Depending on the nationality and duration of the visit, foreign professors, researchers and students coming from outside Europe, will have to apply for an Italian visa to enter legally Italy.
Applications must be submitted to the Italian Consulate or Embassy in the foreigners’ home country of residence.
To know if an Italian visa is requested to come to Italy as student, researcher and professor, please visit the Visa for Italy database.
IMPORTANT: the Italian entry visa for tourism does not allow the enrolment in the Italian Universities and the obtaining of a stay permit for study purposes.
People who do not have an EU-citizenship need an entry visa for Italy.
Visas are issued by the Italian Embassies or Consulates in the foreigner's country of residency.
Study visa allows the entrance to Italy for a long stay more than 90 days.
If a student intends to enrol in a Bachelor’s, a Master’s Degree and a PhD programme, it will be necessary registering and applying to the UNIVERSITALY Portal, uploading the requested documents.
In order to get the study visa, students are mainly required to submit the following documents at the Italian Embassy or Consulate:
- the summary of the pre-enrolment request on the Universitaly web portal;
- entry visa application form;
- recent passport-size photo;
- passport or travel document valid for at least three months after the visa expiration date;
- proof that the applicant has adequate accommodation in Italy;
- pre-enrolment in the Master degree/PhD programme to attend in Italy;
- insurance coverage for medical treatment and/or hospitalisation (please, note that, after the arrival to Italy, it will be possible registering to the Italian National Health Service);
- proof of financial support that can be stated through a personal or family resources bank statement or guarantee of financial resources by accredited Italian institutions or agencies, local governments, or foreign institutions or agencies considered reliable by the Italian Diplomatic Representation.
The requirements and procedures to issue a visa are indicated in a special provision, published annually by the MIUR, in agreement with MAECI and Ministry of the Internal Affairs.
To request an Italian scientific research’s visa at Italian Consulate or Embassy, it is necessary to submit the following documents:
- a recent picture passport-size;
- passport whose expiration date is six months longer than the required visa’s expiration date;
- for visits to Italy longer than three months for scientific research purposes, it will be necessary to obtain the "Nulla osta" for scientific research (authorization) issued by the “Sportello Unico per l’immigrazione - SUI Office” which is located at the town/city’s Prefecture;
- documentation certifying that the applicant is a researcher at a foreign University or research Institute (for short stays);
- agreement (in Italian “convenzione di accoglienza”) duly signed by the applicant and the Italian University or Research Institute.
IUSS will apply for the "nulla osta" at the “Sportello Unico per l’immigrazione - SUI Office”.
The Agreement “convenzione di accoglienza” defines the research project, previously approved by the Class / Senate / BoD as host organization.
To prepare the agreement, IUSS will need to receive the following documents / information:
- passport of foreign visiting Professor/Researcher;
- academic title (degree, PhD, etc.), University that has issued such title and the date on which the title was obtained;
- title and duration of the research project to be carried out at IUSS;
- a statement issued by the home university regarding any salary / scholarship during the stay in Italy;
- declaration of accommodation (contract, hotel booking, declaration of hospitality of a college).
The Italian immigration law requires that extra-EU citizens, planning to stay in Italy for more than three months, have to apply for the stay permit within eight working days from their arrival to Italy.
Extra-EU citizens have to submit the stay permit application form at any post office.
To have support in filling in the application form, you can go to “CAF patronati” offices located in town.
It is necessary to collect the following documents (copies must be in A4 format):
- copy of passport' pages containing personal data, visa for Italy, pages with stamps and other visas;
- Italian fiscal code's copy;
- IUSS Pavia invitation letter stating the enrolment study course, stamped by the Italian Consulate/Embassy in your country - when your visa was issued;
- a € 16 stamp – you can buy it at the Tobacconist’s (Tabacchi shop);
- copy of a document that states you have sufficient income to live in Italy; if you have a scholarship, you have to submit a copy of the letter stating the amount of scholarship;
- copy of the receipt of the Health insurance;
- accommodation declaration issued by the University College or copy of the flat's rental contract.
After filling in the application form, you will be able to send it at any post office.
Postal expenses' amount is € 30,00 for sending the envelope with “Assicurata” but you will be requested to pay € 70,46 in order to obtain the electronic stay permit card (payment slip is inside of kit/envelope).
