San Marino

Capital City of San Marino

Currency EUR

Languages Italian

Official fee 50 – 225,060 EUR

The Republic of San Marino is a European microstate enclaved within Italy. It is NOT an EU member, NOT in the Schengen Area, and uses the euro under a monetary agreement. EU immigration instruments (Blue Card, Single Permit, Long-Term Resident, EU digital-nomad schemes) do NOT apply. Immigration is governed entirely by national law: Legge 118/2010 on entry and stay of foreigners, its implementing regulation Decreto Delegato 151/2010 (which sets all fees, document checklists and deadlines), and Citizenship Law 114/2000 as amended. The law distinguishes temporary stay permits (Permessi di Soggiorno, 3-12 months, renewable) from stable Residenze, with most permits issued by the Gendarmeria - Ufficio Stranieri and investor/economic residences by the Dipartimento Affari Esteri. San Marino has no dedicated digital-nomad visa, no ancestry visa (descent is a citizenship mode), and is not a 1951 Refugee Convention signatory (humanitarian protection is discretionary).

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Immigration Pathways

(10) Last updated: Jun 7, 2026 · 5 days ago

8 of 10 pathways lead to long-term settlement — 8 to permanent residence, 8 to citizenship.

10 of 10 pathways are backed by official government sources.

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Work / Employment High confidence

Work Stay Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno per lavoro) - Law 118/2010 / DD 151/2010

National work stay permit for employed and seasonal workers, requiring a work clearance (nulla osta) from the Ufficio del Lavoro and an employer declaration. Issued by the Gendarmeria - Ufficio Stranieri. After 48 months the temporary work permit is interrupted and the worker must return home; a new application cannot be filed until 30 days after the interruption.

Processing time: Varies; appointment-based at the Ufficio Stranieri
Validity: 3-12 months, renewable; temporary work permit interrupted after 48 months total
Language requirement: No formal language test for the permit; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 9 required
Permanent residence: Yes · Ordinary-permit holders may apply for Residenza Anagrafica after 5 continuous years (art. 20)
Citizenship: Yes · ~20 years continuous registered + effective residence (general rule)

Requirements

Valid passport/ID
Ufficio del Lavoro work clearance (nulla osta)
Certified copy of employer declaration (art. 12 c.1 L.118/2010)
San Marino + home-country criminal record and pending-charges certificates
Residence and family-status certificates
Proof of adequate housing / registered lease (filed within 60 days of issuance)
Foreign (non-Italian) documents legalized or apostilled and translated into Italian

Required Documents

Copy of valid passport/ID required
4 ICAO passport photos (2 for renewal) required
Ufficio del Lavoro work clearance (nulla osta) required
Certified copy of employer declaration (art. 12 c.1 L.118/2010) required
Residence certificate required
Family-status certificate required
San Marino criminal-record + pending-charges self-certification (EUR 15 in stamps) required
Home-country criminal-record + pending-charges certificate (legalized/apostilled + Italian translation) required
Proof of adequate housing / registered lease required

Official fees

Work permit filing fee (per esteri.sm form) 50 EUR

Work permit collection fee (per esteri.sm form) 30 EUR

Standard stay-permit filing fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 30 EUR

Standard stay-permit collection fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 20 EUR

San Marino criminal/pending-charges self-certification (stamps) 15 EUR

Estimated total 145 EUR

Process Steps

1
Secure job and work clearance

Employer obtains the Ufficio del Lavoro nulla osta and prepares the certified employer declaration.
2
Book appointment

Email stranieri.gendarmeria@pa.sm or call 0549/882650 to schedule at the Ufficio Stranieri.
3
Prepare documents

Legalize/apostille and translate foreign documents into Italian; buy the required marche da bollo.
4
File application

Attend the Gendarmeria - Ufficio Stranieri, submit the written application, undergo photo/fingerprint registration, pay the filing fee, and self-certify San Marino documents.
5
File housing title within 60 days

Submit the registered lease/housing title at the Ufficio Stranieri within 60 days of issuance or the permit lapses (art. 17).
6
Collect permit

Collect the permit when notified and pay the collection fee.

Official Sources

Study / Student High confidence

Study Stay Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno per studio) - DD 151/2010 art. 5

Stay permit for enrolled students, requiring an enrolment certificate, health insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 annual cover, proof of housing and sufficient means. Renewal requires proof of passing at least one-third of the prior year's exams.

