Country Profile:

Italy, a European country with a rich history dating back to ancient Rome, is renowned for its influential art, architecture, and culinary traditions. Its landscape varies from the snowy Alps in the north to the sun-kissed Mediterranean beaches in the south.

Italy is home to more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country, showcasing its wealth of cultural treasures. Major cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice are steeped in history and art, while its cuisine, epitomized by pizza, pasta, and wine, plays a crucial role in its cultural identity.

Capital: Rome

Population: 58,853,482 (2022, 25th)

Ethnic groups: 91.3% Italian

Area: 301,340 km²  (71st)

Offical Language: Italian

Currency: Euro

GDP per Captial:  $56,905 (2024 estimated, 30th)

How To Become A Resident In Italy:

Italy’s long-term residence visas can be broadly categorized into two types: in quota visas and extra quota visas.

In quota visas, as the name implies, are subject to annual limits set by the Italian government on certain types of visas, along with specific application windows. That is to say, applicants who meet all visa requirements must still wait until the next year’s window and quota if they fail to submit their application during the designated windows or if the quota is already filled.

This category includes seasonal employment visas, start-up visas, and self-employment visas (which are further divided into self-employment visa for freelancers and self-employment visa for directors or auditors of an Italian company).

For example, in 2023, Italy’s in quota visa application period began in April, with a total allowance of 53,450 visas for the year, of which only 680 were for self-employed immigrants.

Extra quota visas, on the other hand, adhere to a standard issuance process, granting visas to applicants who meet the specified conditions, without any numerical limits. This category includes the EU Blue Card, investor visa (also known as golden visa), elective residency visa, intra-company visa, digital nomad visa, and employment visa for specialized professionals.

Specifically, beyond special routes like family reunification or refugee status, Non-EU citizens interested in long-term residence in Italy have four residency options:

1. Acquiring residency in another EU country and then indirectly relocating to Italy;

2. Working in Italy via a work visa, EU Blue Card (requiring a minimum annual income of €70,000 if you apply in Italy), or intra-company staff visa;

3. Using an income-based visa like a digital nomad visa (minimum remote income of €26,000), self-employment visa (minimum income of €8,500), or elective residency visa (minimum passive income of €32,000);

4. Investing through an start-up visa or a golden visa (minimum investment of €250,000).

Those Italian long-term residence permits are typically valid for 1 to 2 years and can be renewed indefinitely under the same conditions.

The primary applicant’s spouse, children under 18, economically dependent children over 18, and economically dependent parents can also apply together as dependents.

After legally residing in Italy for five years (with absences not exceeding six months at a time and ten months in total), foreigners can apply for permanent residency.

Non-EU residents with permanent residency who legally reside for an additional five years, reaching ten years in total, can apply for an Italian passport after passing tests on Italian and European history and culture and proving proficiency in the Italian language.

Golden Visa:

Who is eligible for an Italian Golden Visa?

The Italian Investor Visa, commonly known as the Golden Visa, provides foreigners with four investment routes to obtain residency status.

These pathways typically involve either donating or channeling significant sums into low-risk assets or smaller amounts into high-risk ventures:

Invest over 2 million euros in government bonds;

Or, invest over 500,000 euros in shares of Italian companies;

Or, invest over 250,000 euros in emerging high-tech startups in Italy;

Or, donate over 1 million euros to support the development of Italian public projects.

Regardless of the investment route chosen, the main applicant must demonstrate an annual income of over 8,500 euros from the fiscal year prior to the application.

In addition to financial requirements, applicants must also meet some basic requirements, such as being over 18 years old, having no criminal record, proving that the investment funds are from a legitimate source, and passing a medical examination.

How to apply for an Italian Golden Visa?

The application process for Italy’s Golden Visa is a “apply first, invest later” procedure, generally divided into three steps:

1. First, you need to apply online  for an Italian background chek certification (Nulla Osta), which is conducted by the Italian Ministry of Interior. This process typically takes about one month.

