Italian Student Visa

International students who plan to study in Italy will have to apply for a student visa if they are not from a country in the EU or EFTA. Students from these countries will be able to remain in Italy for the duration of their studies without a separate student visa. There are different types of student visas issued by Italian Embassies for non-EU students depending on the duration of the course they are attending. The general procedure for obtaining a visa begins with the candidate applying to Italian universities and procuring admission. Candidates will be eligible to apply for a student visa only after they have procured the acceptance letter from a university of their choice.

Though the procedure for getting a student visa can seem tedious, if one is to approach it systematically, one will be able to find that it is not as tedious as it seems. This page will contain information regarding the types of student visas candidates can take for studying in Italy and also details regarding the procedures involved and the documents required.

Types of Student Visas and their Validity

Italy offers two kinds of student visas for non-EU candidates who wish to study in the country. The visas are differentiated based on the duration of the course the candidate is enrolled in. These two visas are-

• Visa Type C- This visa is also called the short-term visa and is issued for candidates who are taking an educational program that has a duration of less than 90 days in all. The validity of this visa will not exceed 90 days under any circumstance.
• Visa Type D- This visa is also known as the long-term visa and is applied for by non-EU candidates who are taking a course that has a duration of more than 90 days. It is also required that the course requires the candidate to attend a minimum of 20 hours of classes per week. The validity of this visa is for 1 year after which students will be able to renew the visa if and only if they have passed all the yearly examinations at the university they have enrolled in.

Who Needs to Apply for the Italian Student Visa?

The nationals of the EU and EEA are exempted from applying for a student visa irrespective of the duration of the course they have applied for. Non-EU candidates are generally required to apply for a type C or type D visa depending on the duration of the program they have enrolled for. There are a few exceptions to this since citizens of a few non-EU/EEA countries are not required to apply for a type C visa if they are taking a course with a duration of less than 90 days. The countries that have been exempted from taking a type C visa are-

• Albania,
• Andorra,
• Antigua and Barbuda,
• Argentina,
• Australia,
• Bahamas,
• Barbados,
• Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• Brazil,
• Brunei,
• Canada,
• Chile,
• Colombia,
• South Korea,
• Costa Rica,
• Dominica,
• El Salvador,
• United Arab Emirates,
• Georgia,
• Japan,
• Grenada,
• Guatemala,
• Honduras,
• Hong Kong SAR,
• Solomon Islands,
• Israel,
• Kiribati,
• Malaysia,
• Macao SAR,
• North Macedonia,
• Marshall Islands,
• Mauritius,
• Mexico,
• Micronesia,
• Moldova,
• Monaco,
• Montenegro,
• Nauru,
• Nicaragua,
• New Zealand,
• Palau,
• Panama,
• Paraguay,
• Peru,
• Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts) and Nevis,
• United Kingdom,
• Samoa,
• Saint Lucia,
• Serbia,
• Seychelles,
• Singapore,
• United States,
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
• Taiwan,
• East Timor,
• Tonga,
• Trinidad and Tobago,
• Tuvalu,
• Ukraine,
• Uruguay,
• Vanuatu,
• Venezuela

Cost of Italian Student Visa

The cost of a student visa is dependent on the nationality of the candidate and the location where the candidate is currently residing. The general rate for a student visa is €54.50 which can go up to even €87.20 like other Schengen visas.

Steps to Applying for an Italian Student Visa

The steps that have to be taken by students if they need to get a student visa for Italy begin with the candidate finding the universities of their choice that offer their desired program of study. They will also have to collect all the documents that are necessary for the visa application form which will also include the additional requirement of the candidate figuring out which visa they will require for their stay. Since this is dependent on their nationality and the duration of the program they have been admitted to, candidates will have to keep an eye on the visa requirements before they take other steps required to apply for the visa.

Apply to an Italian University

The first step is to apply to different Italian universities of the candidate’s choice based on the program they wish to enroll in. This step is crucial since the major component of a student visa application is the acceptance letter that the university will provide for the candidate as proof of admission to the respective university. Candidates will generally have to apply for the program by providing their educational transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and language proficiency proof if it is required.

This step will also provide the student with clarity of which student visa they should apply for based on the duration of the course they have applied for. If the duration of the course is less than 3 months, candidates will have to apply for a Type C visa and if it exceeds 3 months, they will have to apply for a Type D visa.

Language Proficiency Requirement

Candidates will now have to fulfill the language requirements of their course in order to apply for the visa. This is a crucial document that is to be submitted irrespective of the type of visa the candidate is applying for. Most of the programs that the international students opt for while studying in Italy will be taught in English since they are international programs. Students who choose such programs will have to provide proof of proficiency in English by taking tests like TOEFL or IELTS.

