Student Visa process for Italy | Pakistan Law Reports

Italy plays an important part in European higher education, and was influential in starting the higher education reform, known as "Bologna Process" (Bologna Declaration, June 1999) which is now being implemented all over Europe. Its higher education system includes 83 universities (58 of them sponsored by the State), as well as numerous non-university institutions such as academies of art, design and music, and institutes of technical education and specialized training. Studying in Italy gives students access to some of the most influential art, architecture, and history in the world. The options for study abound. Italy is home to the Università di Bologna, which is said to be the oldest university in the western world. Historians cite the university as having been created in 1088. The university boasts many famous historical figures as alumni, including Dante Alighieri. The Italian cities like Rome, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Turin etc has a great historical value which students can observe during their study period in Italy. International students can choose from a wide variety of Italian universities, and many are top in their fields. La Sapienza University in Rome is rated among the top 100 in the world, its strength lying in social sciences and humanities. The Politechnico di Milano and University of Torino are two of the top engineering and applied sciences universities in Europe. Centuries-old universities including those in Bologna and Padova have a long tradition in legal studies, politics, and international affairs. Florence and Venice naturally are incomparable places to study art and art history. Every Foreign student intending the study in Italy must obtain a Italian student visa before entering into the Italy. In order to assure a timely processing of visas, the student (or his/her parents on their child’s behalf) should begin the visa application as early as possible but no sooner than three months prior to the program's initiation.We strongly recommend that students mustn't wait until the holiday period to go to the Consulate. Not only can the wait be lengthy, but it also makes the turnaround time for visa issuance longer than usual. Students should contact your nearest Italian consulate and follow the directions for obtaining a student visa. The visa will not be issued the same day; the process can take up to 60 days. Italian institutions will provide the necessary Letter of Acceptance, Letter of Enrollment, Insurance Letter and Course Schedule to complete your visa application materials. Student visas will be issued only for the length of time you are enrolled in the program. Only a visa issued for study purposes is valid for your final enrollment at an H.Ed. institution in Italy. No other type of visa will be accepted. Therefore you have to apply to the competent Italian diplomatic authority and ask for a study visa in your name. The competent Italian Embassy/ Consulate is the authority responsible for accepting your pre-application and checking if you meet the requirements for the visa. Remember The study visa will be issued only against demonstration that you: Have a suitable accommodation in Italy. May dispose of enough financial means to support yourself. are entitled to medical care in Italy. Possess the amount of money necessary to travel back to your country, or have already purchased a valid return-ticket. Stay Permits (non- Eu citizens) First issuing Within 8 days from arrival, all non-Eu citizens who hold a study visa for Italy must apply for a stay permit for study purposes. The stay permit is issued by the local police station (Questura - Ufficio Stranieri) of the applicant's place of residence in Italy against presentation of: a valid passport bearing a study visa for Italy. proof of enough financial means to support herself/himself. a document giving evidence of her/his right to medical care in Italy. Remember When candidates to matriculation decide to move, even if temporarily, to another Italian city (e.g. to attend programs in the Italian language), within 15 days they will have to apply to the competent police station (Questura) to report their change of address. Those students who leave the Italian territory are allowed to enter again only if they already hold a stay permit. Renewals After matriculation, and at least 30 days before the expiration of their stay permits, all non-Eu students coming from abroad have to apply to the Questura for such permits to be extended for the whole year. On the occasion, each student must demonstrate to have the necessary financial resources to support herself/himself, a certificate of enrollment issued by an Italian H.Ed. institution, as well as to meet all the other requirements needed for the issuing of the stay permit. Both study visa and stay permits are renewed to the students who have passed one exam in the first year of their degree programmes, and two exams at least in the following years for the earning of such a credit number as determined by the institutions. The stay permit may be renewed also to a student who has passed only one exam against documentary evidence of a state of very poor health or of other serious reasons. All that without prejudice of the dispositions concerning the global number of possible renewals; in fact, stay permits cannot be issued for more than 3 years beyond the legal length of the degree course concerned (Art. 46, § 4 of the Presidential Decree No. 394 of 31st August 1999).