Italy Investor Visa from Dubai
Italy Investor Visa from $279,500, with Schengen access.Fast government clearance, but the money goes into Italian business.
Italy’s Investor Visa gives residence to non EU nationals who invest about $279,500 (EUR 250,000) in an innovative Italian startup, about $559,000 in an Italian company, donate about $1.12 million or buy about $2.24 million of Italian government bonds. A government committee rules within 30 days, and applications reached a record in 2026.
- Startup about $279,500, company about $559,000, donation about $1.12 million, bonds about $2.24 million
- No real estate route, and no minimum stay to keep the permit
- Not open to Russian and Belarusian nationals since 2023
Fast to approve, but this is a business investment, not a property purchase.
The committee issues its clearance within 30 days, but the investment itself must go into an innovative Italian startup, an Italian company, a public interest donation or government bonds, and you carry the risk. The permit lasts 2 years and then renews for 3 years at a time while you keep the investment. We give our fee in writing before you pay anything.
Up to 90 days in any 180 in the other Schengen countries while the permit is valid.
Live in Italy as long as you like. You do not need a set number of days to keep the permit.
Your spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can join you.
A European residence permit does not change UK or US visa rules. If your passport needs a UK or US visa today, it still will.
Italy Investor Visa at a Glance
- Programme
- Investor Visa for Italy, managed by the Investor Visa for Italy Committee at the Ministry of Enterprises
- Startup route
- About $279,500 (EUR 250,000) in an innovative Italian startup
- Company route
- About $559,000 (EUR 500,000) in an Italian company
- Donation route
- About $1.12 million (EUR 1 million) for a public interest project. Not refundable.
- Bond route
- About $2.24 million (EUR 2 million) in Italian government bonds
- Clearance
- The committee rules within 30 days on the official online platform
- National visa
- About $130 (EUR 116), requested within 6 months of clearance
- Permit
- 2 years, then renewals of 3 years while the investment is held
- Minimum stay
- None to keep the permit
- Family
- Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents
- Restricted
- Russian and Belarusian nationals, including dual nationals
- Schengen Area
- Travel without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180
Italy Investor Visa Changes in 2025 and 2026
- Demand hit a record: 279 applications from 1 January to 13 October 2026, according to ministry data, and 87% of applications since 2018 received clearance.
- Italy’s 2025 citizenship reform tightened citizenship by descent. The 10 year residence route to naturalisation did not change.
- The suspension for Russian and Belarusian nationals, in place since 2023, continues.
How to Apply for the Italy Investor Visa from Dubai
- Choose the route. Startup, company, donation or bonds. Only one route per application.
- Apply online. Submit the application on the official investor visa platform with proof of funds, their lawful source and a commitment to invest.
- Clearance within 30 days. The committee issues the nulla osta if your file is accepted.
- National visa. Request the investor visa at the Italian consulate within 6 months of clearance.
- Enter Italy and apply for the permit. Within 8 days of arrival, with fingerprints taken in Italy.
- Make the investment. Within 3 months of arrival, then keep it to renew the permit.
Italy Investor Visa Costs and Fees
- Investment
- From about $279,500, see above
- National visa
- About $130 (EUR 116) per person
- Residence permit
- A small card and stamp fee in Italy, plus a permit contribution
- Lawyer and tax adviser
- Reported at about $8,900 to $16,800 for legal work, with tax advice extra
- Not included
- Business due diligence, accounting for the company you invest in, travel, health insurance and our fee
Amounts are set in euros by law. USD figures use the European Central Bank rate of 3 November 2026 (1 EUR = 1.1179 USD) and are rounded, so the dollar amount you pay will move with the exchange rate.
Is the Italy Investor Visa Investment Refundable?
Startup and company routes: you own shares, and their value depends on the business. You can lose part or all of it.
Bond route: Italian government bonds are repaid at maturity, but the amount is the highest. Donation route: not refundable.
Who Can Be Included in the Italy Investor Visa
- Your spouse
- Dependent children
- Dependent parents
Family members join through family permits without any extra investment.
Does the Italy Investor Visa Lead to Permanent Residence or Citizenship?
EU long term residence is possible after 5 years of legal residence in Italy, and in practice it needs real presence there.
Italian citizenship by naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence for non EU nationals and B1 Italian.
Italy Investor Visa Risks to Weigh Before You Decide
- Business risk. Startup and company investments can lose value.
- Short first permit. The first permit is 2 years, and each renewal checks that the investment is still in place.
- Nationality limits. Russian and Belarusian nationals cannot apply.
- Tax. Living in Italy can make you tax resident there, so take tax advice first.
Italy Compared With Other Residency Routes
How Visa Doctor Will Help
Visa Doctor FZC is a UAE registered immigration services company (trade licence 4417571.01, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone). We are not a government authorised agent for any programme, and we do not sell property or fund units or take investment money.
We explain the routes and costs honestly, check your eligibility and documents, prepare your national visa file for the Italian consulate and, if you decide to proceed, help you reach an Italian lawyer and tax adviser who handle the platform application and the investment. We give our fee in writing before you pay anything. We never promise approval, which belongs to the government involved.
Italy Investor Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Italy Investor Visa cost?
The minimum is EUR 250,000 (about $279,500) in an innovative Italian startup. The other routes are EUR 500,000 (about $559,000) in an Italian company, a EUR 1 million (about $1.12 million) donation to a public interest project, or EUR 2 million (about $2.24 million) in Italian government bonds. Government fees are small, starting with a national visa fee of about $130. Lawyer, tax adviser and our fee are extra, and Visa Doctor gives its fee in writing before you pay anything.
Can I buy property for the Italy Investor Visa?
No. Italy has no real estate route. The investment must go into a startup, a company, a donation or government bonds.
Does the Italy Investor Visa allow Schengen travel?
Yes. The Italian residence permit lets you travel to the other Schengen countries without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180 day period, and live in Italy.
How fast is the Italy Investor Visa?
The Investor Visa for Italy Committee rules on the clearance (nulla osta) within 30 days of a complete online application. You then have 6 months to request the visa, and once in Italy you apply for the permit within 8 days and make the investment within 3 months.
Do I have to live in Italy?
No minimum stay is needed to keep the permit, but permanent residence and citizenship depend on real residence in Italy.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can join you without any extra investment.
Can Russian or Belarusian nationals apply?
No. Italy suspended the Investor Visa for Russian and Belarusian nationals, including dual nationals, in 2023.
Does it lead to Italian citizenship?
Only through ordinary naturalisation, which needs 10 years of legal residence for non EU nationals and B1 Italian. EU long term residence is possible after 5 years of legal residence.
Sources and Last Check
Last checked 4 November 2026. Sources: the official Investor Visa for Italy platform; ministry application data reported in November 2026; the Italian consular visa fee schedule; reporting on Law 74/2025; and the ECB euro reference rate. This page is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice.
Related: permanent residency and golden visas from Dubai, Greece Golden Visa, Hungary Guest Investor residence permit, Italy visa from Dubai