How to Get Student Visa for Italy (Requirements)

International students flock to Italy in search of a world-class education and “la dolce vita” (the sweet life). To experience Italy’s architectural grandeur and lip-smacking cuisine is a dream come true for most. Before arranging for your travel to Italy, however, you need to settle your student visa (in case you need one). In this article, we have rounded up the most useful information on how to get a student visa for Italy so as to help you make adequate preparations for your upcoming study abroad journey.

Things You Should Know about the Student Visa for Italy

Certain nationalities are exempted from applying for a student visa in Italy. Generally, international students from a country in the European Union or European Economic Area (EU/EEA) can enter and study in Italy without a student visa. They only need to present a valid passport or a national identity card upon arrival in the country. They also need to apply for a residence permit from a local police station “Questura” in Italy.
International students from selected non-EU/EEA countries are exempt from applying for the student visa if their study program lasts for 3 months at most. These countries include the following: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, The Holy See, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Marianas, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
International students who are from non-EU/EEA countries need to have an approved student visa before they can be allowed to enter Italy.
Applications for the student visa should be made with the Italian embassy in the applicant’s home country.
There are 2 types of student visas for Italy, Visa Type C and Visa Type D. The Visa Type C is known as a short-stay visa which is valid for a maximum of 90 days or 3 months. This is a visa required for those students who want to enroll in a short course in Italy, i.e. a language course. The Visa Type D is known as a long-stay visa valid for study programs which last for more than 3 months, i.e. university programs.
Applying for a student visa in Italy has a non-refundable fee of €50 ($57).
Acquiring a student visa for Italy is only one requirement before commencing your studies in Italy. After having an approved Visa Type D, you need to obtain a residence permit within 8 working days after arrival on Italian territory.
The requirements to apply for a residence permit include a copy of your valid passport, student visa, medical insurance, and admission notice from a university in Italy. Applications for the residence permit should be made in a local police station.
Application fees for the residence permit are estimated to be €76 ($86).
The residence permit may be renewed once it expires. Renewal is done through the same local police station. For the residence permit renewal, you need additional documents, such as proof of financial capability and proof of a successfully passed exam (1 exam for the 1st renewal, and 2 exams for the subsequent renewals).
Visa applications may take time to be reviewed and evaluated. Typically, it takes 3 to 4 weeks before your application can get a response. In some cases, i.e. incomplete or imprecise documentation, the process may take longer. Hence, it is recommended to apply for the student visa as soon as you have received a letter of admission from your selected university in Italy.
International students who had once been denied entry to Italy cannot apply for a student visa.
Student visa holders in Italy are allowed to get a part-time job while enrolled in a university.

Requirements for Student Visa Application

International students who need a student visa in order to start their university studies in Italy must get hold of the following documents before submitting their application to their nearest Italian embassy:

Valid passport (with at least 2 blank visa pages, and should be valid for at least 3 months after the projected completion of the study program)
Recent passport-style photographs
Duly accomplished visa application form
Letter of admission to a university in Italy
Copy of flight tickets to and from Italy
Certification of no criminal record
Proof of language proficiency (in Italian or English, depending on the language of instruction to be used in your study program)
Proof of financial capability (minimum of €450 or $515 per month)
Proof of accommodation arrangements in Italy
Medical insurance (€150 or $171 for the first academic year)
Receipt of application fee payment

All documents written in a language other than Italian or English should have a translation. Also, international students should check with the Italian embassy for the most updated list of document requirements and fees, since these change from time to time.

Steps in Applying for the Italian Student Visa

When you have understood the conditions and the requirements for the application of the student visa, you are ready to plan for your submission. Keep in mind to submit your visa application at least 3 months before your intended travel to Italy. Follow the step-by-step guide below to get a student visa for Italy:

Locate the nearest Italian embassy or consular post in your home country. Save the office address and bookmark the embassy’s website for easy reference. The Italian embassy would be a vital part of your application as it will serve as the evaluating body for your student visa. It will also be the one to stamp an approved student visa on your travel documents.
Check with the embassy for the earliest available visa appointment. Schedule an appointment date for your application. It is recommended to give yourself time to thoroughly prepare for the application process and interview (including preparations for the required documents), which can be done in at least a month or two before the scheduled visa appointment.
Try to learn some basic Italian. This knowledge may come in handy during your visa interview. You may do self-training using an available Italian-English dictionary. Start with the usual greetings and phrases used in daily conversations.
Download and correctly fill out the required visa application form from the embassy website.
Gather all the necessary documents as enumerated above. Also, make sure to check with the embassy in case there are any additions or alterations in the visa application requirements for your home country.
Pay the application fee and secure the receipt. Note that the visa processing fee is non-refundable even when your application is denied.
Appear before the Italian embassy in your home country on the scheduled date. Make sure to bring all the necessary documents (original copies as well as photocopies) and your visa application fee receipt. After the interview, the consular officer will give you an acknowledgment receipt certifying your submission of student visa application.
Wait for the result of your application. The Italian embassy has a tracking application on their website so that you can easily know when results are out. Once your application is successful, return to the embassy to personally collect your approved student visa. Another option is to have it delivered to your residence address through a courier service.

Your approved student visa will allow you entry to Italy. However, you still have to apply for a residence permit within 8 working days upon your arrival. The residence permit will serve as your proof of legitimate residency in the country. You can obtain the residence permit in the nearest police station in the locality where you are staying.

How to Apply for a Work Permit in Italy

International students in Italy can apply for a part-time job in the country so as to contribute to their educational finances. Similar to the student visa, students from the EU/EEA countries get an advantage over non-EU/EEA citizens in terms of exemption for the application of permits. EU/EEA students can work in Italy without applying for a work permit. However, there is a maximum number of hours which they could spend working. To illustrate, EU/EEA students who have a part-time job must only work for not more than 20 hours per week during the semester. On holidays or summer and semester breaks, they can apply for full-time employment.

On the other hand, non-EU/EEA students need a work permit to be able to get a part-time job in Italy. The work permit can be applied for at a local immigration office in Italy. Applicants need to show a signed employment agreement with the company which will employ their services. However, you should know that the application process for a work permit in Italy can take several weeks (2 months on average), so it is better to look for employment several weeks before the start of classes. Some universities in Italy offer part-time jobs to international students. All nationalities can apply for such student jobs.

Now that you have a student visa for Italy, “la dolce vita” is within your reach. In bocca al lupo!