2025

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From Vermont to Lake Garda: how US retiree found home again through Italy’s Golden Visa

I wanted to move to Italy to care for my aunt, but I didn’t know where to begin.

Immigrant Invest turned uncertainty into clarity — guiding me through the startup investment that became the key to my new life. They took care of everything with patience and precision; all I had to do was say yes.

Six months later, I wake up to the sound of church bells over Lake Garda — and I know I made the right choice.

Susan, 58

Retiree from the US

Clients’ names and photos have been changed

This case was provided by our expert

Igor Buglo

Head of the Maltese office, MBA

From Vermont to Lake Garda: how US retiree found home again through Italy’s Golden Visa

Second beginning in Italy

Some of Susan’s happiest memories were made in Italy. As a child, she spent her summers there — long, golden weeks in her Aunt Lucia’s house near Lake Garda. She remembered the taste of fresh peaches, the hum of cicadas, and Lucia’s voice calling her in for dinner as church bells echoed in the distance.

“Italy was always my second home, ” Susan said. “It’s where I learned what happiness feels like.”

Years later, when Lucia’s health began to decline, Susan felt an old pull to return — not from obligation, but from love. “She took care of me when I was little, ” she said softly. “Now it’s my turn.” Moving back to Italy wasn’t an escape; it was a homecoming.

After her husband’s passing, Susan inherited their family home in Vermont and modest savings — enough to live comfortably, but not extravagantly. Selling the house would free about €500,000, enough, she thought, to begin anew in Italy and spend her later years surrounded by warmth and family.

But when she began looking into visas, reality set in. Most residency options excluded someone like her — a 58-year-old widow without a remote job and stable income. Each new requirement and form made her feel more uncertain.

Susan’s comparison of Italian visa options

Visa type

Why it didn’t fit Susan

Family reunification visa

Only applies to spouses, parents, or children — not to an aunt

Digital Nomad Visa

Requires proof of ongoing remote employment — Susan was retired

Elective residence visa

Demands stable passive income — savings alone do not qualify

Still, Susan refused to give up. Searching late one evening, she came across Immigrant Invest, a consulting company specialising in citizenship and residence permits by investment. One description eventually caught her attention: Italy’s Golden Visa.

Finding a path: investment that opened Italy’s doors

Susan wrote a hesitant email to Immigrant Invest: “I’m not sure I qualify for the Italy Golden Visa. I think I need some guidance to make sure I don’t miss anything.”

The reply came the next morning. An investment program expert explained that Italy’s Golden Visa might actually be a perfect fit and invited Susan for a consultation to discuss everything in detail. During the consultation, they provided comprehensive information on the Italy Golden Visa — its options, requirements, and procedures.

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Italy

Get the cost calculation

The investment program expert advised Susan to consider the startup option, which required her to invest €250,000 in a project approved by the Italian government. Susan hesitated at first because investing in a startup seemed too difficult — she felt too far removed from the entrepreneurial world.

Susan took some time to consider it but eventually decided it might be a good idea for two reasons:

Startup option was the most financially accessible one under the Italy Golden Visa. €250,000 investment allowed her to secure a visa without draining her savings.
Investment went into a government-approved venture run by professionals, so Susan didn’t need to manage a business or take personal risks.

So, the decision was made. Susan chose a startup involved in hotel renovation and the integration of advanced technologies; several such hotels had already been completed. The promised return was 3—5% per year.

“The project, restoring historic Italian hotels with sustainable technology, felt so beautiful to me, ” Susan said. “It wasn’t just about numbers or profit; it was about helping preserve something timeless, something that’s part of Italy’s soul.”

Susan’s expenses under the startup option

Investment

€250,000

Subscription fee

€12,200

Power of attorney

€605

Tax ID and Digital Signature

€781

Residence permit fee

€3,406

Consular fee

€400

Documents preparation

€1,000

Total

€268,392

Smooth journey, a new home

The process took around 6 months — precise, structured, almost effortless. Susan’s investment was approved, and her residence permit was granted.

