Italy student visa for Indian students: All you need to know

Italy is a beautiful country that is also home to a number of world class universities. If you are looking to head to Italy for further studies, read on to learn more about what Indian students should expect with the process for a student visa.

📝 Table of contents
Application Process Requirements Student visa checklist Application fees

Immigration to another country is always a unique experience. And while this guide can help highlight parts of the visa process, it is not intended to substitute professional advice. If you have questions about how to go about your visa, contact a visa professional for help and who will walk you through the process. And stay up to date on policies and procedures on the Embassy of Italy in India website.

🎓 Italy student visa application

If you are an Indian student looking to pursue a program in Italy for more than 90 days, you are required to get a Long Term “D” visa.

The Long Term “D” visa allows students to study in the country, to stay beyond 3 months and until their program is completed, and travel to other countries that fall under the Schengen visa region.

Each regional Italian consulate and the Embassy for Italy in India, New Delhi manages the student visa process for Indian nationals. They in turn use VFS Global to help gather information and process applications. You will have to interact with VFS Global in India as you submit your application and conduct the necessary biometric and interview steps.

The Italian embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction of your resident state will be the ultimate decision-maker on your application. It is also where you can drop off your application and documents. The jurisdiction is determined by where you have been currently living for over 6 months.

Here is how it breaks down across India:

• Embassy of Italy, New Delhi: Residents of New Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh
• Consulate of Italy in Mumbai: Residents of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Daman and Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, and Pondicherry
• Consulate of Italy in Kolkata: Residents of the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Tripura, Sikkim and West Bengal, the Union Territory of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Nepal.

Additionally, here are the VFS Global Centres that can accept your application and that can also do any additional information gathering:

New Delhi
Italy Visa Application Centre,
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
Shivaji Stadium Metro Station,
Mezzanine Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg,
Connaught Place New Delhi - 110001

Jalandhar
Italy Visa Application Centre,
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
3rd floor, Aman Plaza, Plot No 310,
Lajpat Nagar, Mahavir Marg,
Nakodar Chowk, (opposite to lovely autos), Jalandhar,
Punjab - 144001

Chandigarh
Italy Visa Application Centre,
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
Elante Offices, Entry from Gate No. 3 ,Unit no. B 209, Second Floor,
Office Block B, Plot no. 178- 178A, Industrial & Business Park,
Phase - I, Chandigarh (U T) 160002, India

Jaipur
Italy Visa Application Centre,
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
Manglam Ambition Tower
1st Floor, Agrasen Circle (Malan ka Chauraha), Subhash Marg, C Scheme
Jaipur, 302001

There are other VFS visa centres in Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi which fall under the jurisdiction of the Italian Consulate General of Mumbai. Kolkata, Guwahati and Kathmandu (Nepal) fall under that of the Italian consulate in Kolkata.

Remember, VFS Global does not approve or refuse your visa application. That is solely done by the Embassy of Italy in India.¹

Not sure if you need a visa for your time in Italy? Check to see what kind of a visa you might need for Italy with this handy guide.

What are the do’s and don’ts for an Italian long term “D” visa? Take a look below:

Do’s ✅	Don’ts ❌
Gain admittance to an Italian institution before applying	Apply for a Short term visa if you intend to stay longer than 90 days
Enroll in a full time academic program in Italy	Apply for a visa before you have enrolled and pay your tuition fees
Check the requirements for your relevant Italian consulate or embassy	Apply for a visa without a passport with the requisite time validity
Submit your application 3 months before your departure date	Work on a study visa unless specifically stated and approved by your institution

🛂 Italy student visa process

Here is a quick step by step guide on the Italian student visa process²:

1. Be accepted into a qualifying educational institution in Italy and gather documents showing your enrollment
2. Identify the Italian embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction for your area in India
3. Download the application from the website
4. Complete the application and gather required documents
5. Book an appointment at a VFS Global visa application centre
6. Pay the application fee
7. At the time of the appointment, submit your application and documents
8. Complete your biometric registration at the application centre
9. Track your application using your unique reference number
10. Await your decision
11. Collect your passport and documents from the visa application centre

You must apply within 15-180 working days prior to your prospective date of departure for Italy. It is best to check with your embassy or consulate directly to know how much time would be recommended beforehand to apply. Certain months of the year, like July and August, can be busier than others.

The Embassy of Italy in India has the right to request an in-person interview or additional documents after your submission. Be prepared in case you are asked to do either or both.

Once you are in Italy, you may be requested to complete a Resident Permit in your local city. Follow the instructions given by your university or educational institution.

🏫 Italy student visa requirements for Indian students

Let’s break down the requirements for Indian students to apply for an Italian long term “D” study visa. The first major one being, your passport.

