Path to staying
- Study12 months, renewable
- Post-study workup to 12 months
- Permanent residencyafter 5 years
- Citizenshipafter 10 years
Overview
- Country
- Italy
- Visa name
- Study Visa (Visto per Studio)
- Local name
- Visto per Studio / Permesso di Soggiorno per Studio
- Status
- Active
- Duration
- 12 months
- Renewable
- Yes
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.
Tuition and costs
- Tuition policy
- Subsidized
- Tuition range
- $0 – $4,600/year
- Proof of funds
- $8,036/year
- Funds type
- Bank statement
- Scholarships
- Available
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.
Work rights during study
- Work allowed
- Yes
- Term hours
- 20 hrs/week
- Vacation hours
- Unlimited
- Permission
- Automatic
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.
Post-study work options
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion to Work Permit (Conversione da Studio a Lavoro) | Work permit | 12 mo–24 mo | Any | Unrestricted | Yes |
| Job Search Permit (Attesa Occupazione) | Job seeker | 12 mo | Any | 20 hrs | No |
Language requirements
| 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. |
Fees and costs
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study Visa Application Fee | Application | $58 | One time |
| Permesso di Soggiorno Kit | Permit | $139 | Per year |
Dependents and family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Restriction
- Spouse and minor children. Must demonstrate sufficient funds for family.
- Spouse work
- Unrestricted
- Conditions
- Spouse with family reunification permit (Permesso per Motivi Familiari) has unrestricted work access.
Long-term pathway
- Post-study visa
- Available
- Work permit
- Possible
- Permanent residency
- After 5 years
- Citizenship
- After 10 years
- Study time counts
- 100% credit
How to apply
- Method
- In person
- Processing
- 14-90 days
- Interview
- Not required
- Official site
- studyinitaly.esteri.it
- Health insurance
- Required (buy separately)
Notes and caveats
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.
Also in Italy
Last verified May 3, 2026 Source