Italy Student Visa 2026: Funds, Steps and Work Hours
A non-EU student who wants to study in Italy for more than 90 days follows a set sequence: pre-enrol online, apply for a national study visa at an Italian consulate, then request a residence permit within days of landing. The money you must show is fixed for the academic years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. This guide takes each step from Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its consulates, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To enrol at an Italian university you must show financial resources of at least €10,179.85 a year, pre-enrol on the Universitaly portal and apply for a national study visa, which costs 50 euro. Health insurance with minimum coverage of €30,000 is required. Within 8 days of entering Italy you must apply for a residence permit at the questura. With that permit you may work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week and no more than 1,040 hours a year. Long-stay study visas can take up to 90 days to process.
Which student visa you need
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists, in addition to the generic student visa, six other types:
- for enrolling in an Italian university;
- for attending a single university course;
- for post-graduate studies;
- for participating in an exchange and mobility programme;
- for traineeship and apprenticeship;
- for vocational training.
EU citizens do not need a visa. Nor does a non-EU citizen who already resides legally in Italy.
Step 1: Pre-enrol on Universitaly
If you are a non-EU citizen living abroad and need a study visa, you must pre-enrol on the Universitaly portal. Pre-enrolment is done exclusively online. The university assesses the application and tells you whether a Declaration of Value is needed for your qualification. Each institution sets and publishes its own deadlines, except for courses with a limited number of places.
Acceptance is not the same as a visa. The Italian consulate in Jerusalem's guidance for 2026-2027 states that acceptance by an Italian university does not confer any right to obtain one.
Step 2: Meet the requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Financial means | At least €10,179.85 a year for university enrolment in 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. For multi-year studies, only the first year must be proved |
| Cost of the journey home | The Jerusalem consulate adds the repatriation cost, estimated at approximately €500, which a return ticket can also show |
| Qualification | A final secondary school qualification obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, or the degree required for the next cycle |
| Language | For courses taught in a language other than Italian, a certificate at a level not lower than B2 |
| Health insurance | Minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation |
| Accommodation | A lease, a hotel reservation or a declaration of hospitality |
| Travel | At least a one-way ticket reservation |
| Passport | Valid at least 3 months, with at least two blank pages |
What counts as proof of funds
The ministry is specific about what does not count: a bank guarantee or an insurance policy is not accepted as proof of financial resources for a study stay. What is accepted:
- personal or family guarantees;
- financial guarantees from Italian institutions and organisations, including universities;
- guarantees from local governments, or from foreign institutions the Italian mission considers reliable.
In practice the Italian consulate in London asks for the last 3 months of bank statements, the student's own or the parents' with a birth certificate and a copy of the parent's passport. For visas other than university enrolment, the amount comes from a table in a 2000 directive of the Ministry of the Interior, with a fixed part and a daily part, so it depends on the length of stay.
Step 3: Apply at the consulate
- Book an appointment at the Italian consulate for the area where you live. All applicants appear in person.
- Bring the long-stay application form, passport, photo, the printed Universitaly pre-enrolment summary validated by the university, your qualification and transcripts, with translations if they are not in English or Italian.
- Pay the fee of 50 euro in local currency.
- Wait for the decision. The London consulate warns that applications for long-stay study visas can take up to 90 days to process.
Step 4: The residence permit, within 8 days
The visa only authorises your first entry. Within 8 days of entering Italy you must apply for a residence permit, the permesso di soggiorno, at the immigration office of the questura for the municipality where you live. In the ministry's words, the residence permit is the document that makes your presence in Italy legal, and it must be renewed before it expires.
This also answers a common worry. If you were admitted to a multi-year course but the embassy issued a one-year visa, you do not apply for a new visa each year. You renew the residence permit instead.
Working while you study
- A residence permit for study purposes allows a part-time job for a maximum of 20 hours per week.
- You can work for the entire year, but for no more than 1,040 hours annually.
- If you receive a job offer as you finish, you can convert the study permit into a work permit while it is still valid, by signing a contract of stay with the employer at the Sportello Unico Immigrazione.
Fees and budget
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| National study visa (type D) | 50 euro |
| Study visa type C, up to 90 days | No visa fee |
| Funds to show for a university year | €10,179.85 |
| Average spending of a person aged 18-34 living alone, 2025 | 2,042 euros a month |
The last figure is from Istat's household spending survey published on 8 October 2026. It is an average for young people living alone, not a student budget, but it shows that the legal minimum sits well below ordinary living costs.
Recognition of your qualifications
Foreign qualifications are not automatically recognised in Italy. Universities may ask for a certificate from CIMEA, the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre, or a Declaration of Value. The Jerusalem consulate's guidance also notes that for courses taught in Italian, the only language certificates valid for the visa are those at a level not lower than B2.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for an Italian student visa?
At least €10,179.85 a year for university enrolment in the academic years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, according to Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For multi-year courses you only prove the first year.
How much does an Italian student visa cost?
50 euro for a national (type D) study visa, paid in local currency at the consular exchange rate.
Can international students work in Italy?
Yes. A residence permit for study allows part-time work for a maximum of 20 hours per week and no more than 1,040 hours a year.
How long does an Italian student visa take?
The Italian consulate in London says long-stay study visa applications can take up to 90 days to process.
Do I need to pre-enrol on Universitaly?
Yes, if you are a non-EU citizen living abroad who needs a visa to enrol at an Italian university. EU citizens and non-EU citizens already legally resident in Italy do not.
What do I do after arriving in Italy as a student?
Apply for a residence permit at the questura within 8 days of entry. The permit, not the visa, is what makes your stay legal, and it is renewed before it expires.
Can I use a bank guarantee as proof of funds?
No. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a bank guarantee or insurance policy is not accepted as proof of financial resources for study.
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — FAQ: Study in Italy
- Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem — Enrolment of non-EU students, academic years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Study visa
- Consulate of Italy in Detroit — Visa fees 2026
- Istat — Household consumption expenditure, year 2025
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Each consulate can ask for additional documents, so check the page of the one where you apply. Information, not legal advice.