In short. Study visa Italy: for a course longer than 90 days, non-EU students need a national long-stay visa (type D): you obtain an admission letter, complete pre-enrolment on Universitaly, prove financial means, accommodation and health insurance, and apply at the Italian embassy or consulate. After arrival, you apply for a study residence permit within 8 working days.
Italy is among the most popular destinations for international students, and it’s easy to see why: the climate, culture, food, lifestyle, history, vibrant social life and strong academic tradition all play a part.
The only real obstacle is the Italian bureaucracy, which can sometimes make the process for the study visa Italy feel more complicated than it actually is. Still, if you’re well-informed, start early and rely on the right guidance, settling here becomes far more straightforward than you might expect.
In this guide I’ll explain how to get a student visa for Italy, the main legal framework that governs student entry, the step-by-step application process, expected costs and practical tips.
What is the legal framework for a study visa in Italy?
I always like to start with a legal overview of the topics discussed. If you want quick answers, you can skip this section.
Italian long-stay student visas (national visas, type D) and short-stay student visas are issued under Italian and EU immigration law. The principal laws and regulations are the Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree No. 286/1998) and its implementing regulation DPR No. 394/1999; these set out the legal basis for entry and residence permits for non-EU nationals, including the study visa for Italy.
Practical procedures and operating rules are implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Universities (for higher-education admission and pre-enrolment), local Italian consulates and embassies abroad and the Questura (police headquarters) once you arrive.
Which Italy study visa do you need: short stay (C) or long stay (D)?
If you plan to study in Italy for less than 90 days (short course, language course under 90 days, summer school), you usually need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) when required by your nationality. You can check on this official website whether you need a visa.
For programmes longer than 90 days (degree, diploma, long language course, internship tied to study), you must apply for a national long-stay Italian student visa (type D). National visas allow entry and are the precondition to request a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) after arrival.
What types of study visa exist in Italy?
In addition to the general study visa for Italy, there are six other types of study visa:
- study – university enrolment;
- single-course university study;
- postgraduate study;
- study – exchange and mobility programme;
- study – internship;
- study – professional training.
For more information on specific visa types, consult our dedicated guides, such as the guide to the research visa for Italy.
What are the study visa Italy requirements?
When applying for a study visa for Italy, you must satisfy a number of legal and practical requirements imposed by Italian law and consular authorities. These are designed to ensure that you can legally enter, stay and support yourself during your time in Italy. The main requirements are:
- Valid travel document: it must be valid for at least three months beyond the planned end of the stay;
- Declaration of value of your foreign qualification, if requested by the Italian university (the Ministry of Universities circular also accepts the two CIMEA attestations, on comparability and verification, instead);
- Proof of admission or enrolment: you need to provide an admission letter or pre-enrolment certificate from your Italian university or educational institution. This document must clearly state the course, its duration and the start date;
- Financial means: you must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself for the duration of your stay. For university enrolment visas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for at least €10,179.85 per year (the amount in the Ministry of Universities and Research circular for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028), plus the cost of a return ticket. The funds must be lawful and traceable, preferably the student’s own or those of relatives up to the fourth degree; Italian institutions of proven solvency, including universities, may also provide them. A scholarship counts only if already awarded, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says bank guarantees and surety policies are not suitable documents;
- Accommodation: you must provide evidence of suitable accommodation in Italy. Depending on the consulate, this could be a rental agreement, a hall of residence confirmation or a letter of invitation from someone hosting you in Italy;
- Health insurance: adequate health insurance is mandatory. You need adequate cover for medical care and hospital stays, and the type and duration of the policy depend on the consulate (for example, Tirana asks for a policy valid for at least one month from departure);
- Language requirements: depending on the course, you may need to demonstrate a certain level of Italian or English, aligned with the language of instruction;
- If you are a minor, there are extra requirements such as a translated and legalised birth certificate and parental authorisation for the move to Italy. See our guide to the Guardianship Acceptance Letter.
How do you get a student visa for Italy?
Before going through the list, here is a quick overview of how the process works, because the Italian system can be a bit confusing at first. Some courses have limited places and require a specific admission letter from the programme you want to join, so you must contact the course directly to obtain it.
