Italy vs US EB-5: Golden Visa Programmes Compared
The lowest qualifying amount is €250,000 in Italy and $800,000 in United States. Here is how the two programmes differ on time in the country, the path to citizenship and processing, side by side.
At a glance
| Italy | US EB-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | Investor Visa for Italy (visto per investitori) | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program |
| Status | Structurally unchanged since 2017; suspended for Russian and Belarusian nationals | Regional centre authorisation runs to 30 September 2027; grandfathering closes 30 September 2026 |
| Lowest qualifying amount | €250,000 | $800,000 |
| Time you must spend there | No minimum stay set | Must maintain US permanent residence |
| Route to citizenship | 10 years of actual legal residence | Naturalisation possible 5 years after the green card |
| Typical processing | Nulla osta often weeks; visa and permit add months | I-526E commonly 1-2 years, then the visa queue |
| Main routes |
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Which is cheaper, Italy or US EB-5?
The lowest qualifying amount is €250,000 in Italy and $800,000 in United States. The cheapest route is not always the practical one: some low-entry routes are donations or contributions you never get back, while others are investments that can lose value independently of the permit. Add government fees, legal costs and, where relevant, family members before comparing totals.
How much time do you have to spend in each?
Italy: No minimum stay set. United States: Must maintain US permanent residence. A permit that asks for little time in the country is convenient, but a path to citizenship usually depends on genuinely living there.
Which leads to citizenship?
Italy: 10 years of actual legal residence. United States: Naturalisation possible 5 years after the green card. Naturalisation rules are set separately from the investment programme and can change while you are part of the way through.
The biggest caveat for each
Italy: The permit is easy to hold from abroad, but only real registered residence in Italy counts toward the ten-year naturalisation requirement.
US EB-5: Amounts face their first inflation adjustment on 1 January 2027 and regional centre authorisation expires on 30 September 2027 unless Congress renews it.
More programme comparisons
Information reflects our own independent research as understood in September 2026. These rules change often and differ by nationality. Plain Investor does not sell or advise on any programme. This is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice; check the official government source and a licensed immigration lawyer before committing money.