Student Immigration to Italy

Process For Student Immigration

All foreigners intending to enter Italy must provide the documentation required to justify the reasons and duration of their stay as well as, in some prescribed cases, the availability of adequate economic means and lodging.

A foreign student studying in Italy is permitted to work a maximum of twenty (20) hours per week.

Step by Step Procedures

What to do in Mexico: 

• Valid passport. 

• Four, identical, recent passport-style photographs.

• Proof of reason for the visit  (see below for the different types of study permit proof you will need). 

• Proof of means for traveling to and returning from visit (transportation tickets or financial proof that money is available to make the necessary travel arrangements). 

• Proof of where you will be staying (hotel accommodations, rental agreement, invitation from family or friends). 

• Proof of financial resources for duration of stay in Italy (bank statements, Travelers Cheques, credit lines, receipts for prepaid services in Italy). 

  • For each day in Italy the applicant must prove to have a minimum of € 27,89 (euro).

  • Two or more applicants traveling together-will need to have a minimum of  € 17,04 (euro).

• Complete Schengen visa application 

  • The fee for Long-Term Stay visas (type D) must be paid in at time documents are submitted.

    • $1387.55 (PESO) per application.

• All foreign documents must be translated into Italian, legalized and certified by the Italian Consulate in the country of origin or residence of your family member or members.

• Applications and all other documentation must be submitted in person at the Embassy:

• You will be interviewed at the Embassy and the Diplomatic Mission will do a security check with the Schengen Information System (SIS) to verify you are not on the list of aliens not allowed to enter the Schengen area. 

• Once the application has been approved, you will be issued a visa within 90 days of application.

Depending on the study reason-there are additional documents you will need when submitting your application for a Schenegen visa for study in Italy.

• Admission to Italian Universities

  • Proof of being admitted to a recognized foundations or cultural institutes, international organizations, foreign governments or accredited universities of Italy.

  • Proof of means of support in Italy of not less than €350.57 (euro) for each month of the academic year. This must be proven by:

    • Personal or family financial records.

    • Proof of funding provided by accredited Italian institutions, local governments, or foreign. institutions or agencies approved by the Italian Diplomatic Representation.

• Admission to Italy on a Study grants

  • Proof of grant being awarded by either the Italian or foreign government, university, certified foundations, cultural institutes or an international organizations.

  • If in addition to the grant, financial support will also be needed to sustain the minimum support standards, the applicant must show document proving the additional support. The acceptable support proof is:

    • Personal or family financial records.

    • Bank letter of approved credit application in Italy, traveler’s cheques or documents showing bank transfer or deposit from abroad that will support applicant throughout his stay in Italy.

  • Proof of insurance coverage for medical treatment/hospitalization by either:

    • Consular declaration stating applicant’s right to healthcare that is approved by Italy and Mexico; or

    • Mexican or Italian insurance policy that does not exclude appropriate medical fees or emergency hospitalization

• Religious novice/trainee

  • Religious body document, stamped by the local Apostolic Nunciature or Vatican authorities, indicating period of training or novitiate, lodging/food arrangements and proof that applicant meets the minium standards of financial support for duration of studying in Italy.

  • Proof of insurance coverage for medical treatment/hospitalization by either:

    • Consular declaration stating applicant’s right to healthcare that is approved by Italy and Mexico; or

    • Mexican or Italian insurance policy that does not exclude appropriate medical fees or emergency hospitalization

• Technical and professional training for applicant’s over 18 years of age

  •  Proof of enrollment that shows schedule and length of course.

  •  Educational transcript from Mexico studies.

  •  Proof of insurance coverage for medical treatment/hospitalization by either:

    • Consular declaration stating applicant’s right to healthcare that is approved by Italy and Mexico;  or

    • Mexican or Italian insurance policy that does not exclude appropriate medical fees or emergency hospitalization  

What to do in Italy:

All foreigners to Italy staying longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit.  If you wish to work in Italy after your course of study has been completed, it is possible to apply for a work permit that will allow you to continue in Italy without returning to your home country to obtain another permit.

All foreigners to Italy staying longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit.

Once in Italy, you have 8 days to apply for a residence permit.

What you will need when you apply for a residence permit in Italy:

• Your valid passport /travel document.

• Schengen Visa.

• €27.50 (euro) fee for the electronic residence permit fee.

