In 2014, the Ministry of Economic Development created the Italy Startup Visa (ISV). They addressed it to foreign entrepreneurs wishing to open an innovative startup in Italy. However, the startup in question needs to be strongly tied with innovation and technology.
The Ministry of Economic Development provides a detailed presentation on how to access the status of innovative startup and the advantages granted to this type of business (www.mise.gov.it, Innovative Startup).
The online procedure for the Italian Startup Visa:
- It can take place entirely in English. Application forms, information materials and a “customer care” service, as well as the website of the program itself, are all offered in English. This is to facilitate the applicants who are not proficient in Italian;
- The procedure is fully centralized. A single administration (the Ministry of Economic Development, specifically the Directorate General for Industrial Policy, Competitiveness and SMEs, where the Secretariat of the program is based), handles all communications with the other administrations involved (central police offices, consular representation abroad). Moreover, it acts as a single contact point for the applicants;
- It can be completed expeditiously. The Certificate of No Impediment to the granting of the visa is normally released within 30 days from application submission.
With the introduction of the Italia Startup Hub in 2014, the possibility to apply for an Italy Startup Visa has been extended to those who are already living in Italy on a resident permit for other reasons, and who can convert it in a startup one, without the need to leave the country.