How To Get Residency in San Marino: A Comprehensive Guide

Capital: San Marino

Population: 35,436 (2024, 191st)

Ethnic groups: The Sammarinese, with a smaller but significant presence of Italians

Area: 61.19 km² (191st)

Offical Language: Italian

Currency: Euro

GDP per Captial (PPP): $86,989 (2024 estimated, 7th)

Human Development Index: 0.915 (2023, 29th)

Country Profile:

San Marino, a tiny nation nestled within Italy, holds a unique place on the world stage. It’s the fifth-smallest country globally by land area, with a population of under 40,000. Remarkably, alongside Andorra, it’s one of only two countries where the number of registered vehicles actually surpasses its total population.

However, San Marino also holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest republic, with its political system dating back to 301 AD. That year, a Christian stonemason named Marino sought refuge from persecution on Mount Titano and founded a small Christian community. Thanks to its strategic location and clever diplomacy, this community managed to maintain its independence, never truly falling to outside forces. Over centuries, it blossomed into the Republic of San Marino we know today.

Because it has largely been spared the devastation of war, San Marino is a treasure trove of preserved medieval architecture and distinctive cultural heritage sites. This rich history, coupled with its pristine beauty, has naturally made tourism, alongside financial services, a vital pillar of its national economy.

Visa & Immigration System:

San Marino is not a member of the European Union or the Schengen Area. However, it shares open borders with Italy. This means if you have a Schengen visa that allows you to enter Italy, you can easily visit San Marino.

For non-EU citizens looking to live in San Marino, there are two main categories of residence permits to apply for: Short-Term Stay Permits and Long-Term Residence Permits.

Short-Term Stay Permits:

Stay Permits are typically valid for three months to one year. They cover a variety of purposes, including:

• Work permits

• Family reunification visas

• Tourist visas

• Visas issued for specific reasons such as sporting events, working holidays, religious purposes, humanitarian reasons, or medical treatment.

Long-Term Residence Permits:

San Marino’s long-term residence permits are generally valid for over one year and fall into several key categories:

• Retirement Residency: Currently, this visa is only issued to residents of specific countries, primarily EU and Swiss citizens.

• Economic Residency: This is essentially an investment visa. Applicants are required to purchase property or deposit €150,000 in San Marino. Following this, they must establish or acquire a company in the country, employ 1 to 3 local staff members, and hold over 51% of the company’s shares.

The core of this program revolves around company operations. The €150,000 property purchase or deposit serves as a financial guarantee for your business ventures and doesn’t need to be paid all at once. You can deposit €75,000 when submitting your application and complete the remaining €75,000 investment within two years of obtaining residency.

• Elective Residency (Non-Profit Visa): This visa is for non-EU citizens who wish to reside in San Marino due to property ownership or financial investments and who will not work in San Marino but possess sufficient financial resources to support themselves.

To qualify for San Marino’s Elective Residency, applicants must either purchase property in San Marino worth €500,000 or buy €600,000 worth of interest-free government bonds.

Additionally, participants in this program are required to reside long-term in San Marino without engaging in employment.

• Tax Residency: Introduced by the San Marino government after 2020, this is a new form of non-profit visa. If you have never been a tax resident of San Marino before and commit to becoming one, you’ll be eligible to apply. This requires a pledge to pay at least €10,000 to €100,000 in taxes annually in San Marino. Since San Marino’s lowest income tax rate is 7%, to meet this requirement, your minimum annual income must be no less than €143,000. Meeting these conditions qualifies you for a 15-year visa under the Tax Residency scheme, allowing for long-term stay in San Marino.

• Property Owner Visa: This is issued to non-EU citizens who purchase a holiday home in San Marino outright.

• Business Residency: This visa is for CEOs, Chairmen of the Board, and shareholders holding over 25% of shares in San Marino-listed companies. Applicants for this residence permit must demonstrate a suitable residential address in San Marino and that their income meets a certain standard.

The Business Residence Permit is valid for one year and can be renewed for a maximum of five years. It cannot be converted into San Marino permanent residency or citizenship.

• Registered Residence Permit: This is effectively a permanent residency visa. It’s issued to non-EU citizens who have a stable residence and economic/social ties in San Marino for reasons such as family reunification, company establishment, or serving as an executive in a local institution.

One of the simplest ways to demonstrate stable social ties with San Marino is by residing in the country for a full ten years.