How to Get Italian Citizenship by Investment: 7 Clear Steps for Expats

If you’re living in Italy—or planning to move—and you're thinking about long-term opportunities, Italian citizenship might be on your radar. While Italy doesn’t offer direct citizenship by investment, there is a solid route through residency that leads to it.

This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step path to follow, starting with getting an Investor Visa and ending with Italian citizenship.

How to Get Italian Citizenship by Investment

1. Understand the Big Picture: It's a Two-Step Process

Italy doesn’t offer a “buy a passport” shortcut. Instead, you:

• Get residency by making a qualified investment.

• Live in Italy for a set number of years, then apply for citizenship.
  

Think of it as building your life here while your investment helps support the country.

2. Choose the Right Investment

To get the Italian Investor Visa, you’ll need to pick one of the following:

• €2 million in Italian government bonds

• €500,000 in an Italian company

• €250,000 in an innovative startup

• €1 million to support a cultural, educational, or immigration-focused project
  

Pick what fits your goals and risk level. You don’t need to invest immediately—you just need a clear plan for your application.

3. Apply for the Investor Visa (Online First!)

You’ll need to:

• Create an account on the Investor Visa for Italy portal

• Upload your investment plan and documents

• Wait for your Nulla Osta (clearance), usually issued in 30 days

Once approved, you take that clearance to your local Italian consulate to get the actual visa.

4. Move to Italy and Make the Investment

Once you're in Italy on the investor visa:

• You have 3 months to make the full investment

• Then, apply for a 2-year residency permit, renewable for 3 more years if you keep the investment active

This is where your life in Italy begins. You’ll have access to healthcare, schools, and the chance to enjoy Italian life fully.

5. Settle In: Start Counting Time Toward Citizenship

To apply for Italian citizenship as a non-EU expat, you need:

• 10 years of legal residency

• A clean legal record

• Proof of income or financial stability

• Basic knowledge of Italian (B1 level or higher)

• Evidence that you’re integrating into Italian society (like paying taxes, joining local activities, etc.)

⏳ Important: Your years as an investor resident count toward the 10-year requirement.

6. Bring Your Family Along

Good news: your investor visa lets you bring your spouse and children under 18. They get residence permits too, and they’ll be on the path to citizenship with you. This makes the move much easier if you’re relocating as a family.

7. Apply for Citizenship

Once you’ve reached 10 years of residency, you can apply for Italian citizenship. The process takes time, so it’s a good idea to:

• Work with an immigration lawyer

• Keep all your documentation updated

• Stay on top of language and tax requirements
  

When approved, you’ll become a full Italian citizen, with the right to live, work, and travel anywhere in the EU.

Thinking of Investing in Italian Property?

If you want to explore investment properties in Italy, we can help you. APW Group was founded by expats, for expats; building upon over 30 years of experience in property and fixed income investments.

Our team brings a wealth of experience in the global property market, guiding you through everything from discovering the perfect home to securing visas and navigating local laws with confidence. We’ve helped over 6,000 expats progress their property portfolio in cities all over the world, from Spain and Portugal to Bali and Phuket.

Looking for your entry point into the Italian market? Get in touch today.