Going into 2025, the Italian Investor Visa is fast becoming the go-to European Plan B option for affluent North Americans. And priced at only €250,000, the program’s Innovative Startup track is starting to garner a lot of attention.
Offering a projected yield of around 5% IRR, rolled up and paid out at Year 5, the below Italian Innovative Startup – an “Uber for cash delivery” type app service – meets the requirements for the Investor Visa, while also seeking to reduce the opportunity cost of securing an Italian Plan B…
IMPORTANT: Startup investments carry a higher 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 potential risk, then be sure to have a look at the following options:
- Regulated Real Estate Fund (15% IRR projected);
- Italian Investor Visa eligible Italian Stock Portfolio (9-11% NET IRR projected);
- Hotel Development Opportunity in Venice, offering a capital-protected structure, and a guaranteed return of capital at Year 5 (4% dividend, paid out quarterly from Year 1).
THE ITALIAN INVESTOR VISA: THE €250K ITALIAN CASH DELIVERY APP OPTION AT A GLANCE:
- The Opportunity: Earn projected yields of around 5% by investing in an innovative Italian startup offering app-based cash delivery services; think of it as an “ATM on wheels”.
- Minimum Capital Requirement: €250,000 (Cheapest Italian Investor Visa option)
- Focus Sectors: FinTech / Physical Cash Delivery Service
- Funding Stage Focus: Enquire now to find out more.
- Structure: Enquire now to find out more.
- Risk Level: Enquire now to find out more.
Note: The Italian Investor Visa’s Startup Option should not be confused with Italy’s Startup Visa program. Let’s get into the key program details below…
Italian Investor Visa Program Benefits
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- Cash is the most common payment method in Italy. The European Central Bank estimates that Italian customers use cash for 86% of in-person transactions. The demand for cash is therefore high.
- (Even though the percentage of cash payments is declining over time. in 2022, about 67% of consumer payments in Italy were made with cash.
- Cash is especially popular for purchases of €60 or less.
- An on-demand cash delivery service offers a safer, more convenient alternative to drawing cash from an ATM (especially at night).
- Certain legacy-type service providers, like plumbers, electricians, and handymen, only accept cash payments.
- The app’s minimum delivery amount is €50, with a service and delivery fee of 10% (i.e. €5 per €50 delivered), which compares well with the delivery charges of the likes of Uber Eats for food and general deliveries.
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 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.”
The Italian Investor Visa Application Process (2025)
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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.
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Email: contact@goldenvisas.it
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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.