More information on the laws that regulate the application to obtain residency in San Marino and the residence permit.

Last update: October 2026

Elective residency

The Congress of State has the power to grant elective residency to a foreigner who makes and maintains in his own name, until the consolidation of residency, one or both of the following types of investment in the territory:a) purchase for consideration for a price of no less than €500,000.00 of a building or portion of a building to be used as a residence for the individual or his family unit and which before 31 May 2017 was already completed, to be renovated or in its raw state. The dwelling can also be the result of the merging of several real estate units. For the purposes of calculating the aforementioned amount, in addition to the purchase price, the following may be computed, for an amount not exceeding €150,000.00:

1. the costs of completing the real estate unit;
2. the costs of restructuring the real estate unit;
3. the costs of demolition with reconstruction of the real estate unit.

The completion and renovation of the real estate unit must be carried out in compliance with the energy requalification regulations for buildings pursuant to Law 3 April 2014 n. 48 and subsequent amendments. The real estate unit subject to demolition and reconstruction must achieve energy class A pursuant to Law n. 48/2014 and subsequent amendments;

b) non-interest-bearing and restricted deposit for a period of 10 years of not less than €600,000.00 in securities issued by the State of San Marino or in a fund specifically established by the Most Excellent Chamber.

The granting of elective residence, in the case referred to in letter b), involves the payment of a tax of €10,000.00, to be paid into the relevant budget chapter of the Registry and Conservatory Office and which will not be refunded under any circumstances.

The applicant for elective residence must file a specific application with the Department of Foreign Affairs and pay a tax fee for practical processing, which absorbs all stamp duties and office fees, in the amount of €1,000.00 to be collected from the relevant budget chapter of the Registry and Conservation Office. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs, having received the application including all the documentation referred to in the preceding paragraph, submits it to the attention of the Congress of State, which deliberates on the same within 60 days. The decision is not subject to appeal in any case.

The purchase deed referred to in letter a) of paragraph 1 is not subject to prior authorization by the Council of XII and pays the registration tax in the amount of 8%. The resolution of the Congress of State with which elective residence is granted is attached to the deed of purchase for the purposes of transcription and transfer.

The applicant for elective residence may apply for its extension limited to the subjects (spouse, child under 25 years of age, disabled child), in possession of the requirements set out in this law, upon payment of a one-off sum of €20,000.00 for each subject (secondary applicant).

Until the consolidation of the residence, the holder of elective residence and the secondary applicants:

1. cannot access any type of employment relationship in the Enlarged Public Sector and in entities which, under public or private law, are participated by the Most Excellent Chamber;
2. are not entitled to receive benefits, contributions, allowances and public disbursements of any kind linked to the possession of residence, nor to the contribution referred to in Law 31 March 2015 n.44;
3. are required to assume full responsibility for the costs of health care, through private insurance to cover all inherent risks.

Until the consolidation of the residence, the holder of elective residence may, transfer the real estate unit for any reason if he/she purchases another real estate unit having the requirements. The Trascorsiten years from registration in the register of the resident population, the elective residence is considered consolidated and therefore the prohibitions, obligations and constraints cease.

Residence permit for business reasons

The residence permit for business reasons can be granted to a foreigner, a partner with a share of at least 25%, sole director or chairman of the board of directors of a joint-stock company.

A foreigner in possession of a residence permit for business reasons can request the issuing of the same residence permit for the reunification of the following family members:

1. spouse who is not legally separated and for whom there are no ongoing procedures for separation, dissolution or cessation of civil effects or annulment of marriage;
2. cohabiting more uxorio;
3. child under the age of 25, legitimate, recognized natural or adoptive, who is dependent on him/her, provided that he/she is not married or cohabiting more uxorio and, in the case of minors, provided that the other parent, if known and alive, has given his/her consent or such consent has been authorized by the provision of the authority judicial;
4. legitimate, recognized natural or adoptive child, who is dependent on him/her, if he/she is unable to provide for his/her own support due to disability.