After that, you can request authorisation to enrol; this step is called pre-enrolment and is done through a national online platform called Universitaly. Once you submit your pre-enrolment, the university assesses your foreign qualification and validates it on Universitaly; without validation, or with an unresolved reservation, the visa is automatically refused.
Only at that point can you apply for your study visa. When you receive it, you can complete your enrolment at the university.
Remember that obtaining an admission letter, completing pre-enrolment and securing your visa does not mean you are already enrolled: you must still finalise everything by paying your university fees.
Once that is done, you will officially be an international student in Italy, and the only remaining step is to apply for your study residence permit within 8 working days of your entry.
Here’s a quick checklist of the procedure for the Italian student visa:
- Check if you need a visa. If you don’t need a student visa for Italy, don’t waste time and energy on it. In most cases non-EU nationals need a visa, while EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not;
- Get an admission letter from your university course;
- Secure your admission with pre-enrolment. If you need a visa to come here, you must get a study visa before officially enrolling. To do so, you must complete pre-enrolment through Universitaly (the official portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research);
- Gather documentation (see the section below);
- Book an appointment and submit your application at the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence;
- If the visa is granted, you will receive a sticker visa allowing entry. For a long-stay study visa (type D) you must enter Italy and then apply for a student residence permit (permesso di soggiorno per studio) at a local post office within 8 working days of arrival to regularise your stay.
How long does the study visa take?
Processing times depend on the embassy or consulate workload and the completeness of your file. Start the process as early as possible (months before the start of classes), because some pre-enrolment and declaration of value procedures can take time and consular appointment availability varies. For degree courses (laurea, laurea magistrale including single-cycle, and first- and second-level academic diplomas, AFAM), the visa application must be submitted by 30 November 2026 for 2026/2027 (31 October 2027 for 2027/2028), according to the Ministry of Universities and Research, and universities may set earlier dates; the embassy in Tirana words it as the last date for issuing the visa, so ask yours. For university master programmes (master universitario), doctorates and single courses there is no fixed date, but the application cannot come after classes begin. For a general overview, see how long it takes to get a visa for Italy.
Which documents are required for an Italy student visa?
Here is a list of typical study visa documents (they may vary slightly by consulate):
- Completed student visa application form (national visa form D) and recent passport photographs. You can download the national visa application form here;
- Proof of admission (letter from the university or institution);
- Pre-enrolment (Universitaly summary);
- Proof of sufficient financial means (bank statements, a scholarship award, documents showing family or institutional funds);
- Proof of accommodation in Italy (rental contract, host declaration);
- Insurance/health cover;
- Declaration of Value (DoV) where requested;
- Passport-size photo.
All documents not in Italian or English generally need to be translated and legalised (apostilled or authenticated), depending on the consulate’s rules. See our guide to apostille and legalisation of foreign documents.
Remember to keep digital and physical copies of every document, translations and proof of payment for the permesso di soggiorno.
What is the declaration of value?
The declaration of value, known in Italian as dichiarazione di valore in loco (often abbreviated as DoV), is an official document issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the country where a student obtained their previous academic qualification.
Its purpose is to certify the legal status, level and academic validity of a foreign qualification within its country of origin, so that Italian universities can evaluate whether it matches Italian standards for admission.
Although the declaration of value is not always required, many Italian universities (especially for degree programmes with limited places, postgraduate programmes and recognition pathways) frequently request it as part of the admission or enrolment process.
To obtain the declaration of value you must first have the documents translated into Italian by a certified translator, then legalise them (through apostille or consular legalisation), depending on your country.
For many applicants, the university will not validate the pre-enrolment unless the student’s academic qualifications are clear and officially validated. In certain countries, Italian consulates themselves request the Declaration of Value as part of the study visa documentation, especially for degree-seeking students.
How much does a study visa for Italy cost?
Student visa costs vary by visa type, nationality and local consular rates.
As a general reference, the EU fee for a short-stay Schengen visa is €90 (students on study stays are exempt under the Visa Code), while the consular fee for the national study visa (type D) is usually €50, as indicated by Italian embassies (for example The Hague and Tirana) and by earlier versions of the consular tariff (Article 29); the tariff table published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2026 shows €90 instead, so confirm the amount with your embassy.
The residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) costs €116.46 once in Italy for a permit of up to one year (€30 for postal shipping, €70.46 for the residence permit and €16 for the revenue stamp), or €126.46 if it lasts more than one year and up to two, according to the Immigration Portal.
Why is a study visa for Italy refused?
Sometimes the study visa is refused because of incomplete or improperly legalised academic documents, or missing or inconsistent information on the application form or between the university offer and the consular file.
The visa may also be refused for a lack of sufficient financial means, which must be demonstrated through bank statements or other family economic and financial documents or scholarship letters.
The consulate also assesses the migratory risk of each applicant case by case, and may refuse the visa if it suspects that the application is merely a means to enter Italy for irregular migration.
The embassy has the final word on the application. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a refusal of a national visa that is not for family reunification or accompanying family members can be challenged before the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio (TAR Lazio) within 60 days of notification: read our guide on how to appeal an Italian visa refusal. For legal matters such as appeals and legal advice, you can count on the immigration lawyers of the SH Immigration Specialists law firm.
What happens after arrival?
On entry with a national study visa, you must submit the residence permit application within 8 working days at the local post office and then attend an appointment at the local Questura for fingerprinting and collection of the card.
The residence permit establishes your legal residence and length of stay and gives you access to student services; it is required for part-time work, enrolment processes and some administrative acts. When your studies end, you may be able to convert your study permit into a work permit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a type C or type D study visa for Italy?
It depends on the length of your course. For study in Italy of less than 90 days, such as a summer school or short language course, you usually need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) if your nationality requires one. For programmes longer than 90 days you need a national long-stay visa (type D).
How much money do I need for an Italian study visa?
For university enrolment visas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for at least €10,179.85 per year, plus the cost of a return ticket (academic years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028). The funds must be lawful and traceable, preferably the student’s own or those of relatives up to the fourth degree, or provided by institutions of proven solvency such as a university; bank guarantees and surety policies are not suitable.
What is pre-enrolment on Universitaly?
Pre-enrolment is the request for authorisation to enrol, submitted through Universitaly, the official portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research. The university, not the consulate, assesses your foreign qualification and validates the pre-enrolment. Only then can you apply for the study visa and later complete enrolment by paying university fees.
What must I do after arriving in Italy with a study visa?
Within 8 working days of entry you must apply for a study residence permit at a local post office, then attend an appointment at the Questura for fingerprinting and collection of the card. For a permit of up to one year the cost is €116.46 (€126.46 for more than one year and up to two); the permit gives you access to student services and part-time work.
Why are Italian study visas refused?
Common reasons include incomplete or improperly legalised academic documents, inconsistent information between the application form, the university offer and the consular file, and insufficient financial means. The consulate also assesses the migratory risk of each applicant case by case. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a refusal of a national visa that is not for family reunification or accompanying family members can be challenged before the TAR Lazio within 60 days of notification.
Official sources
- Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree 286/1998) — Normattiva
- Visto per l’Italia — Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Universitaly — Ministry of Universities and Research
- National visa application form — Embassy of Italy in Copenhagen
- Hague Apostille Convention: countries of application — Prefettura
- International students: circular 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 — Universitaly, Ministry of Universities and Research (Italian)
- Studying in Italy: FAQ — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italian)
- Visa refusal — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italian)
- Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009), consolidated text — EUR-Lex
- Study visa 2026/2027 — Embassy of Italy in Tirana (Italian)
- Cost tables — Immigration Portal, Ministry of the Interior (Italian)
Sources were consulted on 19 October 2026. Rules, procedures and fees may change: always check the latest instructions from the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists can help you check which study visa you need, review your admission letter, pre-enrolment, financial evidence and accommodation documents before your consular appointment, and prepare the study residence permit application after arrival. For legal matters such as appeals and legal advice, you can count on the immigration lawyers of the SH Immigration Specialists law firm. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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Which other guides may help you?
- Research visa Italy and residence permit official guide
- Convert a Study Permit to a Work Permit in Italy: Step-by-Step Guide
- Italian entry visa: what it is and how to get it
- Guardianship Acceptance Letter: What It Is and Who Can Be a Guardian
- Student residence permit in Italy: requirements, costs, work hours and renewal
- Types of Italian visa: complete list and guides