Validity: Up to 12 months, renewable for the duration of studies
Language requirement: Italian typically required for study programs
Documents: 7 required

Requirements

Valid passport/ID
Enrolment certificate (university: year of attendance)
Health insurance with minimum annual cover of EUR 30,000 (or recognized home-country coverage)
Proof of adequate housing
Proof of sufficient means
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates

Required Documents

Copy of valid passport/ID required
Enrolment certificate required
4 passport photos required
Health insurance certificate (>= EUR 30,000/year cover) required
Proof of adequate housing required
Proof of sufficient means required
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates required
Proof of passing >= 1/3 of prior year's exams (university renewal only)

Official fees

Filing fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 30 EUR

Collection fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 20 EUR

Estimated total 50 EUR

Process Steps

1
Enrol

Obtain the enrolment certificate from the San Marino educational institution.
2
Arrange insurance and means

Obtain health insurance with >= EUR 30,000 annual cover and gather proof of sufficient means and housing.
3
File at Ufficio Stranieri

Submit the application, undergo photo/fingerprint registration, and pay the standard fees.

Official Sources

Company Formation Medium confidence

Economic Residence (Residenza per Motivi Economici) - Legge 15/2019

Stable residence for a natural person holding at least 51% of a San Marino-law company's share capital. 2025 rules require hiring 1-3 employees by activity type and posting a guarantee deposit of EUR 75,000 (rising to EUR 150,000 in year two). Consolidates into Residenza Anagrafica after 10 years.

Validity: Stable residence; tied to ongoing activity
Language requirement: No language test for the residence; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 5 required
Permanent residence: Yes · Consolidates into Residenza Anagrafica after 10 continuous years
Citizenship: Yes · ~20 years continuous registered + effective residence

Requirements

Holding >= 51% of a San Marino-law company's share capital
Hire 1-3 employees (by activity type, 2025 rules)
Guarantee deposit EUR 75,000 (EUR 150,000 in year two)
Business plan and occupational project
Birth, citizenship, family-status certificates
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates

Required Documents

Company incorporation documents showing >= 51% shareholding required
Business plan and occupational project required
Birth, citizenship and family-status certificates required
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates required
Proof of guarantee deposit (EUR 75,000, then EUR 150,000) required

Official fees

Residence filing fee incl. first carta di residenza (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 60 EUR

Guarantee deposit (year one) 75,000 EUR

Guarantee deposit (year two) 150,000 EUR

Estimated total 225,060 EUR

Process Steps

1
Incorporate company

Form the San Marino-law company and acquire at least 51% of its share capital.
2
Meet employment and deposit rules

Hire the required 1-3 employees and post the guarantee deposit.
3
File residence application

Submit to Affari Esteri - Ufficio Passaporti with art. 20 c.2 documents, business plan and occupational project; pay the EUR 60 fee.

Official Sources

Startup Visa Medium confidence

Entrepreneur / Innovative-Enterprise & Startup Permit - Legge 15/2019 + San Marino Innovation

Stay permit for entrepreneurial activity (valid 12 months, renewable up to 5 years) and an accelerated high-tech / innovative-enterprise track certified by San Marino Innovation, offering a 12-year benefit regime with simplified 1-year renewable permits for administrators, shareholder-employees and families.

Validity: 12 months, renewable up to 5 years; innovative track 1-year renewable within a 12-year regime
Language requirement: No language test for the permit; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 6 required
Permanent residence: Yes · Consolidates into Residenza Anagrafica after 10 continuous years
Citizenship: Yes · ~20 years continuous registered + effective residence

Requirements

Company incorporation in San Marino
San Marino Innovation certification (for the innovative/startup track)
Adequate housing
Sufficient income
Health insurance >= EUR 30,000/year
Business plan

Required Documents

Company incorporation documents required
San Marino Innovation certification (innovative/startup track)
Business plan required
Proof of adequate housing required
Proof of sufficient income required
Health insurance certificate (>= EUR 30,000/year) required
Art. 20 c.2 civil-status and criminal/pending-charges documents required

Official fees

Stay-permit filing fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 30 EUR

Stay-permit collection fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 20 EUR

Estimated total 50 EUR

Process Steps

1
Incorporate and certify

Incorporate the company and, for the innovative track, obtain San Marino Innovation certification.
2
Prepare permit dossier

Assemble business plan, housing, income, insurance and civil-status documents.
3
File at Affari Esteri

Submit the residence/permit application; pay applicable fees.

Official Sources

Investor / Golden Visa Medium confidence

Elective / Investor Residence (Residenza Elettiva) - L 118/2010 art. 16 c.3, DD 5/2018

Investor-type stable residence for foreigners making a qualifying real-estate or financial investment, with private health insurance and no access to public-sector employment or state benefits. Filed with Affari Esteri - Ufficio Passaporti. Consolidates into permanent Residenza Anagrafica after 10 years.

