Italy Golden visa

Italy offers new golden visa program to non-EU citizens.  Italy is a member state of the EU and also member of Schengen Area.

2017 Budget Law of Italy regulates the entry and residence for investors for the golden visa program (known as investor visa).

• Italy is the 3rd largest economy in the Eurozone and the 8th largest in the world, with a GDP of about 2 trillion dollars (IMF, 2016)
• Italy has been the 2nd largest manufacturing economy in Europe, surpassed only by Germany, and is the 6th-7th top manufacturer in the world
• Italy offers highly competitive machinery and automation, fashion, design, and food sectors with “Made in Italy” brand.
• Italy is a key gateway to the European Single Market and its 500 million consumers
• Italy scores the best in global academia, lead and actively contribute to several European R&D networks.
• Italy offers excellent higher education 20 different universities rank in the top 500 academic institutions in the world
• Italy offers Robust tax credit schemes help companies improve their competitiveness
• Italy is open to foreign direct investment through the Golden visa 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.

• Free movement in the Schengen zone
• Residency 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

Investors under the italian golden visa program qualify for two year residence permit which can then be extended for another 3 three years.

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. Property investment is not allowed under this scheme.

Italy’s Budget Law for 2017 has introduced several measures aimed at bolstering the attractiveness of the country for human and financial capital from abroad.  Article 24-bis of Italy’s Tax Code (TUIR) provides for an optional tax regime that allows new residents to substitute regular taxation on their entire income generated outside Italian territory by paying, once a year, a €100,000 lump sum. The €100,000 substitutive tax is to be paid in one instalment by 30 June of each year. Family members may also be covered by the scheme by paying an additional €25,000 for each dependent.