An Italian student visa is a type of Italian long-term visa (also known as a national or D-visa). This is the Italian visa you need to apply for if you want to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days.

The student visa for Italy is an entry-only visa. This means that it gives you the right to enter Italy, but if you want to legally stay and study in Italy for longer than three months, you must also apply for a residence permit in Italy.

Who needs a visa to study in Italy?

Almost everyone needs a visa to study in Italy for more than three months.

If you are a citizen of Ukraine and your course lasts less than three months, you do not need an Italian student visa. However, if the course lasts more than three months, you need to apply for an Italian student visa.

Non-EU citizens cannot apply for a residence permit in Italy without an Italian long-term visa.

What are the requirements for a student visa to Italy?

When you apply for an Italian student visa, you must have several documents to support your application. You must also fulfill several conditions, such as being already enrolled in an Italian educational institution.

Requirements for obtaining a student visa to Italy:

• An application form for a student visa to Italy.
  
• Recent passport-size photos in accordance with the Italian visa requirements:

1. 35 mm x 45 mm

2. Light, preferably white background

3. The face should occupy 70-80% of the image

4. Neutral facial expression.

• A travel document that is valid for at least three months after the expiration of your visa and has at least two blank pages of the visa.
• Photocopies of previous visas.
• Civil status documents, such as a birth or marriage certificate.
• Confirmation of enrollment or pre-enrollment in an Italian university course.
• Police clearance from your home country.
• Proof of residence in Italy, such as an apartment rental or student housing.
• Proof of sufficient financial resources.
• Health insurance for Italy that covers medical treatment and hospitalization.
• Certificates of previous education.
• Depending on the language, the educational program consists of: proof of knowledge of English or Italian.
• Receipt of paid visa fee.
• If the student is a minor, he or she must have a signed document giving consent to the trip by both parents or legal guardians.

All documents that are not in Italian or English must be translated by an authorized translator.

PLEASE NOTE that this is not an exhaustive list. Different countries or Italian embassies may have different requirements, so you should check with them before applying. An incomplete application will be rejected and you will have to reapply later. This will reduce the processing time, which is sometimes quite long.

How to apply for a student visa to Italy?

1. You must apply for an Italian student visa at the embassy or consulate of your home country. In case there is no Italian embassy/consulate in your country, you must apply at any place where Italy has transferred the visa application. This can be a visa application center or an embassy/consulate of another Schengen country.
2. However, you must first contact them to make an appointment. After that, you collect all the necessary documents and submit them in person on the date you agreed upon.
3. Be sure to bring the originals of all documents as well as photocopies.
4. On the day of application, you will also have a visa interview.
5. Keep in mind the visa processing time when applying for a visa. It takes about three weeks to process the application, sometimes longer. 

So, you have to apply early:

• At the latest: two weeks before your planned trip.
• At least: three months before your planned trip.

If you have all the necessary documents and the Italian embassy decides that you meet the conditions, you will receive an Italian student visa.

After that, you can enter Italy, where you need to apply for a residence permit in Italy.

How long is an Italian student visa valid for?

An Italian study visa is initially available for a maximum of one year with the possibility of extension for the duration of your courses.

However, in order to renew your student visa, you must pass all your annual exams at the university.