• Receipt for €14.62 (euro) electronic Tax stamp on your passport-to be obtained in Italy- from a post office or tobacco shop.

• Support documentation to prove your reason for staying in Italy.

You can apply for this permit at: 

• Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk) set up in every Italian province at the Prefettura.  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• 'Patronati' (institutions offering advice and social assistance to workers).  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Municipalities ('Comuni') which provide this service.  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Post Offices where you receive the kit containing the application form.  All post offices have the yellow kit. It consists of an envelope with a yellow stripe which contains two forms and a list of instructions.  After you have filled out the application form, you can hand it in at any one of the post offices bearing the 'Sportello Amico' logo. 

You can apply at the above places if you are applying for a residency permit for the following reasons: 

• Political asylum (renewal)

• Pending employment

• Pending re‐acquisition of nationality

• EC residence permit for long‐term residents (formerly known as “carta di soggiorno”)

• Family

• Family, minor aged 14 – 18

• Self‐employment

• Employment

• Seasonal employment

• Mission

• Religious reasons

• Elective residence

• Application for stateless status (renewal)

• Special cases provided for by Art. 27 of the Immigration Law

• Study

• Vocational training

• Guardianship 

• 'Questura' - the central police station set up in every Italian province 

  • You must apply for a residency permit at the Questura if you are applying for a residency permit for the following reasons:

    • Political asylum (application and issue)

    • Medical treatment

    • Sport competitions

    • Justice

    • Integration of minors

    • Minor age

    • Humanitarian reasons

    • Application for stateless status (first issue)

    • Working holidays

    • EC long-term residence permit (carta di soggiorno) for family members of Italian or EU nationals

EC residence permit for long-term residents

Since 8 January 2007, the permanent residence card ("carta di soggiorno") has been replaced by the EC residence permit for long-term residents.

The new permit is permanent.

You can only apply for this permanent permit if you have been legally living in Italy for five years.

Your application must include:

• Your valid passport /travel document .

• A copy of your income tax statement bearing evidence that you have a minimum income higher than the social allowance ("assegno sociale").

  • For domestic workers and caregivers: INPS (National Social Welfare Institution) payment receipts or INPS itemized statements.

• Copy of criminal records and pending charges, if applicable.

• Evidence of appropriate accommodation.

• Copies of pay slips for the current year.

• €27.50 (euro) fee for the electronic residence permit fee.

• Receipt for €14.62 (euro) electronic Tax stamp on your passport-to be obtained in Italy- from a post office or tobacco shop.

   

You can apply for this permit at:

• Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk) set up in every Italian province at the Prefettura.  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• 'Patronati' (institutions offering advice and social assistance to workers).  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Municipalities ('Comuni') which provide this service.  Staff will assist you, free of charge, in the completion of your application.  You will have to pay a fee of €30 for the visa, which will be sent via registered mail.

• Post Offices where you receive the kit containing the application form.   All post offices have the yellow kit. It consists of an envelope with a yellow stripe which contains two forms and a list of instructions. After you have filled out the application form, you can hand it in at any one of the post offices bearing the 'Sportello Amico' logo.

   

What happens after submitting your application for a EC long-term residence permit:

• You will receive a letter at home from the Questura asking you to report to the Police on a given date.

• The letter will mention any document that was missing from your application and you will need to bring those to your appointment at the police station.

• If this is your first time in Italy, you will be fingerprinted, too.

• You will receive your electronic residence permit; this is similar to a credit card. The machine-readable magnetic strip will house your personal details, photograph and fingerprints.

 EC long-term residence permit entitles you to:

• Enter Italy without a visa

• Work

• Social benefits/services supplied by the Italian government

• Participate in local public life  

Exclusions and refusals

You cannot apply for an EC long-term residence permit on the following grounds:

• You are considered a threat to the public and State security

• Study/vocational training

• Temporary protection

• Asylum/refugee

• If  you have a short-term residence permit

• If you have a diplomatic, official and service passport,

• Hold laissez-passer issued by international organizations of a universal character

Your EC long-term residence permit may be revoked in the following cases:

• Fraud

• Expulsion from Italy

• Leave  the territory of the European Union for a period of 12 consecutive months

• You have acquired long-term resident status in another European Union member State

• You have been absent from Italy for a period exceeding 6 years