Italy is the 3rd largest economy in the Eurozone and the 8th largest in the world. Italy one of the founding members of the European Union and also participates in the Schengen area.
2017 Budget Law of Italy regulates the entry and residence for investors for the golden visa program (known as Italian investor visa).
Third country citizens and foreign investors under the italian golden visa program qualify for two year residence permit which can then be extended for another 3 three years, if the investment is maintained.
Benefits
- Visa free movement in the Schengen zone
- Residency by investment in Europe
- Family and children qualify for italian residence permit.
- Permanent settlement in Italy after five years
- Italian passport after 10 years of uninterrupted living.
- Tax advantages
Italian golden visa program is not open to EU/EEA citizens
Investment conditions
The investment minimums to qualify for italian golden visa are
- € 500,000 in an Italian innovative startup
- € 1 million in an Italian limited company
- € 1 million in a philanthropic initiative
- € 2 million in Italian government bonds
The investments must be kept in Italy for the duration of validity of residence permit.
Real estate investment do not qualify under this scheme.
Italian passport is rated one the #3 powerful european passport in the world with visa free access to 175 countries, according to 2018 Henley visa index.