Known for their uncompromising teaching facilities, Italy is one of the top European countries known for their higher education infrastructure. Italian universities are among the most prestigious in the world and known for their excellent teaching. Education is one of the key elements that allure people to this country. However, there are many other factors too that make Italy the No.1 choice to live and study in. Excellent healthcare facilities, efficient transport services, infrastructure, accommodation, breath-takingly beautiful university campuses, heritage sites, botanical gardens, mind-blowing cuisine etc., are a few of them.

If you’ve decided to study abroad in Italy, here’s what you should know to prepare to apply for your student visa:

✓Accept an offer from a university and pay the 1st Installment (local tax) to secure your place at the university of your choice. You will get a letter of acceptance required for the visa application.

✓Understand the type of visa you will require for your stay. The two types of visas are- 

• • Short-stay visa (type C) – applicable for a language or a short course that lasts less than 90 days
  • Long-stay visa (type D) – applicable for any degree course that has at least 20 hours of courses per week (or 80 hours per month) and lasts more than 90 days

✓Contact or visit the nearest Italian consulate or embassy to find out the exact visa process for Indian students, including the documents you need to complete. Post this, you will need to schedule an interview for your Italian visa application.

✓In order to attend a visa interview, pay the fee for the visa application and submit the following documents-

• • A valid passport, with at least two blank visa pages and valid for at least three months after the expected end date of your study program
  • Recent passport-size photograph(s)
  • A letter of acceptance from your institution in Italy
  • A completed visa application form
  • A copy of your itinerary to and from Italy
  • Proof that you have sufficient financial means to support your studies (5977.79 Euros or 459.83 Euros/month)
  • Proof that you have arranged accommodation in Italy (for the whole period of your studies)
  • Medical insurance with a coverage of 30.000 EURO for the first year of studies
  • Copy of all previous education
  • Proof you have paid the associated application fee.

✓Language requirements for studying your English-taught degree at an Italian university requires that you pass one of the following English language tests. Before scheduling an examination date, first check which test or tests are accepted by the university

• • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL iBT
  • PTE Academic

✓Apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within eight days of arriving in Italy, at your nearest post office. 

✓Receive your permit which may take a couple of months to be created, so within this time you may be issued with a temporary document.

Additionally, here’s a list of requisite documentation that students need to submit for their Visa application at the nearest Italian Consulate:

• Covering letter
• Documentation regarding the applicant’s study
• Adequate proof of accommodation
• Documentation regarding the applicant’s economic status for University Courses or Post graduate courses & Scholarship
• Passport photocopy of the applicant
• Overseas medical insurance
• Air ticket.

(For detailed description of checklist, get in touch with us.)

You now fully know how to go about the visa processing for studying in Italy. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply for your dream Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and get ready to fly. Your future is waiting for you!