What is the absolute minimum investment to qualify for Italy's Investor Visa?

€250,000, via the innovative-startup tier — the lowest of the four published thresholds.

Can I choose the government bond route to avoid running a business?

Yes — the €2 million government bond tier is the passive-capital option, requiring no business management, but it is also the highest threshold of the four.

Is the Investor Visa currently open to all nationalities?

No — it is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, including dual nationals holding one of those passports alongside another nationality, with no announced end date.

Italy's Investor Visa: what's the minimum threshold?

Plain-language guide · Italy · general information

Short answer

Italy's Investor Visa has four fixed thresholds published by the Ministry's Investor Visa for Italy Committee (IV4I), and the lowest is €250,000. Which one you use depends on the type of asset you want to hold, not a personal choice about how much to invest.

The four tiers

€250,000 in an Italian innovative startup — the lowest entry point, but also the tier with the highest scrutiny and rejection rate, since the startup's viability is assessed by both the Committee and local police during conversion of the visa.
€500,000 in an Italian limited company (S.r.l. or S.p.A.) — the most commonly used route among applicants who want a tangible operating asset rather than equity in a startup or a bond.
€1,000,000 as a philanthropic donation to a recognised initiative — the least-used tier, since the definition of a qualifying "philanthropic" project is assessed case by case.
€2,000,000 in Italian government bonds — the highest threshold, but the most straightforward from a compliance standpoint: the capital is fully recoverable at maturity and does not require managing an operating business.

See immicor's threshold-comparison deep dive for a full breakdown of each route.

How the process actually works

You first apply online for a "Nulla Osta" (certificate of no impediment) from the IV4I Committee, then use it to apply for a 2-year investor visa at the Italian consulate in your country of residence, then convert it into a 2-year residence permit within 8 days of arriving in Italy, and make the actual investment within 3 months of arrival. If the investment is maintained for the full 2 years, the permit can be renewed for a further 3 years; maintaining it for 5 years opens eligibility for a long-term residence card.

A note on eligibility

The programme is currently suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, including dual nationals holding a Russian or Belarusian passport alongside another nationality — this suspension has no announced end date.

The €250,000 startup tier is the cheapest on paper but carries the highest documented rejection rate among the four categories — advisors typically point HNW applicants without a startup-investing background toward the €500,000 limited-company route instead.

Common questions

What is the absolute minimum investment to qualify for Italy's Investor Visa?: €250,000, via the innovative-startup tier — the lowest of the four published thresholds.
Can I choose the government bond route to avoid running a business?: Yes — the €2 million government bond tier is the passive-capital option, requiring no business management, but it is also the highest threshold of the four.
Is the Investor Visa currently open to all nationalities?: No — it is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, including dual nationals holding one of those passports alongside another nationality, with no announced end date.

Not sure which of the four tiers fits your profile? Tell the assistant your rough budget and risk preference for a plain-language walkthrough.

This guide is general information about Italy's Investor Visa and is not immigration advice. Confirm current thresholds with the Investor Visa for Italy Committee (investorvisa.mise.gov.it) or an appropriately licensed Italian immigration advisor.