The Italia Startup Visa (ISV) is a fast-track immigration pathway for non-EU entrepreneurs to relocate to Italy and establish an innovative startup (startup innovativa). Launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the program provides a streamlined process: a nulla osta (certificate of no impediment) is issued within 30 days, followed by a self-employment entry visa from an Italian consulate. The program is open to applicants of any age, nationality, or business sector, provided the startup meets Italy's legal definition of an innovative company. Under the Decreto Flussi 2026-2028 (DPCM 2 October 2025), 650 self-employment places per year are allocated for 2026, 2027, and 2028, of which 500 units per year are shared among five categories — including innovative startup founders alongside high-investment entrepreneurs, liberal professionals, company officers, and artists.
For the Nulla Osta application:
For the visa application at the consulate:
The initial residence permit is valid for 1 year. Renewal is granted for 2-year periods, with unlimited renewals possible. To renew, the applicant must remain a shareholder and director of the startup, the company must be registered in the special section of the Business Register, and the applicant must declare annual income of at least €8,500 in Italy. Renewal must be applied for no later than 60 days before the current permit expires.
After 5 years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for an EU long-term residence permit. After 10 years, they may apply for Italian citizenship.
Spouse, minor children, dependent adult children with permanent disability, and dependent parents may apply for family reunification. The primary visa holder must hold a residence permit valid for at least 1 year and must have resided continuously in Italy for at least 2 years before sponsoring family members. The sponsor must demonstrate annual income at least equal to the social allowance (assegno sociale, €7,002.84 per year in 2025, updated annually by INPS) with higher thresholds for multiple dependants, plus adequate accommodation. Family members receive a residence permit for family reasons that allows them to work in Italy as employees or self-employed without additional authorisation.
Italian tax residents (183+ days in Italy) are subject to IRPEF personal income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates from 23% to 43%. Eligible sole proprietors may access the flat-rate tax regime (5% for the first 5 years, then 15%) if turnover is below €85,000.
Innovative startups benefit from several fiscal advantages: exemption from Chamber of Commerce annual fees and stamp duty for business register enrolment, public loan guarantees covering 80% of bank loans up to €2.5 million, and tax deductions for investors. From 1 January 2025, individual investors under the "de minimis" regime receive a 65% IRPEF deduction (up to €100,000/year, 3-year holding period, prior MIMIT platform application by the startup's legal representative) and 30% otherwise (up to €1 million/year). The corporate income tax rate (IRES) is 24%.
The process has four steps:
Step 1 — Nulla Osta: Submit the complete application package via email to the MIMIT Technical Committee. The committee, composed of startup ecosystem experts, evaluates whether the business model meets innovative startup requirements and whether the applicant has adequate financial resources. The nulla osta is issued within 30 days if approved. Applications may also be submitted through a certified Italian incubator.
Step 2 — Visa: Visit the nearest Italian consulate with the nulla osta certificate and supporting documents to obtain a 1-year self-employment entry visa.
Step 3 — Residence Permit: After arriving in Italy, register at the local Questura within 8 days and apply for a 1-year self-employment residence permit.
Step 4 — Company Registration: Incorporate the startup as a limited liability company (S.r.l.) and register it in the special section of the Business Register at the local Chamber of Commerce.
The nulla osta application is free of charge. The total process from application to visa typically takes 6 to 8 weeks.
Under the reformed criteria of Law 193/2024 (in force from 18 December 2024), the startup must be incorporated as a limited liability company (S.r.l.) or cooperative under Italian law, domiciled in Italy, and registered in the special section of the Business Register. The company must qualify as an SME (turnover ≤€50 million or assets ≤€43 million per EU Recommendation 2003/361/CE), not be controlled by a large enterprise, not be listed on a regulated market, not distribute dividends, and not be primarily engaged in consultancy or agency services. From the second year of registration, the annual production value must not exceed €5 million.
Innovative startup registration lasts 3 years by default, extendable in 2-year tranches up to a total of 5 years on demonstration of additional innovation indicators (such as ≥25% R&D expenditure increase, public administration contracts, ≥50% revenue or employment growth, ≥€50,000 equity reserve, or patent registration), and extendable up to 9 years for scale-up companies meeting capital-increase (≥€1 million) or revenue-growth (≥100% over two years) criteria. The MIMIT Direttoriale Circular of 29 July 2025 provides the implementing guidance, including a requirement that confirmation of requirements be filed within 30 days of approval of the third-year financial statement and by 31 July at the latest.