The duration of the family reunification is linked to the duration of the residence permit for business reasons of the person in whose favor it was issued.

The foreigner requesting family reunification must demonstrate availability:

1. of adequate housing for oneself and for the family members for whom one intends to request reunification;
2. of an annual income adequate for the support of oneself and of the family members for whom one intends to request reunification, corresponding to a per capita amount equal to at least the average territorial contractual remuneration of an industrial worker pursuant to Article 54 of Law 11 February 1983 n.15.

The residence permit for entrepreneurial reasons issued to the foreigner allows, in the case of minors, enrollment in study or training courses professional.

Those entitled to the issue of a residence permit for business reasons are required to take out a suitable insurance policy to cover the risk of illness, accident and maternity, to be taken out with a Sammarinese insurance agency, valid in the territory of the Republic with a minimum annual coverage of €30,000.00 (thirty thousand/00) per capita.

The residence permit for business reasons has a duration of twelve months and can be renewed for up to a maximum of five years, without prejudice to the right to request residency in accordance with current legislation.

Residence automatic

Entrepreneurial projects aimed at making one or more investments in the territory of the Republic of San Marino, aimed at starting a new economic activity and/or taking over an existing one in order to relaunch and/or consolidate its development, have access to the simplified regime.

Entrepreneurial projects to be given priority are those:

1. of production of technologically advanced goods or services;
2. in the sector of the green economy;
3. in the hospitality and tourism sector;
4. in the entertainment and leisure sector aimed at enhancing the territory and the tourist offer;
5. in the trade sector;
6. in the arts and culture sector;
7. who establish management, development, marketing, international relations, training, research activities in the territory;
8. in traditional production sectors with low environmental impact;
9. in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

The simplified regime is accessible only if at least five employees are hired from the job placement lists with a permanent contract and full-time contractual hours; in the case of hiring a greater number of workers, including those hired on a fixed-term basis, at least 50% of them must be recruited from the job placement lists.
The possible hiring of company members and their families is not relevant for the purposes of the employment requirement required by the previous paragraph.

In the case of entrepreneurial projects with particularly high specialization, when submitting the entrepreneurial project, it is possible to request to replace part of the personnel to be hired from the job placement lists with personnel to be hired outside the job placement lists, provided that they possess particular qualifications, which are essential for starting the entrepreneurial project, to be documented specifically also through the production of suitable certification to prove them. The Technical Evaluation Committee decides on this request, having consulted the Labour Office regarding the presence or absence of such personnel in the job placement lists.

In the case of business projects aimed at taking over an existing business, if the taken over company does not have the minimum employment levels indicated, these must be integrated within sixty days of the takeover. The integration is relevant for the purposes of access to tax benefits and the simplified regime.
Access to the simplified regime is applied in the following ways:

1. to the entrepreneur or another person in relation to the business project that satisfies the minimum employment requirements set out in the previous article;
2. to the entrepreneur and another person if the business project includes an employment plan for more than 20 employees;
3. to the entrepreneur and two other persons if the business project includes an employment plan for more than 30 employees;

The simplified regime, if requested, is also applied to the subjects’ family units.
Family unit members include the spouse, minor children, adult children who are not married and living together.
After 10 years from registration in the register of the resident population and fulfilling the commitments set out in the business project, residence under the simplified regime is considered consolidated.

Within ninety days of approval of the business project by the Technical Evaluation Committee and in any case before the registration procedure in the register of the resident population is completed, a property that already exists at the time of completion of the transaction must be purchased, which can be used as the headquarters of the business or as the residence of the beneficiary, with a value of minimum of Euro 300,000.00 (three hundred thousand/00). The real estate investment made is not subject to authorization by the Council of XII and is communicated to the same Council of XII for acknowledgement.

The property, on which a lien is created, serves as a guarantee in favor of the Most Excellent Chamber to reimburse any unpaid wages to employees and to enforce any credits of the Public Administration of a tax or contribution nature, until the duration of the submitted business plan has expired.

