Immigration and Italian citizenship made easy
Immigration in Italy and Italian Citizenship: Our guide
The Expat Desk at Accounting Bolla can help you in acquiring the Italian citizenship or apply for a VISA. The main advantages of being an Italian citizen (or an Italian VISA holder) are:
Freedom of movement in the Schengen zone;
No limitations of investment and asset ownership in the European Union;
Ability to work in any country of the European Union.
Being an Italian citizen or holding an Italian VISA does not automatically makes you a tax-payer, therefore you can avoid adverse tax consequences of it.
MOVE YOUR FIRST STEP TO ITALY!
Italian citizenship
According to the Italian laws, Italian citizenship is passed by on the jure sanguinis criteria. In simple words, if you can track your ancestor lineage to Italy you can apply for the Italian Citizenship, however there are multiple limitations and law cases that might vow your right to application.
Having an Italian last name does not mean that you can automatically qualify! First of all, if any of your ancestor relinquished his/her citizenship you cannot apply, unless the
The current law states that women could hold but not pass citizenship to descendants born before January 1st 1948. This means that the process is easier tracking your paternal roots, rather than your maternal roots. It is possible to overturn this law through a court ruling. This is a clear breach of the Italian Constitution and it provides a tangible discrimination towards women, therefore it is possible to apply to court to vow this controversial law.
VISA options
Being an Italian citizen or holding an Italian VISA does not automatically makes you a tax-payer, therefore you can avoid adverse tax consequences of it.
MOVE YOUR FIRST STEP TO ITALY!
Family extension
Investor VISA
Sometimes called the golden VISA, this VISA grants a 2 year right to settle in Italy upon providing any of the following investments:
- € 2,000,000 in Italian 10 year Government bonds;
- € 1,000,000 in an Italian charity;
- € 500,000 in an Italian limited company, reduced to € 250,000 in case the company is an innovative startup.
You can invest the aforementioned amounts in YOUR startup or YOUR limited company in Italy; there is no requirement that the business was already active prior the application.
During the whole VISA period the applicant must hold the investment in Italy.
Employment VISA and EU Blue Card
This is the most common VISA available, if you find a local based employer who is willing to sponsor you, you can land to Italy with an employment contract in your hand.
The sponsor must be provide you a gross remuneration of no less than € 26,000 and a minimum contract of 1 year; shorter durations or lower remunerations do not allow the applicant to access such option.
Skilled workers (College degree holders) are eligible for the EU blue card which is a common standard among the EU countries; its minimum duration is 2 years.
Self-employment VISA
If you are self employed in your country, and you wish to move to Italy, you need to prove that you want to extend your business into Italy and that you have been carrying the trade for more than 2 years in your home country. This is the best option for digital nomads wishing to settle in Italy.
The VISA is renewable every year and it requires a minimum annual gross income of € 11,500.
Elective Residency VISA
Italy grants the possibility to obtain a 1-year permit of stay, granting unlimited renewals, for the so called “settled” applicants, that already have foreign passive income allowing them to live in Italy without working. This is known as “Elective Residency Visa.
The main requirement, prior starting the application process, is to ALREADY have sufficient income.
Specifically, income must arise from ANY PASSIVE source, that we can demonstrate it remains CONSTANT, even in case of physical relocation in Italy, amounting to NO LESS than 32.000€ per year.
Qualifying income sources are:
- Pensions
- Dividends
- Property/rental income
- Financial income
Prior moving to Italy, you need to have a Codice Fiscale, and a permanent lease contract on your name.
This VISA does not allow you to work nor start any business.
Business VISA
A foreign business can expand into Italy through establishing a branch or a representative office locally. A Business VISA allows the foreign owner or worker to relocate to Italy in order to run the Italian office.
This move does not have any adverse tax consequences on the company side as representative offices or branches are normally not required to make a profit in Italy.
Another option is to become a Managing Director of an Italian based company which has been active for at least three years.
