You most likely won’t be able to choose the Golden Visa if you’re not a HNWI. If you are, the Investor Visa (a.k.a. Golden Visa) is the preferred option if you don’t want to be constrained by having to be physically present in Italy most of the year. Most wealthy people have business activities that do not allow them to commit to living in Italy for 6 months of the year for 3 years. The Golden Visa offers much more flexibility in that regard than other available resident permits such as the Elective Residence or Self-employed.