پارکس

Residency in Italy Through Investment – GOLDEN VISA

There are 4 different ways to obtain residency in Italy through investment. Residency covers the applicant, their spouse, children under 17, and parents over 65 who are financially dependent on the applicant. The difference between these 4 methods lies in the amount and type of investment.

Introduction

Italy, the most beautiful country in Europe, has a lot to offer: delicious cuisine, lakes, beaches, mountains, and an excellent location in Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. With its abundance of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Italy is a great place to live. Additionally, thanks to its prime geographical location, Italy offers easy access to other parts of Europe and the world. If you want to live in the heart of Europe and experience Italy’s vibrant and joyful culture, the Italian Golden Visa program, also known as the Italy Investment Visa, could be ideal for you.

What is Italy’s Golden Visa?

Italy’s Golden Visa (Golden Visa Italy), also known as the “Italy Investment Visa,” is an immigration program that allows foreign investors to obtain residency in exchange for a significant investment in Italy’s economy. Introduced in 2017, the program aims to attract foreign investment to boost the country’s economic growth. The application process is straightforward, although it requires careful attention to details and a clear understanding of the investment routes and legal requirements.

The 4 Methods of Italy’s Golden Visa

To obtain this visa, you must choose one of the following investment options:

1. Investment in an Innovative Startup (Innovative Startup)
  • Investment Amount: Minimum €250,000
  • Requirements: The applicant must purchase shares or a portion of an innovative startup. The company must be active, operational, and listed as an innovative startup in Italy (official list published by the Ministry of Economic Development at registroimprese.it).
  • Explanation: A startup refers to companies and businesses whose activities are based on creative work—mostly focused on modern technology topics—contributing to the country’s growth. The company must be newly established and less than 5 years old.
  • Advantage: The minimum investment required in this method is lower compared to other options.
2. Investment in an Italian Company
  • Investment Amount: Minimum €500,000
  • Requirements: The investment must be made in a limited liability company that is active in Italy, has at least 3 years of operation, and shows positive profitability. The Italian company must not be listed on the Italian stock exchange. The residency application must be submitted before making the investment. The company can be public or private, limited liability or a joint-stock company.
3. Investment in Italian Government Bonds
  • Investment Amount: Minimum €2 million
  • Requirements: You must purchase Italian government bonds for a minimum period of 2 years.
  • Advantages: Your investment is guaranteed by the Italian government; the principal and interest are secured. You receive interest every 3 months, with an average net annual return of €80,000 per €2 million invested. Additional bonuses and incentives are awarded to investors each year.
  • Given all other conditions being equal, government bonds are the lowest-risk option among all program pathways.
Most reputable Italian government bonds:
  • Treasury Certificates (CCT/CCTeu)
  • Zero-Coupon Treasury Bonds (CTZ)
  • Long-Term Treasury Bonds (BTP)
  • Long-Term Treasury Bonds linked to Eurozone Inflation Index (BTP ITALIA.3)
For each type of bond, you must maintain your investment for the entire duration of your temporary residency in Italy. Again, before purchasing any eligible bond, you must submit your application for this type of residency.
4. Donation to a Charitable or Public Benefit Project
  • Investment Amount: Minimum €1 million
  • Requirements: The donation must be allocated to a project in education, culture, environment, migration, scientific research, or the restoration of cultural assets. There is no minimum holding period; you will not recover your investment.

Eligibility Requirements for Italy’s Golden Visa

  • Applicant must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must have the minimum required funds in a bank account under the applicant’s name for one of the 4 chosen investment options.
  • Documents proving that the applicant obtained their capital and income legally.
  • Proof of Financial Means: In addition to the investment amount, you must demonstrate sufficient funds to live in Italy without working. This includes providing bank statements and income documents.
  • Maintain the investment in Italy for the entire duration of residency (at least 2 years).
  • After entering Italy, the applicant must deposit the investment amount within 90 days.

Benefits of Italy’s Golden Visa Residency

  • Residency granted simultaneously to spouse and children
  • Short processing time for obtaining residency
  • Work and study permits for the entire family
  • No minimum stay requirement in Italy for renewing this residency
  • Possibility to obtain permanent residency and a valid Italian passport
  • Special tax benefits for holders of this type of residency

The process of applying for and receiving an Italian Golden Visa

We explain the steps to obtain this type of residence in the following 6 steps:

Contact and consult with PAREX Company, review your conditions, and choose the best investment method.

Our experienced team will guide you in choosing the type of investment and simplify the process.

Step One

Preparing the applicant's documents before applying and officially translating the documents

Step Two

Request and receive a certificate (Nulla Osta) for an Italian investment visa

At this stage, the Golden Visa Committee will respond within 30 days. If your application form and documents are complete, a Nulla Osta certificate will be issued, and if more documents are needed, we have another 30 days to send the said document.

Step Three

Apply for a residence visa from the Italian embassy in the country of residence.

The visa issuance process takes a minimum of 15 days and a maximum of 90 days.

Step Four

Entering Italy and completing the investment

To obtain the 2‑year residence card, registration at the Questura during the first week after entering Italy and completing the selected investment within a maximum of 90 days after arrival is mandatory.

Step Five

Fingerprinting at the Questura

Fingerprinting at the Questura and receiving the 2‑year family residence card within 30 days.

Step Six
Important note: The process of obtaining an investment visa is a complex and highly specialized procedure that requires the cooperation of several experienced teams of investment lawyers, immigration lawyers, international accountants, notaries, share valuation experts, and financial experts.