Required documents include: passport and its photocopy; main applicant’s resume; bank certificate and proof of source of funds; no criminal record certificate; a letter of up to 1000 words describing your investment method and previous investment experience; and a letter stating how much you will invest and where you will live after arriving in Italy.

2. Once the background check is approved, you must fill out an application form at the nearest consulate and submit your visa application within six months. The entire visa approval process usually does not exceed two months.

At this stage, you need to provide your passport, a photocopy of your passport, a photocopy of the Nulla Osta, proof of income exceeding 8,500 euros from the last fiscal year, a residential address, and other necessary documents for your stay in Italy.

3. After your visa is approved, you may enter Italy and must apply for a residence card at a competent police headquarter within eight days of entry. You must complete the promised investment within 3 months of entry. After completing the investment, you can submit proof of investment completion to the Italian immigration office to confirm your status.

Visa duartion & Dependents

The Italian Golden Visa has an initial validity of two years. If the investment is maintained, the visa can be renewed every three years.

After living in Italy for five years, you are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Once you have the permanent residency card, you are free to withdraw your investment without impacting your residency status in Italy.

The primary applicant’s spouse, children under 18, economically dependent children over 18, and economically dependent parents can also apply together as dependents.

Self-employment Visa:

Who is eligible for an Italian Self-employment visa?

Italy offers two types of self-employment visas: self-employment visa for freelancers and self-employment visa for directors or auditors of an Italian company.

Here, we’ll focus on the category for freelancers.

The qualifications for a freelancer’s self-employment visa include:

1. Applicants must have an established residence in Italy.

2. You need to have earned a minimum of €8,500 in the year prior to applying or have secured contracts from one or more Italian employers totaling over €8,500 for the upcoming year.

3. A certificate from the corresponding Italian professional committee is required, affirming that the freelancer’s activities do not interfere with the local market.

4. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves in Italy, with specific amounts varying depending on the profession.

5. Additionally, the application for a self-employment visa is quota-regulated and can only be submitted during designated periods set by the Decreto Flussi, and only if there are available slots.

How to apply for an Italian Self-employment visa for freelancers?

The application process for an Italian self-employment visa involves three main steps:

1. First, you must obtain a “No Impediment” certificate from the relevant professional committee, along with the “Nulla Osta,” a clearance that includes a background check.

2. After securing these certifications, you should gather all necessary documents and schedule an appointment at an Italian consulate or embassy abroad for a face-to-face visa application interview. The approval process usually takes about two months.

Required documents include: two filled-out visa application forms; your passport and two passport-sized photos; the Nulla Osta and No Impediment certificates; a criminal record check; proof of income or contracts with Italian employers; evidence of purchased health insurance, among other documents.

3. Once the visa is granted, you have six months to travel to Italy, where you must then apply for a residency card.

Visa duartion & Dependents

The self-employment visa for freelancers in Italy has a validity of one year and can be renewed indefinitely, as long as the conditions remain the same and the holder does not spend more than six months outside Italy each year.

After legally residing in Italy for five years, foreigners are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

The primary applicant’s spouse, children under 18, economically dependent children over 18, and economically dependent parents can also apply together as dependents.

Start-up Visa:

The Italian startup visa is designated for foreign individuals planning to establish innovative, high-tech companies in Italy.

This visa is subject to quota limitations and must be applied for during specific periods as outlined by the Decreto Flussi. Applicants must compile all required documents and arrange a face-to-face interview at an Italian consulate or embassy abroad.

Initially valid for one year, the startup visa may be renewed indefinitely as long as the holder continues to meet the stipulated conditions. After fulfilling the required residency period and other prerequisites, applicants can pursue Italian permanent residency.

Elective Residency Visa:

Who is eligible for an Italian Elective Residency Visa?

The Italian Elective Residency Visa is issued to those who wish to reside in Italy long-term without working locally, sustaining themselves solely through passive income such as real estate earnings, deposit interests, financial assets returns, pensions, etc.

