle excellence with competitive tax planning opportunities.