Passport Rank
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Italy offers a number of options for residency, including the Elective Residence visa, the investor visa, and other options. The Elective Residence visa is available to individuals who have sufficient financial means to support themselves and their dependents, and who can demonstrate that they have adequate health insurance. The investor visa is available to individuals who are looking to make a significant investment in Italy, and who can meet certain other requirements.
Italy offers the possibility of obtaining a Residence Permit for Elective Residence, also called "non-productive stay". The elective residence is granted to foreigners who intend to move their center of interest to Italy, without carrying out any employment or professional activity and without having any income other than their own savings.
In order to obtain the Italy Elective Residence permit, it is necessary to submit a specific application to the Immigration Office in Italy, attaching all the required documentation. The application must contain information about the foreigner's personal data, travel documents, criminal record (if any) and health conditions. Once the application has been submitted, the Immigration Office will assess whether the requirements for granting the permit are met and will communicate its decision to the applicant within 60 days from the receipt of the application.
The visa process is relatively simple, and the Italy entrepreneur visa can be obtained in as little as two weeks. However, there are a few requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for the Italy entrepreneur visa.
First, applicants must have a valid passport and prove that they have the financial means to support themselves during their stay in Italy. Second, they must demonstrate that they have a viable business idea that has the potential to generate income. The Entrepreneur or freelancer should have sufficient economic resources to guarantee the amount of resources provided for attestation.
The innovative startup status is valid for five years, provided the company meets the following requirements: it is not listed on a regulated market or multilateral trading system; its annual sales do not exceed 5 million euros; and it does not pay dividends.
Your company must: be solely or primarily engaged in technological innovation; not have been formed as a result of a corporate merger, division, or the sale of a company or line of business; and not have been acquired.
Italy offers an Italy Investor Visa for foreign nationals who wish to invest in the country. The Italy Investor Visa allows foreign investors to apply for residency in Italy. There are two options for investing: through an Italy Investor Visa Bond or Shares. The Italy Investor Visa Bond requires a minimum investment of €2 million, which must be invested in Italian government bonds. The Italy Investor Visa Shares requires a minimum investment of €500k, which must be invested in shares of Italian companies.
Bond option (€2M): Treasury Certificates (CCT/CCTeu), Zero-coupon Treasury Bonds (CTZ), Long-term Treasury Bonds (BTP), Long-term Treasury Bonds index-linked to inflation in the Eurozone, and BTP ITALIA.2 A minimum residual maturity of at least two years is required for each type.
Shares option (500,000 Euro): Stakes or shares of limited companies, incorporated and resident in Italy pursuant to article 73 of the TUIR (DPR 917/1986).
Italy offers a residency through Investor Visa for innovative startups. Italy has always been a popular destination for tourists and business people alike, but in recent years it has also become a hub for startups and entrepreneurship. The Italian government recognizes the potential of startups to drive economic growth and has created a special visa category to attract foreign entrepreneurs.
Stakes or shares in innovative startups, i.e., companies listed in article 25, paragraph 2, of decree-law no. 179 of 18 October 2012, as amended by law no. 221 of 17 December 2012 and subsequent amendments. On startup.registroimprese.it, a website administered by the Italian Chambers of Commerce, the official list of innovative startups, which is updated weekly and freely accessible, is available.
Donation supporting a project of public interest in the areas of culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, and cultural and natural heritage preservation.
Invest a minimum of 1 million Euro.
According to the SovSpot Passport Ranking Index, the Italian passport is now ranked fourth. It allows entrance to 193 countries without requiring a visa. With a very high mobility score, it is regarded one of the most sought passports in the world. Visa-free travel and visas on arrival are available to Italian passport holders in countries such as Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, allowing for nearly rapid travel around the world. Italian passport holders, on the other hand, need a visa to visit around 36 countries throughout the world.
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The number of countries Italy passport holders can enter without a visa (i.e. visa-free countries) is added to the number of countries Italy passport holders can enter by obtaining a visa on arrival (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) or an electronic travel authorization (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) (eTA). There are now 145 visa-free countries in Italy, 36 visa-on-arrival countries in Italy, and 12 eTA destinations. Passport holders from Italy can visit a total of 193 countries, either without a visa, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA. As a result, Italy's passport is ranked number four in the world. ; In addition to the visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries, there are 36 other countries that require a physical visa or an eVisa for Italy passport holders to visit (i.e. visa required countries).
Italy, like Hungary, grants citizenship by descent up to and including the third generation. You may only trace your family tree back to 1861, when Italy was formally unified. Furthermore, Italy did not recognize maternal citizenship until 1948.
Additionally, there are unique rules if your parents are foreign nationals. For example, if your parents traveled from Italy to the United States and you were born in the United States, but your parents were naturalized citizens between July 1, 1912 and August 15, 1992, you are still regarded an eligible Italian citizen.
Note: Keep in mind that the costs for citizenship by descent applications can vary and depend on many factors, such as:
* In the case of first generation citizenship by descent, we assumed ONLY administration costs, which will be around $100 or less (usually free if application is done in the same country versus foreign embassy or consulate)