Italy Investor Visa 2026: thresholds and eligibility
Italy's Investor Visa is not a property programme: it rewards capital put into Italian startups, companies, government bonds or philanthropy. The visa is issued after a ministry committee approves the investment plan — and it is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens.
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🇮🇹 Italy · Investor Visa
| Min investment | €250,000 |
|---|---|
| Routes | €250K innovative startup; €500K Italian company / VC fund; €2M government bonds; €1M philanthropy; held 2 yrs |
| Time to citizenship | ~10 yrs of residence (general rule)being verified |
| RU/BY passports | Suspended for RU/BY citizens, including RU/BY dual nationals |
| Official source | |
| Last checked |
Last checked:
Not legal advice. Rules change — verify with the official source.
Who it suits
- You want to build or back an Italian business, not buy property.
- Your passport is not Russian or Belarusian (including dual nationality).
- You can keep the investment for at least two years.
Who it doesn't suit
- You hold an RU or BY passport — the programme is suspended for you.
- You expect property to qualify — it does not.
- You need a passport soon — citizenship follows the general residence rule.
Russian and Belarusian passports
The Investor Visa is officially suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, and the suspension also covers dual nationals. Do not plan a startup or bond investment on this route with an RU/BY passport.
Steps
- Confirm passport eligibility (RU/BY excluded) and choose the asset class.
- Prepare the investment plan and proof of funds for the online nulla osta application.
- Get committee approval, then apply for the visa at the Italian consulate.
- Make the investment within three months of arrival and apply for the permesso di soggiorno.
- Hold the investment for at least two years to renew.
FAQ
Is the Italy golden visa open in 2026?
Yes for most nationalities, through the Investor Visa portal run by the Ministry of Enterprises. It is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens.
What is the minimum investment?
€250,000 in an innovative startup; €500,000 in an Italian company or VC fund; €1,000,000 in philanthropy; €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds. Real estate does not qualify.
Can Russian or Belarusian citizens apply?
No. The programme is suspended for RU/BY citizens, including people who also hold another passport.
How long until citizenship?
There is no investor shortcut. Citizenship follows the general naturalisation rule for non-EU nationals, usually around 10 years of legal residence — we are re-verifying this row against the official text.
How long does processing take?
The ministry committee reviews the nulla osta first; the consular visa and the residence permit follow. Budget several months end-to-end and check the official portal for current times.
Do I need to live in Italy?
The visa leads to a residence permit, and renewals depend on keeping the investment. Citizenship counts real legal residence, so living elsewhere slows the passport clock.
Investment qualifier · step 2
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The result is a preliminary shortlist to review: matching, not a ranking of the “best” programmes and not an eligibility confirmation.