Is Italy’s investor visa program costlier than even the direct citizenship by investment program offered by Malta?
Malta offers EU citizenship through investment after 12 months of residence in the country if one invests €700,000 in residential real estate along with an additional investment of €750,000.
In contrast, Italy has a €2 million requirement for an investor to become eligible for fast-track permanent residence in the EU.
Understanding Italy’s Investor Visa Options
A €2 million investment in government bonds is a high price for EU permanent residence, but this is not the only way to qualify for Italy’s golden visa.
The Italian investor visa has four different investment options with the risk borne by the investor inversely proportional to the minimum investment.
The safest option – Italian government bonds – is the costliest route, with a minimum investment requirement of €2 million.
A one-time philanthropic contribution costs €1 million while investing in an Italian limited company for the golden visa will cost €500,000.
The cheapest option is €250,000 for those investing in an Italian innovative startup. This investment option puts the Italian golden visa at par with the Greek golden visa. EU permanent residence for just €250,000 makes the Italian program an option worth considering for all serious golden visa investors.
Italy vs Other EU Programs
Italy’s golden visa offers a path to EU citizenship through ten years of residence in the country. All standard golden visa privileges like the freedom to travel, study, and work within the EU are available to Italian investor visa applicants.
Dependent family members can be included in the application and the applicant and their family can work in Italy as well.
Another factor that makes Italy a much better choice for golden visa investors as compared to Portugal and Spain is the excellent lifestyle benefits of living in Italy.
From pristine lakes and beaches to beautiful mountains, Italy is a paradise for tourists. It is centrally located within the EU, which makes it a superior choice to other destinations for the globetrotting entrepreneur or professional.
Further, golden visa investors are eligible for a special tax regime, which means living in Italy can be a great way to secure and increase your wealth in even the toughest economic conditions.
The program does not have any minimum net worth requirements. You are eligible to apply as long as you have enough funds depending on your choice of investment category. Multiple investment options mean you can choose the one that fits your risk profile.
A startup investment may seem risky, but it offers better value than investing in real estate in the interiors of Portugal.
The golden visa application process begins with applying for a Nulla Osta or Certificate of No Impediment. This is followed by a two-year investment visa that starts from the time you enter Italy.
You must complete your investment within three months of entering Italy and can renew the permit for an additional three years.
So, while the €2 million price tag may make for great headlines, the actual cost of the Italian golden visa for a serious investor is at par with some of the cheapest programs in the EU.