New insurance requirement for businesses

Starting in 2026, businesses in Italy are required to purchase insurance against natural disasters and catastrophes.

Specifically, depending on the type of business, the requirement will take effect:
- on April 1 for large businesses (with penalties suspended until June 30, 2025);
- from October 1, 2025, for medium-sized businesses;
- from January 1, 2026, for small and micro-businesses;
- from April 1, 2026, for micro and small businesses in the fishing and aquaculture sectors, food and beverage service establishments, and tourism and hospitality businesses.

Find out what you need to do to comply.

Why the new requirement?

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and flash floods pose a growing threat to Italian businesses. The insurance requirement was introduced to increase business resilience, ensuring adequate tools to deal with unforeseen events and contributing to the stability of the entire economic system.

The 2024 Budget Law (Art. 1, paras. 101–112, Law 213/2023) stipulates that, by March 31, 2025, all businesses with their registered office in Italy and foreign businesses with a permanent establishment in the country must be insured against damage caused by catastrophic events. Companies that fail to comply with the insurance requirement may be excluded from public grants and subsidies.

For more information, see the Gazzetta Ufficiale

Who is it for?

The requirement applies to (non-exhaustive list):
- All companies with their registered office in Italy
- All companies with their registered office abroad but with a permanent establishment in the country, which are required to be registered in the Business Register pursuant to Article 2188 of the Civil Code.


The following are excluded (non-exhaustive list; for details, consult the regulations in the Official Gazette or the Government’s FAQs):
- Agricultural businesses, already covered by the national mutual aid fund (Art. 1, paragraphs 515 et seq., Law 234/2021) for weather-related damage to agricultural production (flooding, frost, ice, drought)
- Businesses with unauthorized real estate, i.e., properties built without permits or with subsequent violations after construction

What does this mean for your business?

If you are planning to apply for a loan guaranteed by the SME Guarantee Fund, it will be essential to:

  • 01
    Check insurance coverage

    Make sure your business has adequate insurance coverage that meets the requirements of the new regulations

  • 02
    If you do not have one, you will need to purchase an insurance policy

    If you don't have adequate coverage, contact your insurance agent or purchase a policy online that meets the new requirements.

  • 03
    Have the necessary documentation

    Please prepare the documentation confirming the validity and adequacy of your insurance coverage to be attached to your loan application.

Where to apply for your policy

Consult your trusted financial advisor or choose a solution on specialized platforms such as Acrisure and Yolo .

For more details, please see the FAQ from the Ministry’s website dedicated to disaster insurance policies. Please note that Banca Aidexa does not engage in insurance distribution. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an insurance recommendation.