How it works
For programs longer than 90 days, students from outside the European Union need a national (type D) study visa. For higher education, the process must go through the Universitaly portal, where you pre-enroll in your chosen program. The university reviews and validates the application, and then the consulate reviews the visa.
New for 2026/27: universities now validate a number of applications proportional to the seats reserved for foreign students (at most 20% more). University validation does not guarantee the visa.
minimum financial means per academic year (previously €6,947.33)
deadline to apply for a bachelor's or master's visa in 2026/27
of work allowed per week (up to 1,040 hours per year)
of permesso to look for work after graduation
Main requirements
- Financial means: €10,179.85 per academic year, from a lawful and traceable source, usually with recent bank statements. Scholarships only count if already awarded. Some consulates also ask for the cost of a return ticket.
- Health insurance valid in Italy, covering treatment and hospitalization. Once you arrive, you can switch to voluntary SSN enrollment, which costs €700 per year for students with no income and no dependents.
- Proof of housing: a lease, an accommodation booking or a letter of hospitality. Just being on the list for university housing is not enough.
- Language: for programs in Italian, usually B2; for programs in English, the certificate the university requires.
- Previous studies: diploma with a declaration of value from the consulate or a CIMEA statement of comparability.
Step by step
Choose a program and university
Check admission requirements, language and internal deadlines, which may come before the Ministry's.
Pre-enroll on Universitaly
Upload your documents and choose your consulate. Wait for the university's validation.
Prepare your visa documents
Bank statements, insurance, housing, passport and diploma with declaration of value or CIMEA.
Apply for the visa
For bachelor's and master's degrees (laurea and laurea magistrale), by November 30, 2026. For masters, PhDs and language courses, at any time before classes start.
Arrive and apply for the permesso
Within 8 business days of entry, using the post office kit. The study permesso is valid for one year and renewable.
Final enrollment and SSN
Complete enrollment at the university (if you don't enroll, your visa can be revoked), get your codice fiscale and choose between private insurance and the SSN.
Fees and scholarships
At public universities, the annual fee depends on your ISEE. International students use the ISEE parificato, calculated at a CAF with income and asset documents from the family's home country. Under national rules, anyone with an ISEE up to €22,000 is exempt from the annual contribution (paying only the regional fee and revenue stamp). Many universities go further: Turin up to €26,000, Bologna up to €27,000, Padua up to €30,000.
| DSU scholarship 2026/27 (national minimum) | Annual amount |
|---|---|
| Off-site student (lives in the university's city) | €7,171 |
| Daily commuter student (pendolare) | €4,190 |
| On-site student (lives with family in the city) | €2,890 |
DSU scholarships are regional (in Lombardy, managed by each university) and depend on ISEE and merit. There are also scholarships from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Invest Your Talent and others) and the universities' own scholarships. To compare the cost of living in university cities, use the cost of living calculator and see Milan, Monza, Bologna and Turin.
Working during and after your studies
- During your program: employment of up to 20 hours per week, at most 1,040 hours per year.
- Converting to a work permit: if you complete a program in Italy (bachelor's, master's, PhD, master), you can convert your permesso to employment or self-employment outside the quotas of the Decreto Flussi. Before you graduate, conversion depends on the quotas.
- Permesso to look for work: after graduation, you can apply for a 9 to 12-month permesso to look for a job or start a business (article 39-bis.1 of the Testo Unico). You need to register as available at the employment center and keep income and health coverage.
For next steps, see working for an Italian employer and entrepreneurs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my family on a student visa?
You can apply for family reunification, but you must meet income and housing requirements, and in practice it's hard for students. See moving with your family.
Can I enter as a tourist and enroll later?
No. The study visa must be requested at the consulate before you travel.
Can the funds be in my parents' account?
Many consulates accept a guarantee from parents or sponsors with documentation. Check your consulate's rule.
If my visa is denied, can I apply again?
Some consulates don't accept a second application for the same academic year. Prepare the first one carefully.
I have Italian ancestry. Is studying worth it?
Yes, it can be a good way to start legal residence. See how this connects with naturalization in descendants.
Sources: MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28 for international students (Unife copy) (2026); Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem, 2026/27 fact sheet (Jun 2026); WAI, what's new for 2026/27 (2026); Confindustria Bergamo, work and conversion (Jul 2024); Art. 39-bis.1 of the Testo Unico (Brocardi, updated Jul 2026); Universita.it, DSU scholarships 2026/27 (DD MUR 175/2026) (Feb 2026); Universita.it, 2026/27 fees and no tax area (2026); AUSL Modena, voluntary SSN enrollment (2025).