How to obtain Italy’s Investor Visa in 3-4 months through an innovative startup investment (2025)…
Going into 2025, the Italian Investor Visa is fast becoming the go-to European Plan B option for affluent North Americans.
And for applicants with previous tech and startup investment experience, the €250,000 Innovative Startup option could make a lot of sense…
Note: The Italian Investor Visa’s Startup Option should not be confused with Italy’s Startup Visa program. Citizens of Belarus and Russia are ineligible to apply.
IMPORTANT: Startup investments carry a high potential risk of total capital loss, and hence most Italian Investor Visa applicants prefer the €500,000 Italian Stocks / Shares option.
If you’re not comfortable with this level of risk either, then be sure to have a look at the following options:
- A regulated Real Estate Fund offering a projected yield of 15% IRR.
An asset-backed Standalone Hotel Development offering a guaranteed buy-back and a guaranteed dividend of 4% per year, paid out annually from Year 1. - An Italian Stock Portfolio, housed in a program-eligible company structure, offering a projected yield of 9-11% NET IRR and annual liquidity.
THE ITALIAN INVESTOR VISA: THE €250K INNOVATIVE STARTUP INVESTMENT OPTION AT A GLANCE:
- Key Benefit: Qualify for the Italian Investor Visa (AKA the Italian Golden Visa) via a passive startup investment.
- Program Requirement: Invest in an innovative startup officially listed in Italy’s innovative startup registry.
- Minimum Capital Participation: €250,000 (Cheapest Italian Investor Visa option).
- Typical Process Timeline: The full application process typically takes 3-4 months.
Italy Investor Visa Program Benefits
Your Fast-Track Doorway To La Dolce Vita…
OWN YOUR SLICE OF
LA DOLCE VITA
Italy’s Golden Visa is your key to unlocking access to the world’s ultimate Plan B destination.
ENJOY VISA-FREE
SCHENGEN TRAVEL
Enjoy visa-free access to all 27 other Schengen countries for 90 out of every 180 days.
EXCEPTIONALLY FAST VISA APPROVAL PROCESS
Applicants are typically notified regarding their residency approvals in as little as 30 days.
TOTAL FLEXIBILITY –
COME & GO AS YOU PLEASE
Move to Italy full-time, visit there occasionally, or just keep the option to go live there as a back-up option – you decide.
PEACE OF MIND
IS PART OF THE DEAL
Thanks to a program pre-approval step, you’ll get your 2-year residency permit before having to commit any capital.
ACCESS TO PUBLIC
HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Italian Golden Visa residents can register for free access to Italian National Health (including doctor’s consultations, hospital admissions, etc.), subject to an annual surcharge.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
REUNIFICATION PROCESS
Unlike as in Portugal, where family reunification is back-logged for up to two years+, this process is fast and efficient in Italy.
OPTIMIZE YOUR
WORLDWIDE TAXES
Foreign retirees can benefit from a 7% tax rate on their retirement income, and HNWIs can benefit from the €200,000 Lump Sum Tax Regime.
CLEAR PATH TO
PR AND CITIZENSHIP
Apply for Permanent Residency (PR) after living in Italy for 5 years, and apply for citizenship after 10 years.
Key Innovation Requirements (For The Startup)
Important: Immigration laws and the associated program regulations can and do change from time to time, and hence the current accuracy of the below criteria is not guaranteed.
| Key Requirements | Innovative Startup |
|---|---|
| Startup Eligibility | The startup must be registered in the Italian Innovative Startup Registry (startup.registroimprese.it) |
| Startup Age | The startup must be newly established, or operational for no more than 5 years. |
| Startup Headquarters | The primary office of the startup must be located in Italy. |
| Annual Revenue Limit | The startup should have an annual turnover of less than €5 million. |
| Innovation Focus | The core business must be centered on the development, production, or application of high-tech products or services, emphasizing technological innovation. |
| Company Formation | The startup should not have been formed through a merger or division of an existing company. |
| Research And Development (R&D) | The startup must satisfy at least one of the following additional criteria:
|
Key Investor Visa Program Requirements (2025)
| Key Program Considerations | Italian Golden Visa |
|---|---|
| Minimum Capital Requirement | €250,000 |
| Startup Requirement | Startup must be innovative and registered here (12,000+ companies listed). |
| Minimum Person Net Worth Requirement? | No |
| Address In Italy Required (Rented or Purchased)? | Yes |
| Minimum Annual Income Requirement? | Yes |
| Passive Income Requirement? | No |
| Health Insurance Coverage Required? | Yes |
| Minimum Primary Applicant Age? | 18 Years |
| Family Members Eligible For Inclusion | Spouse, Parents, Children Under 18 |
| Russians and Belarusians Eligible? | Not Currently |
| Nulla Osta (Certificate of No Impediment) Required? | Yes |
| Clean Criminal Record Required? | Yes |
| Clean Source of Funds Requirement? | Yes |
| Detailed CV and proof of qualifications held? | Yes |
| Minimum In-Country Presence Requirement? | None (0 Days Per Year) |
| Tax Liabilities Triggered? | Typically only after 182 days p.a. spent in Italy |
The Innovative Startup Track’s Legal Basis
To qualify for the innovative startup track of the Italian Investor Visa, applicants must invest in stakes or shares of innovative startups registered in Italy, as defined by Italian law (Decree-Law no. 179/2012, Art. 25, par. 2). The following section of the law is quoted verbatim:
“3. Innovative startups – in order to be defined as such and to access the support measures provided for this category of businesses – must meet the following “cumulative” requirements and certain “alternative” requirements.
