Student Area · Universitaly Portal — visa application online

Study Visa — online application via Universitaly

Every non-EU student who wants to study in Italy for more than 90 days must apply for a study visa. The application is started online on the Universitaly portal and finalised in person at the Italian Consulate in your country.

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs procedure. Issuance time varies (usually 2–12 weeks depending on the Consulate).

01Before you start

• Valid passport, at least 3 months beyond the planned end of stay.
• Acceptance letter from Accademia di Italiano (we send it by email + paper after enrollment).
• Proof of financial means: ~€5,825/year (bank statement, scholarship, family guarantee).
• Proof of accommodation: rental contract, student residence booking, declaration of hospitality.
• Compliant health insurance (see Health Insurance).

02Register on the Universitaly portal

Go to universitaly.it and create a profile. You need:

• A valid personal email (not a school one — check it regularly).
• Personal data exactly as on your passport.
• Passport number.

You will receive login credentials by email (username + password). Keep them safe.

03Fill in the pre-enrollment application

Inside the portal, section "Apply for a Visa":

• Select "Visa for Study — Course of Italian Language".
• Enter Accademia di Italiano data: school name, campus (Milan — Via Durini 7; Florence — Via Bolognese 52; Mantua — Via C. Montanari 1; Turin — Via Saluzzo 60), course duration.
• Upload the acceptance letter from Accademia di Italiano (PDF).
• Upload passport scan (personal data page).
• Upload proof of financial means (bank statement, scholarship).
• Upload proof of accommodation.
• Upload health insurance policy.
• Indicate the Italian Consulate where you will attend the appointment (the one in charge of your area of residence).

04Pre-enrollment approval

Accademia di Italiano verifies your online application within 5 working days. You receive an email notification when approved or if corrections are needed. Once approved, your file is forwarded to the Italian Consulate you indicated.

05Consulate appointment

The Consulate contacts you (by email or through a visa agency) to schedule the in-person appointment. Bring:

• Original passport.
• National visa request form (provided at the Consulate or downloaded).
• 2 recent passport-size photos.
• Originals of all documents uploaded to Universitaly.
• Payment of the visa fee (varies by country, roughly €50–100).

The Consulate runs the interview (usually 10–20 minutes), takes biometric fingerprints, and issues the visa in 2–12 weeks (depending on the Consulate and time of year).

06Special cases

UK students

UK citizens or UK residents apply through the Italian Consulate in London. Request a visa for "Study — Exchange and Mobility Programme".

Students with EU dual citizenship

If you hold the citizenship of an EU country in addition to your non-EU one, you are exempt from the visa and the Residence Permit. Show your EU passport at enrollment.

Students already residing in the EU

If you are already enrolled at a university in the Schengen Area and you hold a study residence permit from another EU State that covers the whole mobility period in Italy, check with the Visa Office of the Italian Consulate in your country of residence whether you are visa-exempt. If yes, on arrival you only file the Declaration of Presence.