Immigrant Invest handled every stage, from conducting a preliminary check to helping Susan secure her residence permit card.

February 7th, 2024

Preliminary Due Diligence

The journey began with preliminary Due Diligence — a quiet but crucial stage. Immigrant Invest’s legal team reviewed Susan’s background to ensure there were no obstacles to entering Italy’s Golden Visa.

A day later, Susan received the green light and signed the service agreement.

+ 2 weeks, €13,805

Choosing a startup and applying for Nulla Osta

Over the following week, Susan reviewed several innovative startups. After she chose the one, Immigrant Invest’s lawyers helped her gather and translate all necessary documents to apply for Nulla Osta, a certificate proving there were no legal obstacles to her investment.

At this stage, Susan made a payment, including:

€12,200 — subscription fee to the innovative company;
€1,000 — document translations and certifications;
€605 — power of attorney.

At this stage, Susan made a payment, including:

€12,200 — subscription fee to the innovative company;
€1,000 — document translations and certifications;
€605 — power of attorney.

+ 3 months, €1,181

Obtaining Nulla Osta, tax ID, and digital signature

Once Susan’s application was submitted, it was forwarded to the local Prefettura — the administrative office responsible for reviewing Investor Visa requests.

That review took 90 days, during which Susan received her tax ID and digital signature, both essential for signing contracts in Italy.

At this stage, Susan paid €781 for tax ID and digital signature and €400 as consular fees.

Once Susan’s application was submitted, it was forwarded to the local Prefettura — the administrative office responsible for reviewing Investor Visa requests.

That review took 90 days, during which Susan received her tax ID and digital signature, both essential for signing contracts in Italy.

At this stage, Susan paid €781 for tax ID and digital signature and €400 as consular fees.

+ 1.5 week

Submission of the visa application

Susan obtained Nulla Osta, valid for 6 months. During this period, she had to apply for her visa at the Italian consulate.

Immigrant Invest guided her through another round of paperwork, ensuring every document was certified and perfectly translated.

Susan obtained Nulla Osta, valid for 6 months. During this period, she had to apply for her visa at the Italian consulate.

Immigrant Invest guided her through another round of paperwork, ensuring every document was certified and perfectly translated.

+ 2 weeks

Obtaining the Investor Visa

The Italian consulate reviewed Susan’s documents. The official timeframe was 120 days, but her approval came in just 2 weeks.

+ 1 week, €253,406

Entering Italy and applying for a residence permit

With her Investor Visa in hand, Susan flew to Italy. With Immigrant Invest’s help, she completed the €250,000 transfer and applied for a residence permit, paying a fee of €3,406.

July 23rd, 2024

Issuance of the residence permit card

The process took about 1 month at the local Questura. Once approved, Susan received her residence card — valid for 2 years. It can be renewed for additional 3-year periods as long as the investment is maintained.

Life after the visa

Now, Susan’s days unfold in soft Italian light — mornings by Lake Garda, afternoons helping her elderly aunt, evenings volunteering at a gallery.

The investment made for the Golden Visa has already begun to pay off: a steady 4% annual return, bringing in about €10,000 in the first year. Susan still has her savings, but this extra income grants comfort — a quiet reassurance that her life in Italy is both beautiful and secure. Yet the true return, she says, can’t be measured in numbers.

“I feel lighter, ” Susan says. “Not just because of the scenery, but because I know I made the right choice — for me, for my aunt, for the years I still have.”

Italy residency by investment — Lake Garda, one of the largest lakes in Italy, sits in northern part of the country, between Milan and Venice, touching three regions — Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige

For Susan, Italy has become a second beginning — one made possible by clear advice, careful planning, and a team that turned possibility into peace of mind.

Susan already knows she will renew her residence permit next year. She also admits she might consider obtaining Italian citizenship when the time comes. In both cases, Immigrant Invest is ready to step in and assist with all the procedures.

You too can obtain Italian residency quickly and without stress — whether you’re seeking a fresh start abroad or simply a better quality of life in familiar surroundings.

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