To apply for this visa, applicants must demonstrate a stable, annual passive income of at least €32,000. If accompanied by a spouse, this requirement doubles, and an additional 20% is required for each child accompanying them.

Additionally, applicants must meet other conditions such as having a residence in Italy (either purchased or rented for at least one year); obtaining medical insurance that covers Italy; and becoming an Italian tax resident (residing locally for more than half of the year).

How to apply for an Italian Elective Residency Visa?

The application process for the Italian Elective Residency Visa must be conducted in person at an Italian embassy or consulate abroad. Applicants are required to present all necessary documents, fill out the application form at the consulate, and complete the visa waiver process.

Required documents include: a passport valid for more than three months; passport-sized photos (35mm x 45mm); an address in Italy; a completed application form; proof of passive income; proof of medical insurance worth over €30,000 for the Schengen area; proof of relationship with the co-applicant; and a criminal record certificate.

After the visa is granted, you must travel to Italy within six months. Upon arrival, you have eight days to register your fingerprints at a competent police headquarter and apply for an Italian residency card.

Visa duartion & Dependents

The Italian Elective Residency Visa has a validity of one year and can be renewed every two years provided the original conditions are still met.

Foreign nationals who have legally resided in Italy for five years are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Your spouse, children under 18, economically dependent children over 18, and economically dependent parents can also apply together as dependents.

Digital Nomad Visa:

Who is eligible for an Italian digital nomad visa?

Starting in March 2024, Italy begin accepting applications for a digital nomad visa. This visa is targeted at remote workers from outside the EU who have at least six months of experience in their field. Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions:

1. Hold a university degree or have significant work experience in a high-tech industry;

2. Possess at least five years of professional experience or relevant professional certifications (for those in the field of information science, the criteria may be reduced to three years of experience within the last seven years);

3. Have a professional qualification or industry certification issued by an EU country if working in a regulated profession.

Additionally, applicants are required to meet several other requirements, including an annual income of over €26,000, health insurance coverage that includes Italy, an address in Italy for their initial stay (which can be a hotel booking or a residential lease), and a clean criminal record.

How to apply for an Italian digital nomad visa?

The application process for the Italian digital nomad visa requires in-person submission and consists of the following three steps:

Step 1: Prepare all necessary documents and visit the nearest Italian consulate. Complete the application form, pay a visa fee of €116, and submit your visa application. The processing time for the digital nomad visa typically ranges from one to three months.

Required documents include your passport with two passport-sized photos, a criminal record certificate, a resume, proof of remote work and annual income, an address for your initial stay in Italy, and proof of health insurance that covers Italy.

Step 2: After the visa is approved, travel to Italy within six months. Within eight days of arrival, go to the nearest police station to register your fingerprints and submit all required documents to convert the digital nomad visa into a residency card.

Step 3: Obtain the residency card.

Visa duartion & Dependents:

The Italian digital nomad visa has a validity of one year and can be renewed indefinitely, as long as the conditions remain the same and the holder does not spend more than six months outside Italy each year.

After legally residing in Italy for five years, foreigners are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

The primary applicant’s spouse, children under 18, economically dependent children over 18, and economically dependent parents can also apply together as dependents.

Taxation:

Foreign nationals who reside in Italy for at least 183 days within a single calendar year become Italian tax residents.

Italy is recognized for its high taxation system; however, there are specific tax provisions for new residents: those who newly establish tax residency in Italy are eligible for certain tax reductions. Moreover, high-net-worth individuals can opt for a capped annual tax limit of €100,000, which increases by €25,000 for each additional family member.

Passport Power:

Italy does not recognize dual citizenship, except in cases of citizenship by descent. Italian passport is ranked 1st globally, visa holders can freely travel (visa-free or obtain visa on arrival) to 194 countries and regions worldwide(Apr 22,2024).

Useful Links:

Investor visa for Italy Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy: http://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/

Italian Government Site Visa Page: https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti

SPID Public Digital Identity System: https://www.spid.gov.it/en/