Validity: Stable residence; renewable
Language requirement: No language test for the residence; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 4 required
Permanent residence: Yes · Consolidates into Residenza Anagrafica after 10 continuous years
Citizenship: Yes · ~20 years continuous registered + effective residence

Requirements

Qualifying real-estate or financial investment (reported EUR 200,000-300,000 range; part held in San Marino banks under 2025 rules)
Birth, citizenship and family-status certificates
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates
Private health insurance
Business plan / investment attestation
No public-sector employment, no state benefits

Required Documents

Birth, citizenship and family-status certificates required
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates required
Investment evidence (business plan, attestation of investments / intent to acquire premises) required
Private health insurance certificate required

Official fees

Residence filing fee incl. first carta di residenza (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 60 EUR

Carta di residenza reissue 50 EUR

Estimated total 110 EUR

Process Steps

1
Make qualifying investment

Arrange the qualifying real-estate or financial investment, holding required assets in San Marino banks as per 2025 rules.
2
Assemble documents

Gather art. 20 c.2 civil-status and criminal documents plus investment evidence; legalize/translate as needed.
3
File with Affari Esteri

Submit to the Dipartimento Affari Esteri - Ufficio Passaporti and pay the EUR 60 residence fee.

Official Sources

Investor / Golden Visa Medium confidence

Atypical Residence for Retirees (Residenza Atipica Pensionati) - L 223/2020, L 64/2025

Residence for EU/Swiss/designated-country pensioners with foreign income, requiring annual income of at least EUR 120,000 gross and movable assets of at least EUR 300,000 held in San Marino banks, dedicated family housing, and subject to an annual quota cap. Consolidates into Residenza Anagrafica after 10 years.

Validity: Stable residence; renewable
Language requirement: No language test for the residence; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 5 required
Permanent residence: Yes · Consolidates into Residenza Anagrafica after 10 continuous years
Citizenship: Yes · ~20 years continuous registered + effective residence

Requirements

EU/Swiss/designated-country nationality
Foreign-source income >= EUR 120,000 gross/year
Movable assets >= EUR 300,000 held in San Marino banks for the residence duration
Dedicated family housing
Private health insurance
Within the annual quota cap
No public employment, no state benefits

Required Documents

Proof of foreign-source income (>= EUR 120,000 gross/year) required
Proof of movable assets >= EUR 300,000 in San Marino banks required
Proof of dedicated family housing required
Private health insurance certificate required
Birth, citizenship, family-status and criminal/pending-charges certificates required

Official fees

Residence filing fee incl. first carta di residenza (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 60 EUR

Process Steps

1
Verify eligibility and quota

Confirm nationality eligibility, income/asset thresholds and quota availability with Affari Esteri.
2
Place assets and housing

Deposit movable assets in the San Marino banking system and secure dedicated housing.
3
File residence application

Submit to Affari Esteri with the required income, asset, housing and civil-status documents; pay the EUR 60 fee.

Official Sources

Family Reunification High confidence

Family Stay Permit / Reunification (Permesso ordinario, ricongiungimento familiare) - DD 151/2010 art. 14, 16, 29

Stay permit for spouses, children and more-uxorio cohabitants (after birth of a recognized child) of residents. Minimum income (art. 29): EUR 12,000 gross for the applicant plus EUR 3,000 per additional family member, plus health insurance of at least EUR 30,000/year.

Validity: Renewable; ordinary permit can convert to Residenza Anagrafica after 5 years
Language requirement: No language test for the permit; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 7 required
Permanent residence: Yes · Residenza Anagrafica after 5 continuous years of ordinary permit (art. 20)
Citizenship: Yes · Reduced 10-year rule for spouses/civil partners of Sammarinese citizens

Requirements

Valid passport/ID
Birth, citizenship, residence and family-status certificates
Marriage-act extract confirming no separation/annulment pending or concluded
Proof of adequate housing
Latest income-tax return + proof of ability to maintain the family member
Minimum income EUR 12,000 gross + EUR 3,000 per additional member (art. 29)
Health insurance >= EUR 30,000/year
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates

Required Documents

Copy of valid passport/ID required
4 passport photos required
Birth, citizenship, residence and family-status certificates required
Marriage-act extract (no separation/annulment pending) required
Latest income-tax return + proof of maintenance ability required
Health insurance certificate (>= EUR 30,000/year) required
San Marino + home-country criminal/pending-charges certificates required
Cohabitation declaration + repatriation fidejussione (more-uxorio, art. 16 only)

Official fees

Filing fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 30 EUR

Collection fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 20 EUR

Estimated total 50 EUR

Process Steps

1
Confirm sponsor and income

Verify the sponsor's residence status and meeting the art. 29 income threshold.
2
Gather civil-status documents

Obtain birth/marriage/family-status certificates; legalize/apostille and translate foreign documents.
3
File application

File at the Ufficio Stranieri (art. 14) or Ufficio di Stato Civile (spouse/child of a citizen), with photo/fingerprint registration and fees.

