Business immigration is one of the ways to move to Italy and stay there for a long period time. Many foreigners are accepted into the program for entrepreneurs and those who would like to engage in self-employment. The criteria are the ability to organize your business or work in Italy, a sufficient level of income. This is a convenient program, thanks to which you can move to Fellini's homeland with the whole family with the prospect of obtaining local citizenship.
The official website of the program
Getting an Italian residence permit under the program for entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals is not as hard as it seems. The main thing is to defend the business plan, as well as to prove your solvency and financial ability to support yourself and dependents (if family members move with the main applicant).
The provisions governing business immigration to Italy are spelled out in the Decree D. Lgs. 286/98. But there is a disadvantage: the issuance of cards (with the exception of some categories listed in the Article 27 of the Decree D. Lgs. n. 286/98) is carried out in accordance with quotas that the Italian authorities annually prescribe in a special decree (decreto flussi). In 2020, the document was not released due to the pandemic, and in 2019, for example, the quota for the foundation of lavoro autonomo was 2,400 people.
For most applicants, local laws do not specify a threshold for entry into the program. But those who open a company in Italy need to confirm a significant personal capital. According to the Decree (D.P.C.M.) of 12/14/2015, Article 2, paragraph 2 (a), the founder of the company (imprenditore category) must have at least €500,000 as well as create at least three job positions. At the same time, no one takes away the freedom to dispose of capital from a businessman: if the company does not need large investments, then absolutely any amount can be spent on organizing commercial activities. There are no such requirements for individual entrepreneurs, free professionals and other categories of applicants for lavoro autonomo.
A residence permit is issued for two years with unlimited renewal possibilities. A foreigner gets the right to engage in entrepreneurial activity, to study, and also to look for a job for hire, if something goes wrong with the business. It is an unusual option for a business immigrant, but there is such an option. The fact is that lavoro autonomo is a convertible basis, that is, it is allowed to change the field of activity and become an employee, but with the extension of the residence permit, the basis will be different - lavoro subordinato.
An entrepreneur with sufficient income and savings can move the whole family to Italy. There is an option to apply for permanent residence (PDS CE – permesso di soggiorno CE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) after five years of legal residence. In another five years you can to get a second citizenship, if there is no criminal record and a source of income has been preserved. And Italian citizenship from the point of view of open borders is even more powerful than British or American. According to the Passport Index 2020, Italians have the right to travel to 188 countries of the world without a visa or with a visa upon arrival.
In addition to entrepreneurs (ditta individuale, imprenditore) and independent professionals (libero professionista), startups, managers/auditors in Italian business, heads of an Italian representative office or a branch of a foreign company, invited professional athletes, artists, musicians, professors, etc., apply for an Italian residence permit on the basis of lavoro autonomo. The requirements are different for each type of applicant.
Lavoro autonomo's residence permit may be revoked for committing a crime or copyright infringement (forgery of trademarks, use of patented technologies in production in secret from the patent holder, etc.).
Family members are given a residence permit for family reasons (permesso di soggiorno per ricongiungimento familiare). At the same time, family members can enter the territory of Italy on any visa (even tourist) and issue a residence permit on the spot. As soon as the investor has a residence permit, family members can be legalized. The main condition is sufficient family income and savings for the maintenance of all members.
Together with the main applicant, a residence permit can be obtained by
A spouse
In a legal marriage, over 18 years of age
Children
Minors or unmarried adults, dependent on their parents; children with disabilities
Parents
Financially dependent
Depending on the category of the applicant, the list of documents may vary. The official list has a mandatory minimum for all; information about additional documents must be clarified at the consulate.
€16,00 – duties and charges in the form of a stamp (marca da bollо)
€30,00 must be paid to the post office employee for submitting a completed application
€80,46 when requesting a residence permit for a period of one to two years
€130,46 when requesting an EU residence permit for a long stay for managers and specialized workers
€4,000-15,000, depending on the list of services and whether it is necessary to develop a business plan (in the case of entrepreneurial activity or business)
From €5,000 – business registration in Italy
If the applicant buys real estate, then there is an opportunity to reduce additional costs. Foreigners with a residence permit can receive a benefit for the purchase of their first home (prima casa), thanks to which tax expenses will be reduced by 2-4 times.
The rights of a resident in Italy are almost identical to the rights of citizens. The only exceptions are the privileges offered by the passport, as well as the exercise of the right to vote.
The ights of the holder of a residence permit in Italy
Obligations