Student Visa for Italy: Universitaly, Financial Means and Residence Permit
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Non-EU students who live abroad need a national type D visa for study to enrol at an Italian university. The process is tied to a pre-enrolment request on the Universitaly portal, and the rules are reissued by the ministry for each academic year. The figures below are from consular instructions for 2026/27.
Step 1. Pre-enrol on Universitaly
You choose one course at one university and submit a pre-enrolment request on Universitaly. The university checks it and validates it, sometimes on condition that you pass an admission test. Only when the request is validated can you apply for the visa: consulates do not accept applications whose pre-enrolment is still pending.
There is a calendar limit. For 2026/27, visas for bachelor's and master's degrees can be issued until 30 November 2026. University deadlines are usually much earlier.
Step 2. Apply at the consulate
The consulate in your country of residence asks for:
- The Universitaly summary of your validated pre-enrolment.
- Financial means. For 2026/27 the minimum is €10,179.85 for the academic year, a sharp rise from earlier years. Consulates stress that this is a minimum: they also look at the source of the money and at your family's economic situation, and recently deposited sums are not accepted.
- Health insurance covering urgent treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation, with cover of at least €30,000, valid in Italy.
- Accommodation in Italy: a lease, a university residence place, a host's declaration, or a booking for an initial period.
- Language. B2 in Italian for Italian-taught courses, B2 in English for English-taught ones.
- Your school-leaving documents, with the declaration of value or the statement of comparability if the university requires it. See declaration of value and CIMEA.
The visa fee is €50. Documents issued in another language must be translated and legalised.
Step 3. The residence permit
Within eight working days of entering Italy you must apply for a residence permit for study (permesso di soggiorno). You collect an application kit at a post office with the immigration desk, send it from there, and receive an appointment at the police headquarters for fingerprints. Keep the postal receipt: it proves your legal status until the card arrives. The permit is renewed each year, and from the second year renewal depends on passing a minimum number of exams.
Working while you study
A study permit allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week, within a yearly ceiling of 1,040 hours.
The tax code
You will need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale) to sign a lease, open a bank account and enrol. It is free. You can request it at the consulate with your visa or at the revenue agency after arrival.
EU citizens
No visa. For stays over three months you register with the registry office of the municipality where you live, with proof of enrolment, health cover and sufficient means.
Reduce the cost
Tuition at public universities depends on family income, and non-EU students can apply for regional grants that include a place in a residence. See how much it costs to study in Italy and student housing in Italy.
Where to look next
Official sources
- Universitaly: pre-enrolment
- Visto per l'Italia: the Foreign Ministry's visa portal
- Portale Immigrazione: residence permit applications
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.