The creation of a lien on the property may, at the discretion of the beneficiary, be replaced by the creation of a real guarantee of equal value in favor of the Most Excellent Chamber on a bank deposit or other financial instrument held at a person authorized pursuant to Law 17 November 2005 n.165 and subsequent amendments and related implementing decrees, of which the beneficiary is the owner.
The conditions referred to in the previous paragraphs are intended to refer to the individual requestof residence and any family unit.

The subjects must independently be in possession of the necessary means to guarantee their own sustenance and their own health care needs for the first 24 months of residence in the territory; the latter for this period must be guaranteed through the stipulation of a specific insurance policy for the risk of illness, accident and maternity and health care with a minimum annual coverage of €30,000.

These conditions must also be guaranteed for the family unit.

Residence in San Marino for economic reasons

Any person who undertakes an economic activity through a company in the Republic of San Marino is entitled to apply for residence for economic reasons in accordance with the criteria and requirements set out in this article. Residence for economic reasons may not be granted where any of the impediments provided for in Article 17, paragraphs 1 and 2, of Law No. 118 of 28 June 2010, as subsequently amended, apply.

Residence for economic reasons is granted to a natural person who directly holds at least 51 per cent of the share capital of a company. The Economic Activities Office Organisational Unit shall communicate the name and personal details of the person concerned to the Civil Status, Demographic and Electoral Services Organisational Unit for registration in the register of residents for economic reasons, provided that the person has submitted an application.

Residence for economic reasons is granted to the person referred to in the preceding paragraph, even where the business already exists, provided that the person employs at least one employee who is resident in San Marino under a permanent full-time contract, or two employees resident in San Marino, both under permanent part-time contracts whose combined working hours are equivalent to those of a full-time employment relationship. The employment of applicants for residence for economic reasons, including family members, shall not count towards the minimum employment requirement laid down in this paragraph.

The person applying for residence for economic reasons must not have outstanding debts, either personally or through businesses or companies in which that person holds a direct or indirect interest in San Marino, that have already been entered on the collection roll pursuant to Law No. 70/2004, as subsequently amended, for a total amount exceeding EUR 20,000.00 (twenty thousand/00), unless a payment plan granted pursuant to Article 34 of Law No. 70/2004, as subsequently amended, is being duly complied with.

If any of the following requirements ceases to be met:

a) the 51 per cent requirement and the prescribed employment requirement are no longer met;

b) the authorisation to operate referred to in Delegated Decree No. 50 of 14 March 2024, as subsequently amended, is suspended, terminated or revoked;

c) debts arise in respect of the person applying for residence for economic reasons or businesses or companies in which that person holds a direct or indirect interest in San Marino, which have already been entered on the collection roll pursuant to Law No. 70/2004, as subsequently amended, for a total amount exceeding EUR 20,000.00 (twenty thousand/00), unless a payment plan granted pursuant to Article 34 of Law No. 70/2004, as subsequently amended, is being duly complied with; the beneficiary shall be granted ninety consecutive days to restore compliance. If that period expires without compliance being restored, the Economic Activities Office Organisational Unit shall submit a specific report to the Civil Status, Demographic and Electoral Services Organisational Unit for the revocation of residence for economic reasons.

The occurrence of any of the impediments provided for in Article 17, paragraph 2, of Law No. 118 of 28 June 2010, as subsequently amended, and the loss of the financial guarantee shall result in an immediate report to the Civil Status, Demographic and Electoral Services Organisational Unit for the revocation of residence for economic reasons.

Residence for economic reasons shall be revoked by order of the Head of the Civil Status, Demographic and Electoral Services Organisational Unit.

Where residence granted under this article is revoked, it shall not be granted again to the applicant, the applicant’s spouse or first-degree relatives should they intend to start another economic activity.

