Do you need a visa?
Your passport decides the whole route. Outside the cases below, you need a validated pre-enrolment, then a study visa applied for at the consulate.
| Your passport | To enter and study |
|---|---|
| Passport of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, San Marino or the Holy See | No study visa and no residence permit: these two procedures do not apply to you. The institution sets its admission conditions.Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28 |
| EU citizen staying more than three months | You apply for registration with your town’s civil registry (Anagrafe) once 3 months have passed, with your enrolment at an institution, sufficient means and health cover.Legislative Decree 30/2007, art. 7 — EU citizens staying over three months (Normattiva); Legislative Decree 30/2007, art. 9 — Registration of EU citizens (Normattiva) |
| Any other passport | A national study visa (type D, “Studio – Immatricolazione Università”) before you travel, after a pre-enrolment on Universitaly validated by the institution.Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28; Testo Unico Immigrazione, art. 4 — Entry into Italy (Normattiva) |
| Foreigner already lawfully in Italy, in the cases of article 39(5) of the Testo Unico | No visa: you follow the procedure open to lawful residents.Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28 |
| Scholarship holder of an EU programme, already in the Schengen area | No visa: a declaration of presence is enough.Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28 |
The consulate decides alone: the institution’s validation is not a visa, and migration risk is part of its assessment. A scholarship application does not count as funds without a written award, and a residence-hall application does not count as housing.
Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28
Not verified
The circular exempts only the passports above: we infer that a passport exempt from a short-stay visa also goes through the study visa. The Italian consulate that covers you has the final word, on this and on its processing time, which no official page read gives.
The residence permit
The visa lets you enter. The residence permit is applied for in Italy, starting at a post office, then at the Questura.
- When to apply
- within 8 working days of entering
- Testo Unico Immigrazione, art. 5 — Residence permit (Normattiva)
- with the yellow post-office kit, then fingerprints at the Questura
- Usual cost for one year
- €116.46
- Study in Italy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — Information for your stay
- €16 stamp, €70.46 card, €30 postage
Keep the post-office receipt: it proves your lawful stay until the card is issued.
Study in Italy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — Information for your stay
Not verified
The cost of the permit differs by source: article 5 of the Testo Unico gives €80 to €200 for the contribution, the Immigration portal €40 to €100. The post office gives you the amount of the day. No official page read gives the real waiting time at each Questura.
Getting a place
Pre-enrolment goes through Universitaly, then each institution decides. Your qualification, language and fees are settled with it.
- Pre-enrolment
- on Universitaly
- Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28
- the only official portal; required to apply for the visa
- Validated places
- capped at +20%
- Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28
- above the places the institution opens
Not verified
Each institution sets its application dates and its fees: we give no national date or rate for them.
From place to permit
- Choose the programme and the institution
- Pre-enrol on Universitaly
- Prove your language
- Get the value of your qualification
- Gather the funds and housing
- Apply for the visa at the consulate
- Apply for the residence permit
- Get your tax code
- Cover your health
- Renew the permit
- EU citizen: register at the Anagrafe
Not verified
No official page read gives the total time from pre-enrolment to the permit in hand.
Costs
Each institution sets its tuition. What remains is the procedure fees, the regional tax, and the money you must be able to show.
Not verified
CIMEA’s other statements have labels that cannot be compared by reading them: its site gives the price of the one you order. The DOV fee can differ from one consulate to another.
Health
| Your situation | Insurance |
|---|---|
| Visa and permit application | Three options: a consular declaration on an agreement between your country and Italy, a foreign policy valid in Italy without limits, or an Italian policy. You show the proof with the permit application.Ministry of Universities and Research — Circular on international students, 2026-27 and 2027-28 |
Not verified
The circular read asks for no medical examination. For the exact documents for your passport, the Italian consulate that covers you has the final word.
Working while you study
- Work alongside your studies
- 20 hours a week
- DPR 394/1999, art. 14 — Work on a study permit (Normattiva)
- can be added up over 52 weeks, so 1,040 hours a year
Not verified
Self-employment and internships a programme requires are not covered by the text read.
Bringing family
An EU citizen enrolled to study can come with family if their means and insurance cover the family too.
Source: Legislative Decree 30/2007, art. 7 — EU citizens staying over three months (Normattiva)
Not verified
The conditions for the family of a non-EU student have not been read: ask the Italian consulate that covers you.
The companies and registers for your file
For each need of your file: the official rule, the register that lists the approved providers, and the companies that serve students.
After the degree
A graduate can stay to look for work or start a business.
| Your situation | What comes next |
|---|---|
| You have finished your degree | A permit of 9 to 12 months to look for work or start a business, with income at least at the threshold of article 29(3)(b) of the Testo Unico.Testo Unico Immigrazione, art. 39-bis.1 — Permit to look for work after the degree (Normattiva) |
| You have found a job | This permit can be converted into a work permit.Testo Unico Immigrazione, art. 39-bis.1 — Permit to look for work after the degree (Normattiva) |
Not verified
The rules of the work permit that follows are not covered in this guide.