Official Sources

Permanent Residence High confidence

Permanent Residence (Residenza Anagrafica) - L 118/2010 art. 19-22 / DD 151/2010

Stable registered residence and the permanent status feeding naturalization. Reached by converting an ordinary stay permit after 5 continuous years, or automatically by consolidation of elective/economic/atypical residences after 10 continuous years. The carta di residenza is indefinite.

Validity: Indefinite (carta di residenza follows the residence)
Language requirement: No language test for residence; Italian required for naturalization
Documents: 3 required
Permanent residence: Yes · This is the permanent status
Citizenship: Yes · ~20 years continuous registered + effective residence (10 for spouses of citizens)

Requirements

5 continuous years on an ordinary permit (conversion route), OR 10 continuous years on an elective/economic/atypical residence (consolidation route)
Citizenship and pre-marriage family-status certificates
Criminal record and pending-charges certificates
Marriage extract confirming no separation pending (spouses)

Required Documents

Citizenship certificate required
Pre-marriage family-status certificate required
Criminal record and pending-charges certificates required
Marriage-act extract confirming no separation pending (spouses)

Official fees

Residence filing fee incl. first carta di residenza (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 60 EUR

Carta di residenza reissue 50 EUR

Estimated total 110 EUR

Process Steps

1
Accumulate qualifying residence

Hold an ordinary permit for 5 continuous years, or an elective/economic/atypical residence for 10 continuous years.
2
File residence application

Apply at the Ufficio Stranieri (or Ufficio di Stato Civile for family of citizens) with the required documents.
3
Obtain carta di residenza

Undergo photo/fingerprint registration; receive the indefinite carta di residenza.

Official Sources

Citizenship / Naturalization High confidence

Citizenship by Naturalization - Law 114/2000 (as amended; reform L 27/2026 + Reg. 4/2026)

Naturalization generally requires at least 20 continuous years of registered and effective residence, reduced to 10 years for spouses/civil partners of citizens (and adoptees). Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Italian and pass a test on San Marino history and institutions. Renunciation of prior nationality is no longer required.

Validity: Permanent (citizenship)
Language requirement: Knowledge of Italian + San Marino history/institutions test (from 25 Feb 2026)
Documents: 4 required
Permanent residence: Yes
Citizenship: Yes · 20 years general; 10 years for spouses/civil partners/adoptees

Requirements

>= 20 continuous years registered + effective residence (general)
10 years for spouses/civil partners of citizens, adoptees, spouses of deceased citizens
Demonstrated knowledge of Italian
Pass a test on San Marino history and institutions
Clean criminal record
Renunciation of prior nationality no longer required

Required Documents

Proof of continuous registered + effective residence required
Evidence of Italian language knowledge required
Pass result of the San Marino history/institutions test required
Criminal record certificate required
Marriage/civil-partnership certificate (reduced-term applicants)

Process Steps

1
Accumulate residence

Hold registered + effective residence for 20 years (10 for eligible spouses/adoptees).
2
Pass language and civics tests

Demonstrate Italian and pass the test on San Marino history and institutions.
3
File petition

Submit the naturalization petition; residency verified by Ufficio di Stato Civile, effective residence by Gendarmeria. Confirm document checklist with Ufficio di Stato Civile.

Official Sources

Asylum / Humanitarian Medium confidence

Humanitarian / Social-Protection Stay Permit - DD 151/2010 art. 15

San Marino is NOT a 1951 Refugee Convention signatory and has no codified asylum statute. The closest national instrument is the art. 15 humanitarian/social-protection stay permit (also used in pre-adoptive/foster cases); refugee status is otherwise granted discretionarily by decree in cooperation with UNHCR.

Validity: Per decree / permit terms
Language requirement: None specified
Documents: 2 required

Requirements

Passport/ID copy
Grounds for humanitarian/social protection
NGO report stating grounds (if filed by an NGO)

Required Documents

Copy of passport/ID required
4 passport photos required
NGO report stating the grounds (if filed by an NGO)

Official fees

Stay-permit filing fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 30 EUR

Stay-permit collection fee (DD 151/2010 art. 1) 20 EUR

Estimated total 50 EUR

Process Steps

1
Present case

Present the humanitarian grounds to the Gendarmeria - Ufficio Stranieri (or via an NGO).
2
File application

Submit passport/ID, photos and any NGO report; undergo photo/fingerprint registration.
3
Discretionary decision

Refugee status, if sought, is decided discretionarily by decree in cooperation with UNHCR.

Official Sources

Some pathway details are machine-translated and may contain minor inaccuracies. Always verify with official sources.

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