Italy Startup Visa

1. Residence permit12 months
2. Renew24 months at a time
3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
4. Citizenshipafter 10 years

• Permanent residency 5 years
• Citizenship 10 years
• Dual citizenship allowed
• Language required for citizenship B1

Country

Italy

Program

Italy Startup Visa

Local name

Italia Startup Visa

Type

Startup

Status

Active

Initial duration

12 months

Renewable

Yes (24 mo)

One-year self-employment visa and residence permit for a non-EU founder of an Italian innovative startup. The permit renews for up to two years at a time. The applicant shows at least EUR 50,000 available for a new company. The Italia Startup Visa Committee issues the nulla osta.

Savings required

$57,500

Application fee

$130

Tax regime

Worldwide

Regime name

Ordinary IRPEF or optional art. 24-bis

Foreign income taxed

Yes

Capital gains taxed

Yes

Method

online, consulate

Processing time

30–30 days

Apply from abroad

Yes

The EUR 50,000 may be the founder's own money, venture capital, an angel, crowdfunding, or public funding. Joining an existing innovative startup that is an s.r.l. or s.p.a. at least three years old is a separate path and needs EUR 100,000 of the applicant's own money plus a board seat. A certified incubator can sponsor either path; the Committee still decides. An innovative startup meets one of three tests: research and development of at least 15 percent of the higher of cost and production value, a highly qualified team, or a patent or registered software. The status lasts up to five years. Losing it after the visa is granted does not revoke the permit. There is no personal degree requirement. The curriculum must be relevant when the applicant is joining an existing company. The Committee decides within 30 days. The visa and the first permit last one year. Renewal is refused if the holder has been outside Italy for more than six consecutive months, unless there is a serious documented reason. For 2026-2028 this category shares 500 self-employment places a year with other autonomous-work categories. The national visa fee is EUR 116. The Committee application is free.

• Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visadigital nomad visa

1. Oct 10, 2026
   • Application fee (USD) 100 130

   allowed dependent parents under ordinary art. 29 family reunification, which the guidelines adopt (https://italiastartupvisa.mise.gov.it/media/documents/Linee%20Guida%20ISV%20ITA%2020_03_2018%20def.pdf).