Italian Republic · study
Student Visa (Visto per Studio)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
National visa and residence-permit pathway for non-EU students admitted to Italian universities and other eligible higher-education institutions.
- Processing time
- National visas are decided within 90 days after an admissible application and required checks, although the statutory period can be exceeded when further checks are needed.
- Government fees
- EUR 50 for a national study visa; residence-permit, postal and service charges are separate.
- Typical duration
- The national visa covers entry for the approved course; the study residence permit is normally renewed in line with enrolment and academic progress.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 21 July 2026, the Student Visa (Visto per Studio) for Italian Republic is a sponsor-led Italy immigration route. Sources: official Italian Republic government pages, reviewed 21 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/italy/student-visa-italy#answer
What is the Student Visa (Visto per Studio) in Italian Republic?
Student Visa (Visto per Studio) is a sponsor-led Italy route. Indicative government fees are EUR 50 for a national study visa; residence-permit, postal and service charges are separate; indicative processing time is National visas are decided within 90 days after an admissible application and required checks, although the statutory period can be exceeded when further checks are needed; typical duration is The national visa covers entry for the approved course; the study residence permit is normally renewed in line with enrolment and academic progress. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Ministry of University and Research (MUR) on 21 July 2026.
Overview
Non-EU applicants for Italian degree programmes normally complete pre-enrolment exclusively through Universitaly, where the chosen institution validates the application before the visa stage. University acceptance or Universitaly validation does not guarantee a visa: the competent Italian mission independently checks the purpose of study, finances, accommodation, insurance and migration risk. For the 2026/27 academic year, the published maintenance amount is EUR 10,179.85. After arrival, students must apply for the study residence permit within eight working days. That permit allows subordinate work for up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Chinese applicants
Chinese students are among the largest international-student cohorts in Italy. The Marco Polo programme (for university …
Indian applicants
Indian students at Italian universities concentrate in engineering (Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino — both …
Iranian applicants
For 2026/27 university-enrolment study visas, the Italian Embassy in Tehran says applicants do not book an appointment t…
Turkish applicants
Turkish students at Italian universities concentrate in architecture, design, engineering, and humanities. Erasmus+ exch…
Additional sources
Primary source
MAECI — Visa processing times ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Admission to the proposed programme and institution validation of the Universitaly pre-enrolment for degree-study applicants.MUR ↗
- ✓Financial means of EUR 10,179.85 for the 2026/27 academic year, plus return-travel or repatriation capacity.MAECI ↗
- ✓Suitable accommodation and health insurance valid in Italy for the required period.MAECI ↗
- ✓Any language and prior-qualification requirements set by the institution and the competent Italian mission.MUR ↗
Common blockers
- !Treating university acceptance or validated pre-enrolment as a visa guarantee; the diplomatic mission makes an independent assessment.MUR ↗
- !Missing the institution's deadline or the 30 November 2026 visa deadline for 2026/27 degree-course enrolment.MUR ↗
- !Funds, accommodation or insurance are incomplete or cannot be traced to acceptable evidence.MAECI ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Visa application, valid passport, photographs and the Universitaly pre-enrolment summary validated by the institution.MUR ↗
- ·Bank, scholarship or other permitted financial evidence covering the current maintenance amount and return travel.MAECI ↗
- ·Accommodation and health-insurance evidence.MAECI ↗
- ·Prior qualifications with the authentication, translation and comparability documentation requested by the university or mission; a Declaration of Value is not automatically required in every case.Ministry of Education and Merit ↗
Application pathway
Secure admission
Meet the programme's academic and language requirements and obtain the institution's admission decision.
Submit Universitaly pre-enrolment
For degree programmes, use the free official Universitaly portal and wait for the institution to validate the application.
Follow the competent mission's live instructions
Check the responsible Italian mission’s current filing, appointment, and document instructions before acting.
File the national study-visa application
Bring the mission-specific originals and evidence. Allow up to the official 90-day decision period and do not make non-refundable travel plans before approval.
Apply for the residence permit
After arrival, submit the study residence-permit application within eight working days and follow the local police/Questura instructions.
Study and use limited work rights
Keep enrolment and academic progress valid. The study permit allows subordinate work up to 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official portalApplicantSubmit Universitaly pre-enrolment ↗
Use the official, free pre-enrolment route and read the current academic-year procedures.
MUR Universitaly · verified
- Official guidanceApplicantCheck study visa requirements ↗
Confirm the national study-visa documents for your citizenship, residence and competent mission.
MAECI Visa for Italy · verified
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Frequently asked questions
Can I work while studying in Italy?+
A study residence permit authorises subordinate work for up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. Keep study as the main purpose and check the permit conditions before accepting work.
Does admission or Universitaly validation guarantee the visa?+
No. The institution validates the academic pre-enrolment, but the competent Italian mission independently decides the visa after checking finances, accommodation, insurance, study purpose and migration risk.
Is a Declaration of Value always required?+
No. A Declaration of Value explains a foreign qualification but is not itself an equivalence decision. Follow the specific request from your Italian institution and competent mission; they may ask for a Declaration of Value, another comparability document, or different evidence.
Does studying in Italy on a student visa lead to permanent residence?+
No. The student visa does not lead to settlement on its own; it is issued for one year and renewable for the duration of your studies. To build toward settlement you would convert to a work route after graduating.
How long do I have to find a job in Italy after I graduate before my permit expires?+
After graduation you can apply for a 12-month permesso per attesa occupazione (job-seeking residence permit), giving you up to one year to find qualifying employment and convert to a work visa.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in ItalyHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
Last checked: 21 July 2026