Established under Article 26-bis of Italy’s Immigration Code, the Investor Visa for Italy (IV4I) is the country’s official residency-by-investment program for non-EU nationals. Italy’s Investor Visa program offers a two-year residence permit for investors, with the option to renew it for an additional three years provided they maintain the qualifying investment in line with official requirements.
Unlike some residency programs, Italy’s Investor Visa has no real estate investment route. Eligible options include government bonds, Italian companies, innovative startups, or donations to projects of public interest
The process involves securing a Nulla Osta from the Investor Visa Committee, applying for a D-visa within six months, entering Italy, and filing for the residence permit at the Questura within eight days. Proof of investment must be provided within three months, in line with the official Phase 2 guidelines.
Summary
- 🇮🇹 The Investor Visa for Italy is a regulated path to residency for non-EU investors (Investor Visa portal).
- 🏠 Real estate purchases are not an eligible investment route.
- 📄 A qualified lawyer can handle PEC filings, sworn translations, consular submissions, and renewals to prevent costly mistakes.
- 🕒 The two-year permit can be renewed for three more years if the investment is maintained (Manuale Operativo).
- ⏳ Strict deadlines apply, including the eight-day Questura filing and three-month investment proof requirement.
- 💼 Choosing the right legal partner can streamline the process and safeguard your long-term residency goals.
Working with a trusted Italian Golden Visa lawyer ensures your application meets every legal requirement while providing expert legal assistance to navigate complex regulations and keep your investment fully compliant.
With the right guidance, you can focus on building your future in Italy without navigating complex procedures alone.
Italy Golden Visa (Investor Visa IV4I) Overview
The Investor Visa for Italy (IV4I) is a golden visa program designed for non-EU nationals who wish to live in Italy while making a qualifying investment, offering a structured path to residency and long-term settlement.
Its primary purpose is to attract foreign capital and support strategic economic initiatives within the country.The investor's residence permit is initially valid for two years and can be renewed for a further three years if the minimum investment is maintained throughout the initial term, in line with official program rules.
The Process at a Glance
Following these steps in the correct order is essential, as missing a single deadline in the Italy Golden Visa process can delay your application or even result in its refusal.
How an Italian Golden Visa Lawyer Helps?
The Investor Visa for Italy is a legal process with firm deadlines, formal requirements, and procedural nuances that require careful attention.
Many applicants choose to work with consultancy firms for strategic planning and general guidance while also engaging a qualified lawyer to handle the legal representation needed before Italian authorities and ensure full compliance with Italian immigration law, which governs every stage of the Investor Visa application.
An Italian Golden Visa lawyer works alongside your broader advisory team, acting as the central figure for legal, procedural, and compliance matters, and guiding you through each stage of the application with precision.
Their work typically includes:
By managing these steps, a lawyer helps ensure your application meets every legal requirement, reducing the risk of delays or compliance issues.
Their involvement allows you to focus on your investment and relocation plans while having confidence that the legal side is in expert hands.
Where DIY Fails vs What a Specialist Lawyer Does
In short, a specialist lawyer bridges the gap between meeting basic requirements and achieving a smooth, delay-free approval, ensuring your investment and residency plans stay on track from start to finish.
Investment Routes That Qualify (and What Doesn’t)
The Investor Visa for Italy recognises four main types of qualifying investments, each with its own thresholds, conditions, and proof requirements.
- 💶 Italian Government Bonds – €2,000,000
Must be Italian government securities purchased directly and held for the full qualifying period. Evidence includes purchase contracts, ISIN documentation, and proof of transfer. - 🏢 Italian Company Equity – €500,000
Shares must be purchased in an existing Italian company that meets official eligibility criteria. Proof includes the share purchase agreement and a registry extract showing ownership. - 💡 Innovative Startup Equity – €250,000
This equity investment is in a company that is listed in the official innovative startup registry. Evidence includes the share purchase agreement and confirmation of a registry listing. - 🎭 Donation (Public Interest) – €1,000,000
The donation is an irrevocable contribution to a project that has received approval in areas such as culture, education, scientific research, or cultural heritage. Proof includes donation receipts and beneficiary confirmation.
The Investor Visa for Italy offers flexibility for investors by providing multiple qualifying routes. Each option is designed to contribute to the Italian economy in specific ways, whether through direct capital infusion, supporting innovation, or funding public interest projects that promote sustainable growth.
