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How To Live And Work In Italy With The Italian Start-up Visa

Davide Palazzo

December 5, 2022

Italy begins to sound like a pretty attractive place to have a startup for entrepreneurs. Yes, you heard it well! While a few years ago, the Italian startup ecosystem was scattered and lacked self-awareness, it’s now rapidly catching up, thanks to the Italia Startup Visa and the launch of a public co-investment VC fund, namely Invitalia Ventures.

Many startup companies have already taken advantage of this opportunity. Among all, Quattrocento Eyewear – is a company selling handcrafted eyeglasses in a genuinely innovative way. As reported by Mattia Corbetta — a Directorate-General for Industrial Policy and SMEs member – on Medium, Sharon Ezra, the company co-founder, seemed to have chosen Italy because of the quality of Italian handicrafts, something she could not find anywhere else.

So, if you are a non-EU ambitious entrepreneur intending to establish a startup company in Italy, wait no longer. You can now establish startups in Italy quickly (online, free of charge, and decisions made within 30 days of submission). Keep reading to understand how you can benefit from this appealing Programme.

Who Can Apply for the Italian Start-up Visa

You can apply for the visa under, but not limited to, the following conditions:

▹ If you are planning to set up an innovative startup business in Italy:

The company must have its main office in Italy, but if the main office is in an EU State, you can still qualify by having a second office in Italy.
The company has been established for not earlier than 60 months;
The company must have an annual turnover of less than € 5 Million;
The company must be in an innovative sector;
The company does not result from the merger, division, or transfer of business from an existing company;
The company must not be listed on the Stock Market.

▹ If you are planning to join a startup company in Italy, make sure that:

The investment has to be at least 100,000.
You will need to be one of the positions: chairman / CEO / auditor/member of the board of directors.
You will also work as an independent employee for the company.

How to Apply for the Italian Start-up Visa

The Italian Ministry of Economic Development set up a detailed presentation on the advantages granted with this type of business and Visa, but also how to access it (www.mise.gov.it, Innovative Startup).

You can present your Application Form in English. Information materials and customer care service are provided in English for everyone’s convenience.
The procedure is fully looked after by a single body, the Ministry of Economic Development, and specifically by the Directorate General for Industrial Policy, Competitiveness, and SMEs. The Ministry acts as a single administrative body for each applicant’s request and as a point of contact.
The Application Process and Visa release are very quick and amount to approximately 30 days from the application submission.

Once the Visa is granted, and the Nulla Osta is released, you have to apply for your Visa at the competent Embassy or Consulate. Within 8 days of your arrival in Italy, it is necessary to present the residence permit request to the competent authorities.

How Long Does the Italian Start-up Visa Last?

The visa for startup workers has a yearly duration.

Up to 60 days before its expiration, it can be renewed twice for 2 years each.

After 5 years, the non-EU citizen can apply for a long-stay permit, valid for an unlimited period.

For the renewal procedure, the applicant must present the innovative startup visa (certification) and demonstrate earnings superior to the minimum amount required by law.

How We Can Help You

The Italy Start-up Visa is one of Europe’s most generous visa schemes. It will be of particular interest to any startup wishing to expand to Italy to benefit from R&D funding.

Palazzo Law Boutique can help you apply for an Italian Start-Up Visa so that you can fulfill your dream of living/working in Italy. Our excellent customer care and quality support will help you get the visa quickly.

Contact us for a free consultation. You can call us or send us an email, and we’ll be happy to help;
During our discovery call, we will assess your case and provide you with the best outcome;
You will receive an ad-hoc advisory on fulfillment, timing, and fees, tailored to your needs;
We understand it can be a daunting process; however, we will support you through the whole application of your visa preparation and submission.
You will be informed of the mandatory fulfillment to complete the process on your arrival in Italy.

Do you need full support? Have a look at our services for Italian visas to find the best one for you.

Book a FREE 10 min phone consultation now.

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