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What kind of start-ups qualify for the Italian investor visa?

I want to apply for an Italian investor visa by investing 500,000 euros in a start-up business my friend established in Milan two years ago. However, I heard that not all start-ups qualify as an acceptable investment for this type of visa. What are the requirements for a start-up to qualify for the investor visa?


Answers
  • Mazzeschi Srl
    December 13, 2018

    It cannot be any newly established company. In order to qualify for an investor visa, the company needs to be established meeting conditions of Law 221/2012 and registerd in a special section of Registro Imprese (Companies House).

  • LCA Studio Legale
    December 12, 2018

    Start-up companies that can qualify for the investor visa are the so-called innovative start-up companies, i.e., the ones referred to in art. 25, par. 2, of decree-law no. 179 of 18 October 2012, converted with amendments by law no. 221 of Dec. 17, 2012, and subsequent amendments. The official list of innovative start-ups, which is updated every week and accessible free of charge, is available on the portal administered by the Italian Chambers of Commerce system. As a general guideline, innovative start-ups shall satisfy a number of criteria, among which are being of high technological value, having been operating for less than five years, having a turnover of less than 5 million euros per year and falling under the definition of “innovative” company set forth by the above-mentioned laws.

  • Avv. Andrea Parisi
    December 22, 2018

    The start-ups qualifying for the Italian investor visa must have a "corporate purpose" whose production or marketing is related to high technological value. If you want to apply for an Italian investor visa by investing 500,000 euros in a start-up business your friend established two years ago, you have to hurry, as the investment should take place by three years from its setup.