Other programs, especially those that are in the field of fashion and technology, will be taught in Italian or a blend of Italian and English. Students who have enrolled in such programs will have to provide proof of language proficiency in Italian. The common Italian proficiency tests include CELI and CILS. This is completely dependent on the requirements placed by the university.

Financial Resources to Cover Cost

One other important factor that students will have to deal with before they consider applying for a student visa is proving that they have sufficient funds to sustain themselves during their stay in Italy. The student is required to prove that they will be able to pay for the tuition and accommodation costs throughout their stay and at the same time have the additional amount required for monthly expenses. The additional amount they must have should be €460.28 on a monthly basis.

Candidates will be able to provide the following as proof of financial resources-

• Bank statements in the form of a letter provided by the bank.
• Proof of Scholarship

Proof of Accommodation

Like most European countries, it is required for students to have temporary or permanent accommodation in the country before they arrive there. The address the candidate is providing doesn't need to be the permanent address of the candidate. Candidates will be free to find other accommodation after arriving in the country. They will be able to provide the address of a hostel, college residence, private accommodation, or other spaces they will be able to stay in as soon as they enter the country. Candidates will have to provide proof that they will be able to stay in this location once they enter the country as part of their visa application.

Gathering the Documents and Beginning the Application Process

Once these primary requirements have been fulfilled, candidates will be able to apply for an Italian student visa at the Italian Embassy or Consulate that is nearest to their location. They will have to apply for a student visa at least 3 months before they wish to reach the country. Candidates will have to provide the duly filled visa application form along with all the documents required and their original passport to the embassy or consulate. As an alternative, students may visit a global visa application center that the Italian immigration authorities have hired.

Documents Required While Applying for Italian Student Visa:
The documents that are required while applying for a type C and type D visa are nearly similar though the requirements for a type D visa will be more detailed in nature. The requirements include:

• entry Visa Application Form
• valid Passport
• passport-Size Photographs
• acceptance Letter from Host University
• proof of Accommodation in Italy
• proof of Financial Support
• proof of Insurance Coverage
• educational Transcripts in English or Italian
• proof of Italian/English Proficiency, as required
• police Clearance from country of origin
• receipt of Visa Fee

Schedule Interview for Visa

Once the application has been completed, they will be able to schedule an interview. The interview can be scheduled 4 to 6 weeks in advance which will provide the student with enough time to prepare themselves for the same. The processing time for an Italian student visa is between 4 to 6 weeks after the application has been made.

Steps for Extending Stay in Italy

Candidates who have taken a type D student visa will have to apply for a residence permit within 8 days of arriving in the country. They will be able to renew the residence permit when it expires depending on the duration of their course.

• Collect Documents for Renewal- The documents that are required for the renewal of the residence permit include-
  • Copy of Relevant Pages in Passport
  • Copy of Insurance Policy
  • Copy of Academic Result
  • Copy of Financial Resource Proof
  • Copy of Expiring Residence Permit
• Pay Renewal Fee- The fee for renewing the residence permit include-
  • Stays between 3 and 12 months- €40
  • Stays between 12 and 24 months- €50
  • Long-term Residence Permits- €100
  • Postal kit- €30
  • Issuance cost- €30.46
  • Revenue Stamp- €16
• Submit Application of Renewal- The documents that have been collected should be submitted at the post office along with the residence permit request kit that candidates can collect from the SASS Office near them. The application is available free of cost and can also be collected from the nearest post office.

Working While Studying in Italy

Students who wish to work while studying in Italy will be able to work on a part-time basis for 20 hours a week. They will be able to work for a total of 1,040 hours in a year and they will also have the option of converting their resident permit to a work permit through the “decreto flussi” system.

Appealing Visa Refusal

If the visa application has been rejected by the embassy or consulate, candidates will be able to appeal against the same within 60 dates of receiving the rejection information. They will have to write an appeal letter stating the reasons for considering the rejection to be unfair. The appeal letter will have to include the personal details of the candidate, the date of application rejection, the reasons stated for visa refusal, the reasons why it is unfair, and the candidate’s signature. Candidates will also have to attach supporting documents to substantiate the claim of the refusal being unfair.

The letter has to be submitted at the Italian embassy or consulate and it has to reach the destination within 60 days of receiving the rejection information.

Some Things to Remember

• Students should carefully review the requirements as some countries might need extra paperwork.
• Students can travel freely for up to 90 days during a 180-day period within the Schengen Area, which is made up of 26 European countries, with an Italian student visa.
• It is usually advised to apply three months or more prior to the start of the student's course.
• There are many funding options available to students who require assistance paying for their education, including grants, scholarships, student loans, fee waivers, and assistance with living expenses and housing in the nation.