In this episode of the podcast “La Fideiussione” we look at the best option for non-EU companies that have to submit a guarantee to register for VIES. Find out why locking up €50,000 in cash is a huge opportunity cost, and how the insurance solution fixes the problem with just 4 documents.
Key Points of This Episode
- Timing: Approval and issuance in just 5 working days, with a 100% success rate.
- The capital problem: A cash deposit locks up €50,000 for 3 years.
- The solution: The insurance guarantee only requires a fixed three-year premium, freeing up liquidity for the business.
- Legal validity: The Italian Revenue Agency treats the two options as equivalent (DPR 633/1972 and Provvedimento 178713/2025).
- Less bureaucracy: Only 4 documents are needed (including the Amazon report for start-ups) to complete the application.
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Episode number 29 of August 4, 2026
Welcome to another episode of “La Fideiussione”, the podcast brought to you by Italiafideiussioni dedicated to guarantees and business compliance for everyday operations. Following our previous discussion on what VIES is and who needs it, today we dive into a highly practical question: which instrument should non-EU companies choose to submit their guarantee?
The Hidden Costs of Bank Guarantees
Traditionally, the go-to method has been a standard bank guarantee. However, this route comes with a massive catch that can paralyze a growing business:
- Frozen Capital: Banks require you to lock away €50,000 for three entire years.
- Long Wait Times: The approval process is agonizingly slow, often taking two to four weeks just to get a green light.
- Lost Opportunities: Tying up €50,000 acts as a handbrake on your European expansion, depriving you of capital that could be used for purchasing inventory or funding marketing campaigns.
The Insurance Guarantee Advantage
To adapt to the realities of modern commerce, the Italian Revenue Agency fully accepts the VIES insurance guarantee as an alternative. Structurally, the risk is simply transferred to the insurance company, which acts as a qualified guarantor legally equivalent to holding cash. The contrast is staggering:
- Zero Cash Blocked: Instead of a €50,000 deposit, you only pay a simple, fixed premium for the three-year duration.
- Rapid Issuance: The entire process is completed in just five working days.
- Streamlined Process: You avoid bureaucratic nightmares through a simple three-step online process: request, eligibility check, and issuance.
“When you freeze €50,000 in a bank vault, you’re essentially pulling the handbrake on your European expansion. That’s capital that could be actively used.”
What You Need to Apply
Applying for the insurance guarantee is straightforward. The modern compliance process prioritizes real, traceable data over theoretical paperwork. You only need four specific documents:
- An Apostilled Power of Attorney.
- Your basic corporate documents.
- An Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) report.
- A sales report from your e-commerce platform (such as Amazon seller data).
With a 100% acceptance rate for over 1,500 non-EU companies, the insurance route is the smart choice for modern businesses. Tune in to the full episode to learn how to keep your cash flow liquid while staying completely compliant!
Produced by Italiafideiussioni.it – The Italian portal specializing in guarantees and surety bonds.