Podcast: “99% Chance” Italy’s Dolce Visa Will Get a Real Estate Option in March
Madalena Monteiro saw a deluge of inquiries about the Italian Dolce Visa after news of Portugal’s closing. Especially from Russians.
Italy’s Elective Residency Visa allows those who can demonstrate independent and stable annual incomes sufficient to maintain themselves to obtain a renewable one-year residence permit in Italy.
Following five years of physical residency in Italy, applicants are eligible for permanent residency and, after ten years, EU citizenship, subject to mastery of the Italian language.
Applicants may not take up employment in Italy but are free to earn income from asset-based sources both inside and outside Italy.
Elective residents will, by virtue of the 183-day annual minimum presence requirement, become tax residents in Italy.
Program Type | Independent Means Visa |
Time to citizenship | 10 years |
Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
Minimum investment | None. Proof of EUR 31,200 annual income |
Physical presence requirement | 183 days a year |
Application processing time | 1-2 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 189 destinations, including Schengen countries |
Contribution types available | No contribution required |
General program requirements
To qualify for Italy’s Elective Residency Visa, applicants must demonstrate that they have an independent, stable, and asset-based source of income – such as from a pension fund, annuities, or rental income – sufficient to maintain themselves financially while residing in Italy.
In 2022, the specific levels of annual income required are
EUR 32,000 for the main applicant
EUR 6,800 additionally for a spouse
EUR 6,240 per additional dependent child under 18.
Applicants must, moreover, providence evidence of suitable healthcare insurance coverage for the whole family as well as of suitable accommodation in Italy, which may be purchased or rented.
Elective residents may not take up paid employment in Italy but are free to derive income from the ownership of assets.
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
The initial Elective Residency Visa is issued for a maximum of six months (rather than the normal three months for most temporary visas) during which the applicant will need to move to Italy and convert the visa to a Residency Permit. The residency permits may be renewed annually with local police if the original requirements are still met, including maintaining the residence, the health insurance, and physical presence of at least 183 days a year, which means becoming a tax resident of Italy.
After five years of uninterrupted residency, the applicant may apply for Permanent Residence. The applicant may not have been absent from the country for longer than a continuous period of six months to qualify for permanent residence.
After 10 years of continuous residence, the applicant may apply for citizenship. The applicant will need to complete a course in Italian and European history and culture, civics, and the principles of the Italian Constitution, for the purposes of verifying the ‘path to Citizenship’, and must speak fluent Italian.
Applications for this program may be directed to:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Legislation upon which this program is based:
Consolidated Immigration Act 2014 Article 5. Residence Permit
No statistics available yet for this program.
As the hub for investment migration professionals, IMI is regularly in touch with program specialists in every corner of the globe.
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Madalena Monteiro saw a deluge of inquiries about the Italian Dolce Visa after news of Portugal’s closing. Especially from Russians.
The bill proposes to introduce a tiered real estate acquisition route, new investment options, lower minimums, and procedural improvements.
Italy’s Dolce Visa has no processing delays, allows for tailor-made investments, and even lets you wait to invest until after approval.
Globally, hundreds of millions of people have a great grandparent from an EU country. Too few of them are picking up citizenships for free.
Italy as a destination sells itself, argues Dario Montagnese. All RCBI advisors need to do is let investors know it also has a golden visa.
The Italian Court of Rome states that consulates that don’t give appointments violate the right to claim Italian citizenship by descent.
Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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