Application Process & Timeline
Securing Italy’s Investor Visa follows a set sequence. The moving parts are simple on paper, yet each one has rules, windows, and paperwork that must be in sync.
This section shows who does what, when to act, and what to bring to your first call so momentum never stalls.
Who is involved
- You, the applicant: choose the investment route, gather documents, travel to Italy, and keep the investment in place.
- Your lawyer: plans the legal pathway, prepares submissions on the committee portal, handles consulate packs, files at the Questura, and manages renewals.
- Investor Visa Committee: reviews your Nulla Osta request and validates proof of investment.
- Italian consulate: issues the D-visa after the Nulla Osta.
- Questura (police HQ): receives your residence-permit application within eight days of arrival.
- Your bank and counterparties: complete KYC, open the account, execute the investment, issue official evidence.
Sequence with the key clocks
- Pre-check and planning: confirm the route, sources of funds, and family set-up.
- Committee stage: submit the Nulla Osta request on the official portal and wait for clearance.
- Consulate stage: within 6 months, use the Nulla Osta to apply for the D-visa.
- Arrival in Italy: enter with the D-visa and file at the Questura within 8 days.
- Investment window: complete the qualifying investment within 3 months of entry and upload proof to the portal.
- Validation and card: the committee validates, then the residence card is issued.
Following these steps in the correct order is essential, since missing a single deadline can delay your application or even result in refusal.
Required Documents
Bring the core items so your consult is efficient and your case can start immediately:
After approval and renewal
Keep the qualifying investment at or above the threshold, track renewal windows well in advance, and expect to evidence continuous compliance when you move to the next permit term. A short annual check-in with your lawyer keeps everything tidy.
Path to Permanent Residence & Citizenship
If you maintain your investment, the Italy Investor Visa grants a two-year residence permit, renewable for an additional three years. But it’s not the end of the journey; here’s how real settlement unfolds:
EU Long-Term Residence (Permanent)
After five years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for the Permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo, effectively a long-term or “permanent” resident status under EU rules. Requirements typically include:
- Stable and self-sufficient income
- Suitable housing
- Basic integration requirements include achieving an Italian language proficiency level of at least A2.
Importantly, absences from Italy generally must not exceed six months at a stretch, or ten months in total over the five years.
Italian Citizenship by Naturalisation
After ten years of legal residency, you may apply for Italian citizenship through naturalisation, provided you:
- Have no serious criminal record
- Meet tax compliance and legal criteria
- Demonstrate Italian language proficiency at approximately the B1 level.
This process grants full civil and political rights, including voting and an Italian passport.
Family Members, Work Rights & Keeping Your Status
The Investor Visa for Italy allows certain family members to join you under the same residency status, provided they meet eligibility requirements and their applications are submitted correctly.
- Who counts as family: Spouses or registered partners, dependent children (including those over 18 if financially dependent), and dependent parents.
- When to add them: Family members can be included in the initial visa application or added later, after you have obtained your investor residence permit.
- Work rights: The investor residence permit grants both you and your eligible family members the right to work in Italy.
- Travel rights: Holders can travel visa free within the Schengen Area for short stays, following standard Schengen rules.
- Renewal triggers: To renew, you must maintain your qualifying investment, meet stay requirements, and submit renewal applications within the official deadlines.
Banking, KYC & Getting a Codice Fiscale
Before you can make your qualifying investment, you will need to complete several administrative steps. These processes verify your identity, confirm the legitimacy of your funds, and establish your legal presence in Italy.
Italian banks apply strict anti-money laundering (AML) and politically exposed person (PEP) checks for Investor Visa applicants. You should expect to provide a detailed Source of Funds (SOF) file, which may include contracts, bank statements, notarial deeds, and other documentation that clearly trace the origin of your capital.
Banks may also request certified translations or apostilles, depending on the jurisdiction of your documents.
A Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code) is essential for opening an Italian bank account and completing your investment. You can obtain it:
- Abroad: Through your nearest Italian consulate, such as the Italian Consulate in New York, submit the required form and identification.
- In Italy: directly at the Agenzia delle Entrate or through the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione.
Practical Tips
- It is advisable to initiate the Codice Fiscale process early, as bank onboarding cannot proceed without it.
- Choose a bank familiar with foreign investor accounts to avoid prolonged KYC checks.
- Keep digital and tangible copies of all evidence, as you will need to submit proof of the completed investment to the Investor Visa Committee.
