ITALY RESIDENCY

A European Residency
Pathway Through
Qualifying Investment.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Italy’s Investor Visa provides a route for qualifying
non-EU nationals seeking to establish residency through
an eligible investment or philanthropic contribution.

The programme can form part of a wider international
strategy for individuals and families considering Italy
as a European base while maintaining interests across
multiple jurisdictions.

The appropriate investment route should be considered
alongside the applicant’s objectives, circumstances
and longer-term plans.

LOCATION

Italy


European Union · Schengen Area

PROGRAMME

Investor Visa


Residency through qualifying investment

INITIAL PERMIT

2 Years


Subject to programme requirements

INVESTMENT ROUTES

Four Routes


Investment or qualifying contribution

WHY ITALY

A European Base
With Global
Perspective.

Italy combines access to one of Europe’s largest
economies with an established international lifestyle,
offering investors and families a distinctive base
from which to pursue wider European objectives.

EUROPEAN POSITION

At the Heart
of Europe

Establish a residence position in an EU and
Schengen country with connections across the
wider European market.

INVESTMENT CHOICE

Different Routes
to Qualifying

Consider several qualifying investment categories,
allowing the route to be assessed alongside the
applicant’s broader objectives.

INTERNATIONAL LIFESTYLE

Live Within a Globally
Connected Country

Combine residency with access to Italy’s major
cities, international connections and distinctive
European lifestyle.

LONGER-TERM PERSPECTIVE

Build Beyond the
Initial Permit

Consider the initial residency decision within
the context of family circumstances and
longer-term international plans.

QUALIFYING INVESTMENT

Four Routes to
Investment in Italy.

Italy’s Investor Visa framework provides four qualifying
investment categories. The appropriate route should be
considered in relation to the applicant’s objectives,
circumstances and wider investment strategy.

01
FROM
€250,000
INNOVATION

Italian Innovative
Startup

Investment in an innovative startup incorporated
and operating in Italy, subject to the applicable
programme requirements.

02
FROM
€500,000
ITALIAN BUSINESS

Italian Limited
Company

Investment in a qualifying limited company
incorporated and operating in Italy.

03
FROM
€1,000,000
PHILANTHROPY

Philanthropic
Initiative

A qualifying philanthropic donation supporting
an eligible public-interest initiative in Italy.

04
FROM
€2,000,000
GOVERNMENT BONDS

Italian Government
Bonds

Investment in qualifying bonds issued by the
Italian Republic in accordance with the
programme requirements.

IMPORTANT

The investment or donation must satisfy the requirements
applicable to the selected category. Eligibility and the
proposed investment structure should be reviewed before
any financial commitment is made.

THE APPLICATION JOURNEY

From Initial
Application to
Italian Residency.

The Investor Visa process moves through a defined
sequence before and after arrival in Italy. Careful
coordination of the application, visa, residence
formalities and qualifying investment is therefore
important from the outset.

Universal helps coordinate the different stages of
the process, working alongside appropriate professional
advisers where specialist support is required.

01
INITIAL APPLICATION

Prepare & Submit the Application

Prepare the required information and supporting
documentation and submit the Investor Visa
application through the official programme portal.

02
NULLA OSTA

Obtain Programme Approval

Following assessment by the Investor Visa for
Italy Committee, an approved application receives
the Nulla Osta required for the visa stage.

03
INVESTOR VISA

Complete the Visa Formalities

Use the Nulla Osta to proceed with the Investor
Visa application through the appropriate Italian
diplomatic representation.

04
ARRIVAL IN ITALY

Apply for the Residence Permit

After entering Italy with the Investor Visa,
proceed with the required formalities for the
investor residence permit.

RESIDENCE-PERMIT APPLICATION · WITHIN 8 DAYS

05
QUALIFYING INVESTMENT

Complete & Evidence the Investment

Complete the investment or donation declared
during the application and provide the required
evidence through the programme process.

INVESTMENT / DONATION · WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF ARRIVAL

PROCESS NOTE

Documentation, timing and procedural requirements may vary
according to individual circumstances and the requirements
applicable at the time of application.

LIVING & INVESTING IN ITALY

More Than a
Residence Permit.

Establishing residency in Italy can be part of a much wider
decision about where to live, invest and build longer-term
international connections.

EUROPEAN BASE

Establish a Position in Italy

Consider residency within the context of Italy’s place
in Europe and the role the country may play in your
wider international plans.

INVESTMENT

Connect Residency With Investment

Assess the qualifying investment alongside its purpose,
structure and relationship to your broader financial
objectives.

LIFESTYLE

Consider the Life Around the Permit

Location, family circumstances and how you intend to
engage with Italy can be as important as the residence
process itself.

Residency, investment, tax and family considerations may require
different forms of specialist advice. Universal can coordinate
with the appropriate professional advisers where required.

FAMILY & LONGER-TERM PLANNING

Consider Italy
Within the Context
of Your Wider Plans.

Establishing residency can affect more than where an
individual is permitted to live. Family circumstances,
international mobility and longer-term objectives should
all form part of the wider discussion.

The right residency strategy should reflect the
life and international position it is intended
to support.

FAMILY

Plan With the Wider Family in Mind

Consider how the applicant’s residency plans relate
to the circumstances and objectives of accompanying
or connected family members.

INTERNATIONAL POSITION

Consider Where Italy Fits

Review the role Italy is intended to play alongside
existing residences, business interests and
connections in other jurisdictions.

LONGER-TERM PERSPECTIVE

Look Beyond the Initial Permit

Consider future residence objectives and other
longer-term implications before approaching the
immediate application as an isolated decision.

UNIVERSAL ADVISORY

Bringing the Wider
Residency Decision
Into Focus.

Establishing residency in Italy can involve investment,
immigration, family and wider international considerations.
Universal helps clients bring these elements together within
a clearer overall framework.


DISCOVER UNIVERSAL  →

OUR APPROACH
01
DEFINE THE OBJECTIVE

Start With the Wider Picture

Understand what the residency decision is intended
to achieve before considering the appropriate
investment and application pathway.

02
COORDINATE THE PROCESS

Bring the Moving Parts Together

Coordinate the residency process with the qualifying
investment and the appropriate professional advisers
where specialist expertise is required.

03
LOOK BEYOND THE APPLICATION

Keep the Longer-Term Plan in View

Consider family circumstances, international
mobility and longer-term objectives alongside
the immediate residence application.

PRIVATE CONSULTATION

Considering Residency
in Italy?

Every residency decision begins with a different set
of circumstances. Speak with Universal about your
objectives, the available pathways and the wider
considerations relevant to your plans.


REQUEST A PRIVATE CONSULTATION  →

UNIVERSAL
ITALY
RESIDENCY
ADVISORY

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Programme requirements, qualifying investment thresholds,
eligibility criteria and processing arrangements may change.
Information on this page is provided for general informational
purposes and should not be treated as legal, tax or investment
advice. Individual circumstances should be reviewed before
any decision or financial commitment is made.

Where specialist or jurisdiction-specific advice is required,
Universal can coordinate with appropriate professional advisers.