Italy · Investor Visa · Updated 2026-07-14
Italy Golden Visa Cost Calculator
Work out the full 2026 cost of Italy's Investor Visa — the programme commonly called the Italy golden visa. Choose your investment route and family size to see the qualifying investment, the government fees per applicant (the nulla osta is free), and the legal and ancillary costs on top, with recoverable investments kept separate from the €1M donation and the fees you never get back.
1. Investment route
2. Applicants
Government fees differ for adults and for children under 18.
Main applicant
Always included
Spouse / partner
Adult dependents
Adult children or parents (18+)
Children under 18
Total applicants: 1
3. Adjust the estimate
Editable estimate covering the codice fiscale, sworn translations, apostilles/legalisation, power of attorney and digital signature. The nulla osta itself is free.
Your estimate
- Qualifying investmentAsset / recoverable capital
- €250,000
- Italian government costs1 applicant
- €242.46
- Legal fees (est.)
- €9,000
- Ancillary costs (est.)
- €2,500
- Fees & costsNon-recoverable
- €11,742.46
- Total capital requiredInvestment + all costs
- €261,742.46
Nulla osta free · €242.46 × 1 adult
Get lawyer quotesEstimates only — confirm figures with a licensed firm.
What goes into the cost of the Italy Investor Visa
The headline figure — €250,000 to €2,000,000 — is the qualifying investment, not a fee. The startup, company and government-bond routes are recoverable assets; the €1,000,000 philanthropic donation is the one route that is a genuine, non-recoverable gift. No capital is committed until after the free nulla osta pre-approval, so the calculator separates the investment from the money you actually spend.
Italy's government costs are low: the nulla osta is free, then each adult pays a €116 Type D visa plus about €126 in permit-issuance fees — roughly €242.46 per adult. Children under 18 are exempt from the €50 contributo, so a minor costs about €192.46.
The larger variable costs are legal and professional fees (set by each firm) and ancillary costs — codice fiscale, sworn translations, apostilles, power of attorney and a digital signature. These are editable in the calculator.
Italy Investor Visa routes (2026)
Four routes, each granting a renewable residence permit with no minimum-stay requirement:
Innovative startup — €250,000
€250,000 invested in an Italian innovative startup registered in the special section of the Business Register. The lowest-capital route; the equity stake is an asset you keep.
Italian limited company — €500,000
€500,000 in the share capital of an Italian limited company (S.r.l. or S.p.A.). The shareholding is a recoverable asset.
Philanthropic donation — €1,000,000
A €1,000,000 philanthropic donation supporting a project of public interest in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, or heritage. This is a gift — it is NOT recoverable.
Government bonds — €2,000,000
€2,000,000 in Italian government bonds (BTPs) with a residual maturity of at least two years. The bonds are held in your name and repaid at maturity.
Italian government costs, per applicant (2026)
| Item | Notes | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nulla osta | Investor Visa Committee pre-approval | Free |
| Type D visa | Per applicant, incl. children | €116 |
| Permit issuance (adult) | Card €30.46 + stamp €16 + contributo €50 + Poste €30 | €126.46 |
| Permit issuance (child under 18) | No contributo | €76.46 |
Source: esteri.it consular fee tables (Type D visa) and portaleimmigrazione.it (permit issuance, DM 5 maggio 2017 contributo). Minors under 18 are exempt from the €50 contributo. A 3-year renewal is done in-country (permit fees only, no new visa).
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Italy Investor Visa (golden visa) cost in 2026?
The investment is €250,000 (innovative startup), €500,000 (an Italian limited company), €1,000,000 (a philanthropic donation) or €2,000,000 (government bonds). Government costs are modest by comparison: the nulla osta pre-approval is free, and each adult applicant pays about €242 (a €116 Type D visa plus €126 in permit fees). A single applicant on the startup route therefore commits €250,000 plus roughly €242 in state fees, with legal fees and ancillary costs on top.
Is the €250,000 or €500,000 a cost?
Not for most routes. The startup (€250,000), company (€500,000) and government-bond (€2,000,000) routes are investments — you hold an asset that can be recovered or repaid at maturity. The €1,000,000 philanthropic donation is the exception: it is a gift and is NOT recoverable. The calculator flags which route is recoverable and separates the investment from the fees.
What are the Italy Investor Visa government fees?
The nulla osta from the Investor Visa Committee is free. Each adult then pays a €116 long-stay (Type D) visa fee plus permit-issuance fees of about €126 (€30.46 card + €16 stamp + €50 contributo + €30 Poste Italiane) — roughly €242.46 per adult. Children under 18 are exempt from the €50 contributo, so a minor costs about €192.46.
What are the four investment routes?
€250,000 in an innovative Italian startup; €500,000 in the share capital of an Italian limited company (S.r.l. or S.p.A.); €1,000,000 as a philanthropic donation to a project of public interest; or €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds with at least two years' residual maturity. You don't commit any capital until after the free nulla osta pre-approval is granted.
Do children pay the same government fees?
Children under 18 still pay the €116 Type D visa, but they are exempt from the €50 permit contributo — so a minor's government cost is about €192.46 versus €242.46 for an adult. The calculator asks you to separate adults from children under 18 for this reason.
How much are the renewal costs?
The initial permit lasts two years and renews for three-year periods with no minimum-stay requirement. A renewal is done in-country at the Questura, so there's no new consular visa — you pay the permit fees again (about €126 per adult, €76 per child). Turn on the renewal option in the calculator to include one renewal.
Is it called a golden visa or an investor visa?
Officially it is the "Investor Visa for Italy", granting a two-year residence permit — Italy has no citizenship-by-investment route. "Italy golden visa" is the common informal name for the same programme. Note that citizenship by naturalisation takes ten years of residence.
Get an exact quote
Route selection, company structuring and tax all move the final number. Compare verified Italy Investor Visa lawyers — ranked on credentials and reviews, never pay-to-play — and get fixed quotes for your situation.
Disclaimer. This calculator provides general estimates for information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Government fees are sourced from esteri.it and portaleimmigrazione.it; the exact contributo for a 3-year renewal can vary by Questura. Legal and ancillary costs are editable market estimates that vary by provider. Programme rules can change — always confirm current figures and your eligibility with a licensed Italian lawyer before committing funds. Last reviewed 2026-07-14.