Documents required for Italy Golden Visa residency

Documents required to obtain a residence permit from the Italian government
  • Passport with at least 2 years of validity for the applicant, spouse, and children under 17
  • Original and translated power of attorney authorizing the company’s lawyer (Parks) to handle the residency process
  • Translated marriage certificate and birth certificates of all family members into Italian
  • A letter of up to 1,000 words explaining the nature of your investment and outlining your previous investment experience
  • CV and background summary of the main applicant, spouse, and children
  • Financial documents including a 6-month bank certificate confirming possession of the investment funds
  • Police clearance certificate (certificate of no criminal record)
Anti-Money Laundering Statement
Your source of funds must be transparent and obtained through legal activities. To prove this, in addition to providing documents confirming the lawful origin of the funds and payment of related taxes, the applicant must obtain a certificate from a financial institution stating that adequate due diligence has been conducted in accordance with international anti-money laundering (AML) standards.
Additional documents to obtain a residence visa from the Italian Embassy
  • All documents mentioned in the previous section
  • Authorization issued by the Italian government for the investment residency
  • Documents proving the applicant’s income for a one-year period prior to the application
  • Hotel reservation or accommodation booking for the initial stay upon arrival in Italy
Documents required in Italy to obtain the original residence card
  • Passport, translated marriage certificate, and birth certificate
  • Italian government investment authorization, as well as the residency visa issued by the Italian Embassy
  • Lease agreement for accommodation in Italy
  • Proof of payment for the purchase of company shares or proof of payment for the purchase of government securities

Costs for applicants to receive an Italian Golden Visa

  • Service fees to Parks for processing the applicant’s residency
  • Travel expenses to Italy (including flights, hotel, and transfer to the destination city)
  • Housing-related costs, including deposit, monthly rent, and agency commission
  • Government fees such as insurance and stamps – approximately €500 per person
  • Document translation and Italian embassy certification – approximately €250
  • Italian embassy visa stamp fee – €120 per person

Residence of spouse and children

Eligible family members may obtain a family visa and residency and can reside in Italy for the same duration as the main applicant.

There are two ways for family members to obtain residency and join the main applicant:

  1. The spouse and children may apply for residency simultaneously with the main applicant.
  2. Alternatively, after the main applicant has obtained residency, their family members can travel to Italy on a tourist visa and then apply for family reunification residency while in Italy.

Family reunification residence for the parents of the main applicant

For parents over 65 years old: Residency can be obtained for parents over 65 in two cases: if they do not have another child in your home country who can take care of them, or if the son or daughter living with them in your home country suffers from a serious and severe illness. For parents under 65 years old: Residency may be granted if the parents are financially dependent on you for their living expenses and do not have another child in their home country.

Extension of investmen

The first residence card for all investment methods is 2 years, the second card is 3 years and the third card will be permanent residence.

Timeline Process

It takes about 3 to 4 months from the date of application to receive a residence visa and travel to Italy. After entering Italy, the process of receiving the first residence card takes about 2 to 4 months.

Permanent residence with the Italian Golden Visa

After 5 years of temporary residency in Italy, you may apply for permanent residency. The requirements for obtaining permanent residency include: holding an A2 level Italian language certificate, residing in Italy, maintaining the initial investment amount required for the investment residency, and having a minimum registered income in Italy sufficient to cover living expenses during the two years prior to applying for permanent residency.

Citizenship and Passport with Italian Golden Visa

The Italian passport ranks second in the world in terms of strength, even higher than the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. It is generally possible to apply for it after 10 years of residence and living in Italy.

The requirements for obtaining Italian citizenship and a passport include: holding a B1 level Italian language certificate, residing in Italy, having no criminal record in Italy or Iran, and demonstrating at least three consecutive years of registered income in Italy sufficient to cover living expenses.

Questions and useful information about the Italian Golden Visa

Does buying property or investing in real estate lead to obtaining Italian golden residency?

جواب: ایتالیا هیچ نوع اقامتی بر مبنای خرید ملک ندارد، اما به صورت غیر مستقیم میتوان در بخش املاک سرمایه گذاری کرد و به واسطه سرمایه گذاری انجام شده اقامت ایتالیا را دریافت کرد. مثلا میتوان بخشی از سهام یا تمام سهام یک شرکت که مالک یک یا چند ملک است را خرید و یا در شرکت های ساختمانی یا بانک های سرمایه گذاری ساختمان مشارکت کرد. در تمام موارد مذکور حداقل سرمایه گذاری 500 هزار یورو باعث دریافت اقامت طلائی ایتالیا میشود.

If the value of my shares and capital decreases, will it have any effect on extending my residency?
Answer: Changes in the value of your investment will have no effect on the extension of your residence permit and your residence permit will be extended as long as you maintain all your shares and capital in Italy and do not sell any part of it.
Does Italy have a requirement for presence and residence to extend the golden residence?
Answer: The extension of the golden residence is not conditional on being in Italy, and the applicant is not required by law to be in Italy. However, to receive an Italian passport, the applicant must have a continuous residence for 10 years.
Can Italian golden residency be applied for by people with dual citizenship?
Answer: Yes, you can. There are no restrictions on issuing Italian residence permits to people with multiple nationalities.
Who is eligible to apply for an Italian Golden Visa?
Anyone over 18 years of age The legal representative of a company, if the investor is an independent legal entity.
Is it possible to choose multiple investments?
Answer: The investment residence permit is issued only for a single investment selected in one of the four methods. If you have several types of investments in Italy, the residence permit will only be selected based on the one that covers the minimum capital for that method.
Can the investment be made in several stages?
Answer: The investment must be made after the visa has been granted. The investment, in one or more stages, must be made after the visa has been granted and no later than 90 days after the first date of entry into Italy. Any deposit made by the investor before submitting the visa application will not be considered for this type of residence.