The Post Office employer will check your passport (please, note that it not necessary to seal the kit!) and he/she will give you a receipt containing a USER ID and a PASSWORD.
You have always to bring with you the postal receipt or at least a copy of it, together with your passport until you receive your electronic residence permit.
At the post office, you will receive the appointment (day and time) for going to the Immigration Office at the Police Headquarter (Questura) in order to be fingerprinted.
During such appointment you will receive and have to sign “the integration agreement”. Through the signing of the integration agreement, foreigners undertake to achieve specific integration objectives that shall be fulfilled during the stay in Italy:
- acquire a sufficient knowledge of the Italian language;
- acquire a sufficient knowledge of civic culture;
- guarantee the fulfilment of compulsory education to minors.
IT IS MANDATORY TO GO AND GET FINGERPRINTS ON THE DAY AND TIME INDICATED ON THE APPOINTMENT LETTER ISSUED BY THE POST OFFICE.
THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE IS STOPPING ALL THE APPLICATIONS OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO MISSED THE APPOINTMENT.
After two months from the fingerprints appointment, it will be possible collecting at the Immigration Office the stay permit.
Using the USER ID and the PASSWORD numbers (without the hyphen) on your postal receipt, you will be able to verify your application form's status visiting the following websites www.portaleimmigrazione.it (go to “Area riservata stranieri” area, then fill in your PASSWORD and USER ID) and http://questure.poliziadistato.it/stranieri/?mime=1&lang=EN filling in the empty space with your PASSWORD (the one on your postal receipt) always without the hyphen.
People with dual nationality (Italian or EU/ExtraEU) do not need to apply for Italian stay permit.
If you are an extra-UE citizen you will be able to renew your residence permit within 60 days before its expiration date.
It is strongly recommended to apply for the stay permit’s renewal before its expiration date.
Even for the stay permit’s renewal, in order to collect the application kit, you can go at any post office.
To have support in filling in the application form, you can go to “CAF patronati” offices located in town.
It is necessary to collect the following documents (copies must be in A4 format):
- copy of expiring or expired original stay permit (permesso di soggiorno);
- passport copies with personal data, visa for Italy, pages containing stamps and other visas;
- IUSS Pavia’s invitation letter stating the course you are enrolled in, which has to be stamped by the Italian Consulate/Embassy in your country - when your visa was issued;
- a € 16 stamp – you can buy it at the Tobacconist’s (Tabacchi shop);
- copy of a document certifying that you have sufficient income to live in Italy; if you have a scholarship, you have to submit a copy of the letter stating the amount of the scholarship;
- copy of the receipt of the Health insurance stamped by the Italian Embassy/Consulate in your home country;
- accomodation declaration issued by the University College or copy of the flat's rental contract
You will be able to send the application form duly filled in and signed from any post office.
Postal expenses' amount is € 30,00 for sending the envelope with “Assicurata” but you will be requested to pay € 70,46 in order to obtain the electronic stay permit card (payment slip is inside of kit/envelope).
The Post Office employer will check your passport (please, note that it not necessary to seal the kit!) and he/she will give you a receipt containing a USER ID and a PASSWORD.
You will receive an appointment to go to the Immigration Office to get the stay permit's renewal.
IMPORTANT: IT IS MANDATORY TO GO AND GET THE FINGERPRINTS ON THE DAY AND AT THE TIME INDICATED IN THE APPOINTMENT PAPER ISSUED BY THE LOCAL POST OFFICE.
Using the USER ID and the PASSWORD numbers (without the hyphen) written on your postal receipt, you will be able to verify your application's staus on the following website www.portaleimmigrazione.it (go to “Area riservata stranieri” area, then fill in your PASSWORD and USER ID).
You can also check your application's status on the police headquarters website http://questure.poliziadistato.it/stranieri/?mime=1&lang=EN filling in the empty space with your PASSWORD (the one on your postal receipt) always without the hyphen.
Those who hold stay permit’s postal receipt can leave and regularly enter Italy only with a valid (not expired) long multi–entry visa for Italy (D visa).
IMPORTANT: starting from April 5th 2010 D multi-entry visa gives the possibility to visit Schengen Countries as tourist for 90 days during the first semester of visa’s validity.
