A US tech entrepreneur does not need to relocate to Italy simply because their company is expanding there. But as operations grow, short visits may no longer be enough for meetings, hiring, partnerships, and overseeing local activity.
This creates a practical question: how can a business owner spend more time in Italy while keeping the US as their primary base?
Short-stay rules can become a problem
US citizens can normally spend up to 90 days in the Schengen Area during any 180-day period without obtaining a long-stay visa or residence permit. The limit applies across all Schengen member states rather than separately to each country. A business owner who spends several weeks in Milan, then travels to Paris and Berlin, uses the same 90-day allowance.
The 90-day limit can become restrictive as European operations grow. Sales and investor meetings, recruitment, conferences, product launches, and work with local teams may require more time on the ground than the 90-day rule allows.
Short-stay visits and legal residence serve different purposes. The 90/180-day rule is designed for limited stays, while a residence permit gives a person the legal basis to remain in the issuing country for longer. An Italian permit therefore allows a business owner to spend more time in Italy, while travel to other Schengen states is still possible for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Founders have several options for staying longer
US founders who need to stay in Italy beyond the short term have several possible routes. These include employment-based permits, highly skilled worker routes, self-employment and entrepreneur options, the Digital Nomad Visa, and the Investor Visa.
Each route is designed for a different situation. A work-based permit is linked to employment, while entrepreneur and self-employment routes depend on the applicant’s professional or business activity. Digital Nomad Visa is intended for eligible remote workers and professionals.
The Investor Visa works differently. Instead of being based mainly on a job or active business role, it depends on making an investment and meeting qualifying requirements. This can make it relevant to entrepreneurs who already have an established company and business structure outside Italy.
Investor Visa can offer more flexibility
A residence designed for investors does not oblige them to spend the whole year in Italy. Once it is obtained, there is no minimum stay requirement for maintaining the residence permit.
An investor can therefore maintain significant personal and business connections outside Italy, while the permit also allows its holder to work in the country as an employee or self-employed professional.
How Italy’s Investor Visa works
According toImmigrant Invest’s guide to Italy’s Investor Visa, the program—also known as the Italy Golden Visa—allows eligible non-EU nationals to apply for a visa tied to a qualifying investment in the Italian economy. Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds and that the money comes from lawful sources. After entering Italy, successful applicants can apply for a residence permit, while eligible family members may apply under family reunification rules.
The Italy Golden Visa offers four options:
€250,000 in an innovative Italian startup;
€500,000 in an Italian company;
€1 million in a philanthropic initiative;
€2 million in Italian government bonds.
For tech founders and investors, the startup and company investment options may be particularly relevant. Both involve investing in Italian businesses and may provide a path to residence for eligible applicants.
The process of obtaining Italian residence starts with an online application for a Nulla Osta, followed by an Investor Visa application at an Italian consulate. The investment does not have to be completed before the visa is approved. After entering Italy, the foreigner applies for a residence permit within 8 days and completes the investment within 3 months.
The first residence permit is valid for 2 years. It can later be renewed for another 3 years if the investment is maintained.
What this can look like for a US-based tech entrepreneur
Consider a US entrepreneur whose tech company remains headquartered in the US but is expanding its operations into Italy. As local operations grow, the founder may need to spend several weeks in the country at different points during the year.
Investor residence can support this setup by allowing the entrepreneur to spend longer periods in Italy when needed, then return to the US without changing the company’s main base or relocating their personal life.
For some business owners, residence in Italy may make it easier to work there regularly and connect with European teams, clients, and partners.
Milan has a strong international business base, with around 4,700 foreign-owned companies employing roughly 280,000 people across finance, IT, life sciences, and manufacturing
Residence flexibility does not remove tax considerations
An Italian residence permit and Italian tax residence are not the same thing. Tax residence depends on separate rules that consider factors such as physical presence, domicile, and personal circumstances. Spending more time in Italy can therefore have tax consequences even if permanent relocation was never the founder’s original plan.
US investors also need to consider the rules in the United States. Americans usually remain subject to US tax reporting on worldwide income even when they spend substantial time abroad. An investor planning longer stays in Italy should therefore review the Italian and US tax position before changing their travel pattern.
Conclusion
For entrepreneurs whose business requires more time in Italy, the choice is not limited to occasional business trips or permanent relocation. The Italy Golden Visa can offer another option for those who are ready to make an investment and want more flexibility over how long they spend in the country.
If you are considering Italy as a European base, contact Immigrant Invest for general information about the Italy Investor Visa.
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