Italy's national visa (D-type) for non-EU students pursuing degree programs at Italian universities. Pre-enrollment via Universitaly portal required. After arrival, students must apply for a residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) within 8 days. Italian public university tuition is means-tested via the ISEE system, making it affordable.
Public university tuition is means-tested via ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente): EUR 0-4,000/yr. Many students pay under EUR 1,500/yr. Students with ISEE under EUR 13,000 may qualify for full fee waiver. Private universities charge EUR 5,000-25,000+/yr. No-tax area (zona no-tax) provides full fee waivers for low-income students.
Maximum 20 hours per week, up to 1,040 hours per year. No separate work permit required. Full-time allowed during university holiday periods within the annual cap. Work can be in any field.
| Program | Type | Duration | Min Degree | Work | PR Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion to Work Permit (Conversione da Studio a Lavoro) | Work permit | 12mo-24mo | Any | Unrestricted | Yes |
| Job Search Permit (Attesa Occupazione) | Job seeker | 12mo | Any | 20hrs | No |
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CILS / CELI / PLIDA | Admission | Italian | B2 | B2 level required for Italian-taught programs. CILS (Universita di Siena), CELI (Universita di Perugia), or PLIDA (Societa Dante Alighieri) accepted. Some universities conduct their own Italian language test. |
| IELTS Academic | Admission | English | 6.0 | Required for English-taught programs, growing especially at master level. TOEFL iBT 80+ also accepted. |
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study Visa Application Fee | Application | $58 | One time |
| Permesso di Soggiorno Kit | Permit | $139 | Per year |
Pre-enrollment via Universitaly portal and Italian diplomatic mission. Must apply for Permesso di Soggiorno at post office (kit postale) within 8 days of arrival. Codice Fiscale (tax code) needed for most administrative procedures. Since 2023 Decreto Cutro, study-to-work permit conversion no longer subject to annual quota (Decreto Flussi), available year-round. Visa deadline typically November 30 for upcoming academic year.
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Last verified: May 3, 2026. Source