For travelling among Schengen Area and other countries, it is strongly recommended to verify if it is necessary getting an entry visa according to the citizenship and current domicile.
Those who hold stay permit’s renewal postal receipt can leave and enter Italy, provided that:
- they have original passport, stay permit’s renewal postal receipt and original of expiring/expired residence permit;
- travel does not include transit among Schengen Countries.
Even in this case, for travelling among Schengen Area and other countries, it is strongly recommended to verify if it is necessary getting an entry visa according to the citizenship and current domicile.
The Italian Fiscal Code (Codice Fiscale) is a code made up of letters and numbers on the basis of your first name, family name, date and place of birth and it is used by the Public Administration to identify the citizens living in Italy. All those living in Italy need to have their own.
It is possible to obtain it at the Italian Embassy/Consulate of your country.
Otherwise, it is possible to receive it at the local IVA Offices (Uffici Locali dell’Agenzia delle Entrate), bringing along the form filled in, the passport / Identity Card and a photocopy of it.
The fiscal code is necessary to enrol at the IUSS Pavia, to apply for the residence permit, to open a bank account, to receive the payment of a scholarship, to earn a salary and carry out other procedures/activities.
For additional information, please visit the Income Revenue Authory Office's web site.
If the Italian fiscal code is lost or stolen, its duplicate can be requested at the local Income Revenue Authority Office.
The local Income Revenue Authority Office is in Corso Giuseppe Mazzini 18.
The Italian immigration law requires you to take a health insurance during your stay in Italy.
If you buy a private insurance in your country, in order to be valid in Italy for obtaining the stay permit, it needs to have the following requirements:
- it has to be entitled with the holder’s name (in western characters);
- it has to be written in Italian (or in English, French, Spanish);
- it is valid in the Schengen Area/Italy;
- it states the exact coverage period (it must be not less than six months and maximum one year; notice that the duration of the residence permit will be connected to the duration of the insurance);
- it must be clearly indicate the type of coverage for the medical expenses and it must have € 30.000 ceiling (expressed/converted in Euros)
The entire document has to be stamped by the Italian Embassy/Consulate in your country.
As an alternative, once in Italy, you can buy a private insurance through an Italian insurance company that will cover urgent medical assistance (surgery and accidents) at the Emergency of any Italian Hospitals (Pronto Soccorso).
Otherwise, upon the arrival, it is possible to buy the Italian National Health Service insurance (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale - S.S.N.). Currently, the cost for students is around € 150,00/year.
Payment is valid for a calendar year, that is up to December 31st when the payment has been made.
To obtain the National Health Service insurance, first you will have to pay € 150,00 at any post office filling in a postal bulletin using the following details: Regione Lombardia - Servizio Sanitario Nazionale - c/c n° 379222.
Then, after submitting your residence permit application, you have to go to the dell’ATS Office located at Viale Indipendenza 3, in Pavia (A.T.S. is the local administrative and operative facilities of the National Health Service) and apply for the subscription, submitting the following documents in copies:
- your passport
- the residence permit postal receipt
- the paying-in slip receipt of € 150,00
- the enrolment certificate at the IUSS Pavia.
National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) provides full health assistance - including the possibility to choose a family doctor. In the Italian health system, the family doctor gives general or 1st level health assistance, i.e., health care outside the hospital, hence including medical treatment in case of ordinary diseases or no-emergency health problems, and prescribes medicines and tests.
For additional information, please visit ATS Pavia website.
Before leaving your country, if you purchase there an health insurance (that must be valid in Italy and cover the risk of illness, accident, maternity, civil liability in case of accident), you will have to take it to the Italian Embassy/Consulate together with the other requested documents to obtain Italian study entry visa and make sure that a stamp is put on it to confirm and certify its validity.
Without the Embassy/Consulate’s stamp, once arrived to Italy, you should be obliged to purchase another insurance, because foreign insurances not validated by the Italian Embassy cannot be accepted to obtain a residence permit.
IMPORTANT: the Italian entry visa for tourism does not allow enrolment in Italian universities and the obtaining of a stay permit for study purposes.
EDiSU (Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario) is the institution that manages university colleges and university canteen in Pavia.
For more information, please visit the following website.