Steps at a Glance
- Obtain your Codice Fiscale.
- Complete bank onboarding and pass KYC checks.
- Execute your qualifying investment.
- Gather and submit official evidence to the Investor Visa Committee.
Sanctions & Restricted Nationalities (2025 Watch-Outs)
The Investor Visa for Italy operates under national and EU-level compliance rules. These rules can change quickly in response to geopolitical events, which makes it vital to confirm your eligibility before committing to an application.
As of August 2025, the program will be suspended for citizens of Russia and Belarus. This measure follows the European Commission’s Recommendation C(2022) 2028, which called for the suspension of investor residence schemes for nationals of countries involved in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The restriction applies to:
- The Investor Visa Committee will not accept any new applications from Russian or Belarusian citizens.
- Existing permit holders from these nationalities will not be able to renew their investor residence permits.
While Russia and Belarus are the only nationalities currently subject to a full suspension, applicants from other countries under EU sanctions or restrictive measures could also face additional scrutiny, delays, or rejection.
Any changes in EU foreign policy can directly impact programme eligibility, as the Investor Visa Committee aligns its decisions with Italy's obligations under EU law. Seek confirmation before initiating the process if you are uncertain about the impact on your nationality or anticipate potential policy changes.
This prevents unnecessary investment planning, avoids blocked applications, and ensures you can explore alternative residency routes if needed.
How to Choose the Right Italian Lawyer
Selecting the right immigration lawyer for your Investor Visa application can be the difference between a smooth, timely approval and months of costly delays, especially when navigating Italy’s specific residency-by-investment requirements.
A qualified lawyer will not only meet the formal requirements to represent you before Italian authorities but will also have the specific experience to manage the Investor Visa for Italy (IV4I) from start to finish.
Use the following screening tool to compare potential lawyers and identify those best suited to your case.
Choosing a lawyer using these criteria ensures your application is handled by someone who is both qualified and experienced, reducing risks at every stage of the process.
Common Pitfalls (and How a Lawyer Prevents Them)
- Missing the 8-day Questura filing or the 3-month investment window. A lawyer calendars both clocks, prepares the pack in advance, and files on time.
- Assuming property qualifies. A lawyer aligns your plan with the program’s only eligible routes and documents the chosen option correctly.
- Weak Source-of-Funds file. A lawyer builds a traceable money trail, secures sworn translations or apostilles where needed, and closes gaps before submission.
- Consulate packs mismatched local requirements. A lawyer tailors forms, photos, proofs, and appointment scheduling to the specific consulate so nothing bounces.
- The renewal process either started too late or the investment was not properly maintained. A lawyer monitors validity dates, confirms holdings meet thresholds, and prepares the renewal dossier on time.
A good rule of thumb: confirm the rule, calendar the deadline, and evidence every step. Your lawyer makes sure all three happen.
Pricing & Engagement Models
Most firms price the Italy Investor Visa on two models: per-phase fixed fees for each step or an end-to-end retainer covering the full journey, ensuring you receive continuous legal services from initial planning through final approval.
Keep the scope tight and confirm what is and is not included in writing.
What to expect
- Engagement models include per-phase fixed fees and end-to-end retainers.
- Indicative legal fees: public quotes commonly land around €5,000–€10,000 for an end-to-end file, depending on family size and complexity. Some providers publish figures around €11,250 as an estimate.
- Consultation calls: many Italian Immigration law firms charge between €250 and €500 for paid consultations to assess consultations to assess your case before a full engagement.
- State fees: residence-permit and card issuance are modest by EU standards, roughly €100–€130 per person in administrative and card costs. Figures vary by source and locality.
- Usually included: committee portal handling, consulate pack prep, Questura filing support, and basic follow-ups.
- Usually excluded: sworn translations, apostilles, couriers, notary work, bank charges.
Bottom line: choose per-phase if you want modular control and simple facts; pick a retainer if you want one accountable team from planning to card-in-hand.
How Does Movinto Come in Hand
We act as your lawyers from day one. Your Investor Visa file is prepared and filed by our licensed legal team, with every stage handled in-house or by Italy-qualified counsel where required. One team. One timeline. Clear accountability.
We map your route, set the clocks, and keep the file moving through committee, consulate, and Questura without drama. You track everything online, speak directly with the people doing the work, and get practical guidance when it matters.
If you want a plan you can trust, we will outline your path, align the investment, and keep momentum to approval and renewal. When you are ready, we are here.
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