Pursuant to article 25, paragraph 2, innovative startups:
– must have been established and have conducted their business activities for no longer than 48 months;
– must have as their sole or core business “the development, production and marketing of innovative goods or services with high technological value”;
– from the second year of activity, must have a total value of annual revenue – stated in item A of the income statement according to article 2425 of the Italian Civil Code – as per the latest financial statements approved within six months from the end of the financial year, not exceeding 5 million euro;
– must not have distributed profits from the year of their incorporation and must not distribute them throughout the duration of the favourable treatment;
– must establish their main centre of business and affairs in Italy;
– must not originate from a merger or demerger, or the divestment of a company or company branch.”
Potential Investor Visa Eligible Industry Verticals
CAVEAT EMPTOR:
The merit and Investor Visa eligibility of each innovative startup project is individually appraised by the relevant Italian authorities.
Therefore, the inclusion of the below verticals should be treated as general information on the topic only.
Technology and Software Development: Startups focusing on software solutions, mobile applications, and IT services are prominent in the innovative sector. This includes companies engaged in artificial intelligence, fintech, and cybersecurity.
Renewable Energy: Businesses that develop technologies related to sustainable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, could potentially qualify under the innovative startup track due to their contributions to environmental sustainability.
Biotechnology and Healthcare: Startups that innovate in medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, or health-related services could also potentially qualify; particularly those that demonstrate significant research and development (R&D) efforts.
E-commerce and Digital Services: Innovative business models in e-commerce, online platforms, and digital marketing may be eligible for the Italian Investor Visa, seeing as they contribute to technological advancement and consumer convenience.
Agriculture and Food Technology: Startups involved in agri-tech solutions or innovative food production methods can potentially qualify, especially if they integrate technology to enhance efficiency or sustainability.
Tourism and Hospitality: Although traditionally seen as less innovative, startups that introduce new technologies or business models in tourism services could also be potentially eligible under the Italian Investor Visa program.
Innovative Startups Presently Seeking To Raise Capital Via The
Italy Investor Visa Program
While the full database of Investor Visa eligible innovative Italian startups can be accessed here, the number of startups listed is large (12,ooo+), and the system’s search functionality is not particularly intuitive. (The listing may also not be fully up to date.)
Therefore, we include a list of known startups presently seeking to raise capital via the Investor Visa Program below:
- Stealth IP Startup: An intellectual property (IP) centric startup that can already cover its costs, and offering a reduced capital outlay option (€150,000 effective capital outlay – most affordable option overall).
- Doorway: A gateway platform facilitating investment in promising Italian startups.
- Agricooltur: An Italian vertical farming (agritech) startup
- AutoConnexa (Italy): A Rome based insurance tech startup aiming to transform the European car insurance market by delivering a digital, telematics powered insurance solution that will offer customers unprecedented flexibility in coverage, and personalized pricing based on driving style to reward safe drivers.
- An Italian Cash Delivery Startup: An “Uber-for-physical-cash-deliveries” type service seeking to take advantage of the fact that cash is still very widely used in Italian society.Contact us now below to learn more about any of these options.
The Italian Investor Visa Application Process (2025)
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Highly experienced team of investment migration, property development and hospitality experts based in Venice and Milan.
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SERVICE
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To get started on your Italian Golden Visa application in 2025 via the Innovative Startup route, contact us today.
Simply complete the below form to request contact from a senior program specialist.
Contact Us Now For More Information
Email: contact@goldenvisas.it
Telephone: + 39 800 126 388
Address: Via Durini 25B, 20122, Milano, Italia
Web: www.goldenvisas.it
Italian Investor Visa – Innovative Startup: 2025 Overview Compiled By…
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Andre Bothma is a seasoned digital entrepreneur specializing in European Residency By Investment programs (and the Italian Investor Visa, in particular).
After graduating from Rhodes University in 2002, he spent two decades building a career in online marketing.
He also previously served as national marketing director for the official political opposition in South Africa.
Given the challenges faced by the Portuguese Golden Program in recent years, many North American Plan B seekers have started looking at alternative European Golden Visa options.
And, going into 2025, the Italian Investor Visa is arguably the most underrated program of its kind.
With these factors in mind, Andre launched GoldenVisas.it with a view to give foreign Plan B investors access to the information and opportunities they need to secure their Italian back-up plan – discretely, securely, and hassle-free.
Andre is a prolific writer on investment migration, and has been advising an international client base on their European Residency and Citizenship By Investment options since 2017.
He splits his time between Porto, Cape Town, and increasingly, Milan.
