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You're a non-EU student who has just been accepted to an Italian university? Congratulations! You’ve done the hard part, but now it's crucial to prepare the right documents in advance. From obtaining your student visa to registering for your residence permit, this guide outlines every step you need to take for a smooth and legal entry into Italian academic life.
Student visa and study permit are essentially two different stages of the process of moving to Italy to study for non-EU students. The student visa is the document that allows you to enter Italy for the purpose of studying. After arriving in the Country, you will have 8 days to apply for a study permit to legally live in Italy for the length of your studies.
What it is: an entry visa issued by the Italian consulate or embassy in your home country.
Purpose: allows you to legally enter Italy to study.
When you need it: before traveling to Italy.
Issued by: Italian consulate/embassy abroad.
Requirement for: anyone planning to stay more than 90 days in Italy for study purposes (language school, university, exchange programs, etc.).
What it is: a residence permit that allows you to legally stay in Italy beyond 90 days.
Purpose: confirms your legal stay while you are studying in Italy.
When you need it: promptly after you arrive in Italy, within 8 working days.
Issued by: local Italian immigration office (Questura).
Valid for: the duration of your course (it is renewable).
Here’s the checklist for the documents you need to obtain an Italian student visa:
In addition to these, you might need to present a certificate of proficiency in Italian (if required by your university and course).
Once you have collected all of the documents, you’ll need to apply for the study visa through the Italian consulate of your city (or the closest one). We advise you to carefully check the consulate’s website, as it could contain some specific instructions for your application.
The residence permit for study is the official document that allows you to legally live in Italy for the entire duration of your course. As we said earlier, after you arrive in Italy, you’ll have 8 days to apply for it.
Study permit requirements:
After submitting your application via the post office, you’ll receive a receipt and a scheduled appointment at the Questura (police station), where you'll finalize your application and receive your permit.
The “codice fiscale” is a numeric tax code you will need in Italy for things like opening up a bank account, collecting a payment or signing a rental contract. It is issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate. In this article you can find additional information about the codice fiscale.
Naturally, as an international coming to Italy to study at university, you will need to have all of your academic transcripts and translations: make sure your academic record is complete and up to date.
Access to healthcare is essential while studying abroad. In Italy, although the National Health Service (SSN) provides excellent care to residents, international students typically need to secure private health insurance for visa purposes and to guarantee coverage upon arrival. Welcome Association Italy can help you navigate your options of health insurance and offer you assistance every step of the way.
Start consulting our free and complete guide for studying in Italy or directly contact us to receive our support.
