How can I get a student visa for Italy?

Ready to get a student visa for Italy? Studying in Italy is a dream for most students. Now that you know the university you would like to pursue your studies with and how to register at an Italian university, it’s time to learn how to obtain a visa to study in Italy.

Here’s some important information on students visas for Italy.

Apply for a student visa for Italy

Visas and some other documents are usually obtained for students studying abroad through the Italian embassy or consulate in their home countries. It’s important to contact the nearest embassy or consulate in order to make sure that you are eligible to study and live in Italy.

Your university will ask you to get some documents, so it is best to start this process as soon as possible. There are two classes of foreign students studying in Italy.

Short-term Programs

These programs last less than 90 days. Short-term studies programs: This group of students does not require a visa, but they must obtain the residence card within 8 days of their arrival in Italy.

This will cost fees. University program managers should be able to assist the student in this process.

Postgraduate programs (long-term)

If you are a graduate student, you will need to obtain a study visa, which you can get through the Italian consulate in your country.

The best place to start is to search for your visa at the consulate general’s website and contact them if necessary. There may be different conditions for obtaining an Italian visa in some countries, so it is best to visit the Italian consulate in your country directly to familiarize yourself with the procedures.

You will also need to obtain your residence card within 8 days of your arrival in Italy. You can complete this application at your local post office in Italy.

Italy student visa requirements

Student visa for Italy is also a type D visa, which is granted to third-world country students who plan to stay for more than 90 days in Italy. When you apply for an Italian student visa, there are several documents you need to provide to support your application. But first and foremost, you must fulfill a few conditions, starting from being admitted in a university in Italy.

Here are the main requirements for a student visa application:

Additional documents you’ll need:

Italy study visa cost

There are no fees associated with an Italian study visa, but you will be billed on your residence card.

Call the office of the embassy to inquire about this. You can visit the post office closest to your residence in Italy for more information.

Italy student visa processing time

A student visa for Italy can take from one to three weeks, depending on where you live and the time of the year you send your application. However, to be sure, plan to have your visa interview around six weeks in advance. Make sure to start the visa process immediately after receiving admission to your program. You will handle many documents that will be difficult to replace if lost.

Try to keep your important documents organized in a file cabinet to store them together for easy access. The process for obtaining a student visa for Italy may be similar, but there can be different requirements depending on your country. Contact the embassy in your country to inquire more.

Validity of the student residence permit

If you provide all the necessary documents and the Italian embassy decides you meet the conditions to get the visa, you will be granted the student visa. Once you do, you have then to apply for a student residence permit when you set foot in Italy. 

The student residence permit in Italy is valid for a maximum of one year, renewable with a possibility of renewal for the duration of your studies in Italy. However, to have the right to renew your student visa, you have to pass all your exams every year at your university.

Finally, an inside look at our top 10 tips for international students in Italy!

Italy student visa work permit: Can I work and study at the same time in Italy?

One of the greatest advantages of a student residence permit in Italy is that you can work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year. For that, you have to have a signed employment contract from an employer. You then have to use a copy of this contract to apply for your work permit at your local immigration office in Italy.  

A part-time student job will not pay your tuition fees, but the little you will earn will help you cover some of your living cost in Italy. Moreover, finding a student part-time work is not very difficult. This is especially the case if you speak a little Italian, enough to hold day-to-day conversations. And last but not least, in Italy, you can benefit from the advantage that you can transform your student visa to a work visa in the future. 

Learn also about the cost of living in Italy for international students