Real estate investment in Italy

Foreigners can buy, sell, and rent out real estate without restrictions in Italy.

Statistics confirm the liquidity of investments: the price of residential real estate grows every quarter by an average of 1%. Seven years ago, an apartment of 100 m² cost an average of €290,000, and today it is sold for €400,000.

€4,000

Average price per 1 m²

Average price growth per quarter

9—33%

Associated costs, of the property value

How the residential property price index is growing in Italy

Cost of a 3-bedroom apartment in Italy

€2.5 million

Apartment in the historic centre of Milan

€1.5 million

Apartment in a 10-minute drive from the Milan Cathedral

€400,000

Apartment in Genoa, Turin

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Italy residency or citizenship by real estate investment

Obtaining an Italian residence permit and citizenship is not directly connected with purchasing real estate.

Italy has a program for getting a residence permit by investing in the country’s economy. The investment amount ranges between €250,000 and €2,000,000. There is no option for investing in real estate.

In 2024, Italy launched the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers. It allows a foreigner to obtain a renewable residence permit for a year. Renting or buying a residential property in Italy is a prerequisite for applicants.

Digital nomads are eligible to apply for permanent residency after living in Italy for 5 years. However, they must spend more than 183 days a year in the country. Permanent residency is issued indefinitely, but the resident card must be renewed every 5 years.

Italian citizenship is granted after 5 years of residence with a permanent residence permit. During this time, a resident cannot leave the country for more than 10 months in total for the entire period. It is also necessary to demonstrate knowledge of the Italian language on the B1 level.

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Taxes and associated costs

Countries to buy a property and get residency or citizenship

We offer proven properties that comply with the conditions of government programs for investors. You can buy real estate and obtain a residence permit or citizenship.

Country

Property investments

Status

Obtaining time

Malta12 properties

€300,000+

Permanent residency

6+ months

Show 12 properties

€300,000+Permanent residency6+ months

Grenada19 properties

$270,000+

Citizenship

8+ months

Show 19 properties

$270,000+Citizenship8+ months

UAE113 properties

AED 750,000+

Residence permit

2+ months

Show 113 properties

AED 750,000+Residence permit2+ months

Spain36 properties

€500,000+

Residence permit

5+ months

Show 36 properties

€500,000+Residence permit5+ months

Portugal68 properties

Not limited

Residency after D Visas

6+ months

Show 68 properties

Not limitedResidency after D Visas6+ months

Show all countries

40+ guides with European countries

Find out how much it costs to buy and rent real estate in each country, what the market dynamics are and what taxes you need to pay when buying and selling.

Real estate investment in North Macedonia

Foreigners can buy and sell properties with the approval of the Ministry of Justice.

€985

Average price per 1 m²

1,4%

Average price growth per quarter

Learn more

Real estate investment in Monaco

Foreigners can freely buy, lease, and sell real estate in Monaco, except for properties near the residence of the Prince of Monaco.

€75,200

Average price per 1 m²

1.6%

Average price growth per quarter

Learn more

Real estate investment in Lithuania

Foreigners can freely buy, sell and rent out real estate in Lithuania.

€3,700

Average price per 1 m²

2.5%

Average price growth per quarter

Learn more

Real estate investment in Hungary

Hungary doesn’t limit sales of properties and land to foreigners, except for agricultural land and architectural monuments.

€2,600

Average price per 1 m²

€500,000+

Real estate investment for residency

Learn more

Real estate investment in France

Foreigners can freely buy, lease, and sell real estate in France.

€5,800

Average price per 1 m²

1.1%

Average price growth per quarter

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Real estate investment in Denmark

Denmark limits real estate sales to foreigners: one must have a residence permit and live in the country for at least five years to buy...

€5,300

Average price per 1 m²

1.5%

Average price growth per quarter

Learn more

Material prepared by Igor Buglo, Head of the Maltese office, MBA

Updated:

15 October, 2024

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner buy a house in Italy?
Yes. All foreigners are allowed to buy real estate in Italy. There are also no restrictions on the sale and rental of real estate, either.
Is Italy a good place to buy real estate?
Yes. Real estate properties in Italy are liquid assets. The price of residential real estate is growing every quarter by an average of 1%. Five years ago, an apartment of 100 m² was worth an average of €290,000, and today it can be sold for €309,000.
Foreigners in Italy can also freely buy, sell, and rent out real estate.
How much is real estate tax in Italy?
Buyers of real estate in Italy pay value-added tax for new buildings or registration tax for secondary real estate and additional fees. The associated costs will be from 9 to 33% of the contract’s value.
Property owners pay an annual ownership tax of 0.4 to 0,76% of the cadastral value.
Sellers of real estate pay capital gains tax on a progressive scale of 0 to 43%.
Do you get citizenship if you buy a house in Italy?
No. Italian citizenship cannot be obtained by investment. But foreigners can partake in the Italy residence permit program first. After 10 years of permanent residence in the country, they can get Italian citizenship by naturalisation on a general basis.
To get a residence permit in Italy, investors can choose one of four options:
€250,000+ — investments in innovative startups;
€500,000+ — investments in the authorised capital of Italian companies;
€1,000,000+ — investments in socially significant projects;
€2,000,000+ — purchase of government bonds.
Is Italy open to foreign investment?
Yes, foreign investors are typically subject to the same regulations and procedures as domestic investors when establishing a business or making investments in Italy.
How much do you need to invest in Italy to get residency?
Italy has a program for getting a residence permit by investing in the country’s economy. The investment amount ranges between €250,000 and €2,000,000. There is no option for investing in real estate.
In 2024, Italy launched the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers. It allows you to obtain a residence permit for a year with the possibility of extension.
Are real estate prices dropping in Italy?
The situation varied depending on the region and property type. In Italy, like in many other countries, there have been shifts in housing preferences, with increased demand for properties with outdoor space, larger living areas, and good internet to accommodate remote work.
How much does the average house cost in Italy?
The average price of a house in Italy is around €4,000 per square metre. However, this is a rough estimate, and prices can vary widely depending on the factors. In major cities like Rome, Milan, or Florence, prices are typically higher, while in rural areas or smaller towns, prices may be more affordable.