Visa, residence permit, citizenship in Italy
Foreign nationals who wish to go to live in Italy and stay there for more than three months must apply for an Italian long-term D visa as well as an Italian residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno).
Residence permit when purchasing real estate in Italy
We immediately draw your attention to the fact that owning real estate in Italy does not automatically give you the right to permanently reside in the country and obtain a residence permit.
But owning property in Italy can make it easier to obtain a long-term visa under other immigration programs. For example, to obtain a residence permit for financially independent foreigners, one of the requirements for filing an application is to own or rent real estate. And the fact that you have your own real estate in Italy will be considered as an additional advantage when applying for a residence permit.
National visa D, which is issued for permanent residence in Italy. It is requested by applicants who have regular passive income.
The applicant must prove that he will be able to provide himself and his family with continuous income in the future from the sale or rental of real estate, interest on deposits, shares, bills, pensions, etc. Income from employment is excluded. You also need to purchase or rent real estate in Italy for a long time.
The minimum income level of the applicant is 31,000 euros per year. The amount increases by 20% if the spouse also submits documents and by 5% for each dependent child. To obtain a visa, a foreigner must write a letter of motivation in English or Italian explaining the reason why he wants to live permanently in Italy.
Grounds for obtaining a residence permit (Investments (Investitori))
Foreigners from non-EU countries who intend to invest money in the Italian economy can, on this basis, request a two-year visa equivalent to a residence permit. The following investment options are available:
- 250 thousand euros – to Italian innovative startups
- 500 thousand euros – to the assets of Italian companies
- 2 million euros – in Italian government bonds
- 1 million euros – a charitable contribution to socially significant projects in Italy
All investments are placed for a minimum of two years. The full amount of the investment must be invested within three months after entering Italy with an investor visa.
The residence permit is issued for 2 years and can be extended for another 3 years, subject to the preservation of the investment. Investors are not required to reside permanently in the country, but they must not leave Italy for more than 365 days. A residence permit by investment allows you to request permanent residence after 5 years. You can apply for citizenship on a general basis after living in the country for 10 years.
Permanent residence permit
Permanent residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) is obtained after five years of legal residence in Italy under a residence permit. At the same time, absence from the country is allowed for no more than 6 months in a row and no more than 10 months in total over a five-year period.
Requirements for obtaining permanent residence
- Live in Italy and have a residence permit for five years
- Prove that you have received an income sufficient to support yourself and your family
- Confirm the availability of housing that meets all necessary standards
- Pass the Italian language proficiency exam at level A2
Permanent residence is essentially an indefinite residence permit in Italy. A permanent residence permit gives a foreigner the same rights as Italian citizens, except for voting. You will be able to live and work in the country, receive education and medical care.
Important. Permanent residence may be revoked if the foreigner has been absent from the European Union for 12 consecutive months or has not entered Italy for 6 years.
Citizenship
A foreigner has the right to obtain Italian citizenship after living in the country for more than 10 years. To do this, he must confirm knowledge of the Italian language at level B1, income for the last three years, availability of housing and no criminal record. The minimum annual income for one applicant is 8,300 euros, with an additional 500 euros for each dependent.
Italy recognizes dual citizenship.
Taxes. If you spend more than 183 days a year in Italy, you become a tax resident of the country. This means that you will have the same tax obligations as Italians, even if your income is received outside its territory.