Residence for economic reasons shall also be granted to:

a) a spouse who is not legally separated and in respect of whom no proceedings are pending for separation, dissolution or cessation of the civil effects of marriage, or annulment of the marriage;

b) a legitimate, natural, acknowledged or adopted child who is no more than twenty-five years of age and is financially dependent on the applicant, provided that the child is neither married nor cohabiting as a couple and, in the case of a minor, provided that the other parent, if known and living, has given consent or such consent has been authorised by an order of the Judicial Authority;

c) a legitimate, natural, acknowledged or adopted child who is financially dependent on the applicant and is unable to provide for their own support because of a disability.

The requirements referred to in points a), b) and c) must be met at the time the application for residence is submitted.

Until residence is consolidated, holders of residence for economic reasons and secondary applicants shall bear the full cost of healthcare, under the arrangements established by the Social Security Institute, covering all related risks.

A holder of residence for economic reasons may register on the employment placement lists in accordance with the procedures laid down by the legislation in force.

Before registration in the Resident Population Register is finalised, the applicant must submit to the Economic Activities Office Organisational Unit documentation proving the establishment of a security interest over a bank deposit of certain value and readily realisable, held with an entity authorised pursuant to Law No. 165 of 17 November 2005, as subsequently amended, and the relevant implementing decrees, in favour of the Most Excellent Chamber, owned by the applicant and amounting to EUR 75,000.00 (seventy-five thousand/00). This security interest may be replaced by a bank guarantee issued by an entity supervised in San Marino pursuant to the aforementioned Law No. 165/2005, as subsequently amended, and the relevant implementing decrees, in favour of the Most Excellent Chamber for the same amount. Within two years of obtaining residence, the security interest or bank guarantee must be increased to EUR 150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand/00), or replaced by the purchase of a property already existing at the time the transaction is completed. Within twelve months of residence being granted, that property must be designated as the place of business or the beneficiary’s residence, must have a purchase-deed value of at least EUR 150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand/00), and must be subject to a preferential claim in favour of the Most Excellent Chamber, failing which residence for economic reasons shall be revoked.

The property or guarantees shall serve as security in favour of the Most Excellent Chamber for the recovery of any claims entered on the collection roll by the Public Administration, Public Bodies and Autonomous State Enterprises until the expiry of the relevant period.

The Economic Activities Office Organisational Unit shall periodically verify continued compliance with the requirements for retaining residence and shall report any debts already entered on the collection roll and owed to the Public Administration, Public Bodies and Autonomous State Enterprises to the Government Auditors, through the State Legal Service, for the enforcement of the guarantees.

A resident for economic reasons is not entitled to access the benefits provided for by Law No. 110 of 15 December 1994, as subsequently amended, or by Law No. 44 of 31 March 2015, as subsequently amended.

After ten years from registration in the Resident Population Register for economic reasons, and once the required obligations have been fulfilled, residence may be consolidated following verification that the requirements laid down in Article 17, paragraphs 1 and 2, of Law No. 118/2010, as subsequently amended, continue to be met and that the applicant habitually resides in San Marino. The person concerned must submit a written application to the UAE Organisational Unit, attaching, for themselves and/or every member of the cohabiting household, a copy of a valid identity document and/or passport; criminal record and pending-charge certificates issued by the Court of San Marino and by the competent authorities of the country of origin; and a report on the business activity certifying continued fulfilment of the undertakings made when residence was granted. The residence consolidation measure shall extend to the members of the cohabiting household.

Through its internal provisions, the Civil Status, Demographic and Electoral Services Organisational Unit shall regulate the procedures for maintaining separately the Resident Population Register for economic reasons and the Resident Population Register under Law No. 118/2010, as subsequently amended.

A maximum of fifty residences may be granted each year under this article; persons applying for an extension of residence shall not be counted towards this limit. This number may be amended each year by delegated decree.

A delegated decree may annually list the economic sectors in which residence under this article may not be obtained because of excessive market saturation, excessive urban-planning impact or other economic policy reasons.

Every three months, the Civil Status, Demographic and Electoral Services Organisational Unit shall inform the Permanent Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Immigration of the number of residences for economic reasons granted and revoked during the reference period.

Further information:

• Regulations and decrees on residency permits in San Marino