IT
Italy · Visto per Studio / Permesso di Soggiorno per Studio · apply in person · processing 14-90 days
Italy's national visa (D-type) for non-EU students pursuing courses at Italian higher education institutions. Higher education pre-enrolment is handled through Universitaly. After arrival, students must apply for a residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) within eight working days.
Tuition is set by each institution. Public universities generally charge less than private universities; amounts and income-based reductions or exemptions vary by institution and student circumstances. Check the chosen institution's current fee schedule.
Subordinate employment is limited to 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year. The weekly and annual limits generally apply together for year-round jobs; when work is concentrated into a shorter period, weekly hours may exceed 20 if the annual cap is respected. Self-employment is permitted without this subordinate-work hours cap. No separate work permit is required for permitted work.
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion to Work Permit (Conversione da Studio a Lavoro) | Work permit | — | Any | Unrestricted | Yes |
| Job Search Permit (Attesa Occupazione) | Job seeker | 12 mo | Bachelors | No | No |
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CILS / CELI / PLIDA | Admission | Italian | B2 | Some consular missions require B2 for Italian-taught courses and accept certificates such as CILS, CELI, PLIDA or CERT.IT; requirements are mission- and course-specific. |
| IELTS Academic | Admission | English | B2 | Some consular missions require evidence of B2 in the course language for English-taught courses. Accepted certificates and admission scores depend on the mission and institution. |
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Study Visa Application Fee | Application | $56 | One time |
| Permesso di Soggiorno Kit | Permit | $131 | Per year |
Pre-enrolment for higher education courses is through Universitaly. The visa is issued for the course period and may not exceed 365 days; the study residence permit is normally issued for up to one year and renewed for multi-year courses, subject to requirements. Apply for the residence permit within eight working days of arrival. Study-to-work conversion is available without annual quota limits when statutory requirements are met. For 2026/2027, degree-course visa applications are due by 30 November 2026; other course categories follow separate timing rules. Student residence time does not qualify for the EU long-term residence permit while the stay remains for study.
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source
corrected EU long-term residence treatment for study periods (https://www.integrazionemigranti.gov.it/it-it/Altre-info/e/4/o/5/id/2/Il-permesso-di-soggiorno-UE-per-lungo-soggiornanti).
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