Direct answer: You can get Italy's investor permit by investing at least €2,000,000 in bonds issued by the Italian government and holding them for at least two years. You must show €2,000,000 of your own funds, available and transferable to Italy. No company, no property and no business plan is involved.

It is the simplest Italy route on paper and the most expensive in capital: eight times the startup amount. For people who want the option of Italy without running or backing a business, it is the most passive choice the law offers.

Which bonds qualify

The 2021 guide lists Italian government securities with at least two years left to maturity: CCT and CCTeu, CTZ (zero coupon), BTP, BTP indexed to European inflation, and BTP Italia.

You can combine more than one of these types to reach €2,000,000. For a full description of each type, the guide points to the Ministry of Economy and Finance's public debt pages. You cannot top up a bond holding with company shares or a donation: the visa covers one investment type.

What you apply with

  • Proof that you own at least €2,000,000, available and transferable to Italy, and a certificate that the funds have a lawful origin (Article 26-bis).
  • The types of bond, the amount and the maturities you plan to buy.
  • A written commitment to invest within three months of entering Italy, signed digitally on the platform.
  • A passport copy, a short CV and proof of no final criminal convictions or pending charges.

Unlike the company and donation routes, there is no recipient to sign a consent declaration. Do not buy before you apply: the guide says investments made before the clearance request do not count.

After you arrive: buying and depositing

Within three months of entry you buy the bonds and deposit them with a financial intermediary domiciled in Italy.

The guide asks for a copy of your securities account showing the type, issue date and maturity date of each bond, and the certificate of deposit with the Italian intermediary. The same two documents are asked for again at renewal.

Keeping it

The law sets a two year holding period and allows revocation if you sell before then. The 2021 guide says you keep the original investment for the whole life of the permit.

Interest on the bonds is taxed, and how depends on where you are tax resident.

Holding it from abroad

For five years from the first permit, investor permit holders are exempt from Italy's residence continuity obligations (Article 26-bis, paragraph 5-bis). The permit lasts two years and renews for three years at a time. Renewal starts with a new clearance from the Committee, which checks the investment is still in place, and the 2021 guide says the renewal application at the Questura is due at least 60 days before the permit expires. More in renewals and minimum stay.

About the sources: the procedure here comes from the Ministry's applicant guide dated 19 July 2021, hosted on an Italian embassy site. It names the application platform as investorvisa.mise.gov.it. The Ministry has since been renamed (Enterprises and Made in Italy), and the platform did not load when we checked, so details may have changed.

Other Italy routes

See the €250,000 startup route, the €500,000 company or venture capital fund route and the €1 million donation route, or go back to the Italy golden visa guide.

Questions we hear most

Which Italian government bonds qualify?
The 2021 guide lists CCT and CCTeu, CTZ, BTP, BTP indexed to European inflation and BTP Italia, with at least two years left to maturity.
Can I mix different bonds?
Yes, the guide allows more than one type of government bond. You cannot mix bonds with company shares or a donation: the visa is for one investment type only.
Can I buy the bonds before applying?
No. Investments made in whole or in part before the clearance request are not admissible, according to the guide.
What happens if my bonds mature while I hold the permit?
The guide requires at least two years to maturity at purchase and says the investment is kept for the life of the permit, but it does not say how maturing bonds are handled.

Sources

  1. Decreto Legislativo 286/1998, Article 26-bis (entry and residence for investors), text in force, Normattiva, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. Official source. Last checked 28 October 2026.
  2. Investor Visa for Italy, applicant guide (2021 edition, Ministry of Economic Development), hosted by the Embassy of Italy in Abuja, Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale. Official source. Last checked 28 October 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, tax, immigration or investment advice. Rules and fees change, so check the sources above and the date we last checked them. No approval, permit or timeline is guaranteed. We are paid for introductions; here is how.