Italy’s so-called ‘Investor Visa for Italy’—popularly dubbed the Golden Visa—has quietly surged back onto the radar of high-net-worth families in Asia. A detailed explainer published this morning by India’s Economic Times outlines why wealth managers are steering clients toward Rome instead of Lisbon or Athens. The scheme allows non-EU nationals to obtain a two-year renewable residence permit by investing as little as €250,000 in an Italian start-up, €500,000 in an established Italian company, €2 million in government bonds, or a €1 million philanthropic donation. Crucially, there is no physical-stay requirement until applicants wish to convert to long-term EU residence (after five years) or citizenship (after ten).
For India’s globally mobile entrepreneurs, Italy’s allure lies in flexibility. Portugal’s Golden Visa now obliges investors to buy into regulated funds and spend time in the country, while Greece tightened real-estate thresholds in tourist hotspots. By contrast, Italy continues to emphasise productive capital and job creation; the Ministry of Enterprise even offers fast-track work permits to board members of funded companies. The flat-tax regime for new residents—€200,000 per year on worldwide income—sweetens the deal for families that derive most earnings abroad.
![Italy’s Golden Visa Back in the Spotlight as Indian Investors Look Beyond Portugal and Greece]()
Prospective applicants daunted by the application maze can outsource the heavy lifting to VisaHQ, whose Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) pre-screens documentation, liaises with consulates, and tracks each stage—from the Nulla Osta request to family dependants’ follow-ups—through a single digital dashboard. The service frees advisers and applicants alike to focus on the investment itself rather than the paperwork.
Processing is also more predictable than before. Since April 2025, all Investor-Visa files are lodged on a single online portal operated by the Ministry of Economic Development and vetted within 30 days. Successful applicants receive a ‘Nulla Osta’ (no-objection certificate) that Italian consulates convert into a D-visa within 90 days. Dependants can piggy-back on the principal application at no extra investment cost, a feature that migration advisers say is driving multi-generational moves ahead of the 2026-28 ‘decreto flussi’ quotas being released.
What does this mean for corporate mobility teams? First, employers with Indian talent pools can now use the Golden Visa as a supplement—or alternative—to Italy’s capped intra-company work permits. Second, holders enjoy visa-free travel across the entire Schengen area, removing friction for regional assignments. Finally, the programme channels much-needed capital into Italian SMEs and start-ups; HR departments partnering with accelerators or venture studios may find co-investment opportunities that also solve long-term relocation planning. Legal advisers nevertheless warn of high professional-fee outlays (often €10-15 k) and the need to maintain the qualifying investment for the entire residence period.
For India’s globally mobile entrepreneurs, Italy’s allure lies in flexibility. Portugal’s Golden Visa now obliges investors to buy into regulated funds and spend time in the country, while Greece tightened real-estate thresholds in tourist hotspots. By contrast, Italy continues to emphasise productive capital and job creation; the Ministry of Enterprise even offers fast-track work permits to board members of funded companies. The flat-tax regime for new residents—€200,000 per year on worldwide income—sweetens the deal for families that derive most earnings abroad.
Prospective applicants daunted by the application maze can outsource the heavy lifting to VisaHQ, whose Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) pre-screens documentation, liaises with consulates, and tracks each stage—from the Nulla Osta request to family dependants’ follow-ups—through a single digital dashboard. The service frees advisers and applicants alike to focus on the investment itself rather than the paperwork.
Processing is also more predictable than before. Since April 2025, all Investor-Visa files are lodged on a single online portal operated by the Ministry of Economic Development and vetted within 30 days. Successful applicants receive a ‘Nulla Osta’ (no-objection certificate) that Italian consulates convert into a D-visa within 90 days. Dependants can piggy-back on the principal application at no extra investment cost, a feature that migration advisers say is driving multi-generational moves ahead of the 2026-28 ‘decreto flussi’ quotas being released.
What does this mean for corporate mobility teams? First, employers with Indian talent pools can now use the Golden Visa as a supplement—or alternative—to Italy’s capped intra-company work permits. Second, holders enjoy visa-free travel across the entire Schengen area, removing friction for regional assignments. Finally, the programme channels much-needed capital into Italian SMEs and start-ups; HR departments partnering with accelerators or venture studios may find co-investment opportunities that also solve long-term relocation planning. Legal advisers nevertheless warn of high professional-fee outlays (often €10-15 k) and the need to maintain the qualifying investment for the entire residence period.