You will need to submit your passport alongside your application. Your passport must:

• Have been issued within the past 10 years
• Be valid for at least 3 months after your stay in Italy is complete
• Be machine readable
• Can not be handwritten
• Have at least 2 blank pages

Now that your passport is in order, let’s take a look at what else is required to have for your study visa in Italy.³

💶 Italy student visa financial requirements

You will have to show evidence of meeting two main financial requirements- tuition and living expenses. Most schools or universities in Italy will require a certain amount of payment towards tuition to hold your spot for enrollment.

For the visa, you will need to show proof of having easy access to € 460.28/₹ per month of the academic year or €5977.79 Euros per one year:

	Minimum income to show
Income to show per month	€460.28/ ₹40,759
For 1 year	€5,977.79/ ₹5,29,345

*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of EUR €1 = ₹88.55 as of May 31, 2021

You can show proof of funds by attaching:

• 3 months original bank statement signed and stamped by the bank.
• Guarantees or scholarships by the Italian institution
• Credit or scholarships provided from other verified institutions

If you are to be supported by family during your stay, they will then be categorized as your Sponsor. In the case of a sponsor, you can show:

• Qualifying bank statements under the family member’s name, plus
• a letter of commitment
• A copy of their ID proof

✈️ For the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai, one part that comes up under documents for your application is your air travel booking. If you haven’t booked your travel to Italy to start your study, you can show an additional €2,200/ ₹1,94,814* in your financial requirements in lieu of air tickets.

Additionally, if your university isn’t providing accommodation and you haven’t arranged for accommodation in Italy by the time of your application submission, you will need to show an additional €9,000/ ₹7,96,968* on your financial documentation.⁴

🚨One of the top reasons for a visa refusal is not meeting the financial requirements. So it is recommended to begin the application process once you are confident in your ability to fund your tuition and stay.

*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of EUR €1 = ₹88.55 as of May 31, 2021

📃 Documents required for Italy student visa

Here is a consolidated list of the documents required for a student or long term “D” visa. But remember, you may be asked for additional documents by the Italian embassy⁵ ⁶.

• Application form
• 2 passport size photographs
• Acceptance of enrollment at an Italian university or education institution
• Evidence of meeting financial requirements
• Evidence of Academic qualifications from India
• Receipt of tuition fees paid, if applicable
• 1 photocopy of your passport front page
• 1 photocopy of your passport last page
• 1 photocopy of all previous Schengen visas, if any
• 1 photocopy of valid UK and US visas, if any
• Evidence of Medical Insurance coverage up to €30,000
• One way air ticket
• Proof of accomodation in Italy

Medical insurance is required for applications to study in Italy and must carry a repatriation clause. In most cases the Italian university will be providing insurance coverage, but in case not, here is a list of approved insurance providers.

Items like flight tickets and accommodation are required pieces of your application for a successful submission. However, the Embassy of Italy or consulate are not responsible for those expenses in the case your application is refused. It is advised to purchase refundable tickets as and when possible.

⌛ Italy student visa processing time

A long term “D” visa in India takes at least 15 working days, but with an average processing time higher than that. It is suggested to give yourself at least 3 months before your date of departure to submit your application.⁷

📋 Italy student visa checklist

To apply for a student, or long term “D” visa, you will need to submit your application through the Italian embassy or consulate for your region. Ensure that you:

• Have your acceptance letter into an Italian educational institution
• Have a fully completed and signed application
• Your passport is valid for the requisite amount of time
• You have financial means to cover your living expenses
• You have paid your tuition fees as required per your institution
• You can show evidence of accommodation in Italy
• Evidence of academic qualifications in India
• Air travel is arranged
• A minimum of 2 passport sized photographs
• Photocopies of your passport
• Cover letter detailing your motivation as well as travel dates, if applicable
• Application fee is paid

If you do have any questions about supporting documents and procedures, you can reach out to the Embassy of Italy in India or the Consulate General of Italy in India with any questions.

🏷️ Italy student visa fees

The Italian student, long term “D”, visa application fee for Indian students is €50⁸.

You will have to pay the visa application fee at the visa application centre at the time of submission.

Italy student visa fees in Indian Rupees

You can pay the application fee at the visa application centre in India. All major payment methods are typically accepted at the embassy or VFS Global centre, but check with your respective centre before your appointment.

	Application Fee in Euros	Application Fee in Indian Rupees*
Application fee	€50	₹4,428

*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of EUR €1 = ₹88.55 as of May 31, 2021

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Sources:

1. Long term Study D visa
2. Italian Study Visa process
3. Passport Requirement
4. Financial requirements
5. Documents 1
6. Documents 2
7. Processing time
8. Fee

All sources checked as of 2 June, 2021