If you are planning to study in Italy, I am sure there must be dozens of questions running in your mind such as is Italy issuing student visas now? How much bank balance is required for Italy student visa? Is IELTS required for Italy student visa? Fear not, read on to find all the answers.
Italy, since 26 October 2021, reopened its doors to India for the first time since March 2020 when coronavirus started to spread across the world.
How do you get a student visa to study in Italy?
Pre-visa information
- There are two types of student visas in Italy – Visa type C (short-stay visa or travel visa valid for one or more entries and for a period not more than 90 days) and Visa type D (long-stay visa valid for more than 90 days).
- First pick a university and contact it and ask for a prior assessment.
- It will provide you with details such as whether you meet their eligibility criteria.
- If you meet the admission prerequisites, then you will have to submit a request to the Italian embassy or consulate in your city.
- The embassy or consulate, in turn, will submit the application and documents to the Italian higher education institution you chose to apply to.
- The Italian embassy or consulate usually publishes a list of selected candidates or it will contact you directly.
Once the embassy or consulate confirms your name, it is time to apply for a visa.
- Download and fill the visa application form and submit it at one of the Italy-appointed visa application centres.
- Book an appointment for the application and biometric submission at a VAC and visit it on the appointed date.
Documents needed for student visa for Italy from India
- Valid passport with at least a validity of 3 months after intended stay and at least two blank pages.
- Visa application form.
Italy student visa checklist (including Italy student visa financial requirements)
- A cover letter with name of applicant, purpose of study visa, expense bearer, travel dates and duration of stay
- Documents regarding study course
- Copy of official note stating the enrolment by the Italian Institution stating clearly the initial date and duration of the course in cases of courses not subjected to pre-enrolment.
- Copy of official letter of acceptance of pre-enrolment and summary of pre-enrolment stating clearly the initial date of the course in case of courses subjected to pre-enrolment.
- “Dichiarazione di Valore” (Declaration of Value) or evaluation ENIC NARIC from Cimea of the applicant’s educational certificates duly legalized by the Consulate General of Italy.
- Receipt of payment of tuition fees (if paid).
- Adequate proof of boarding and lodging or a minimum of 9,000 Euros.
- Proof of means of support in Italy of not less than 5,977.79 Euros per year or 459.83 Euros for each month of the academic year.
- 3 months’ original bank statement signed and stamped by the bank (applicant or sponsor) or copy of scholarship, if applicable.
- A photocopy of applicant’s passport’s front page, last page, previous Schengen visas, valid UK and US visas, if any.
- Medical insurance with a coverage of 30,000 Euros, medical insurance must include the “repatriation clause”.
- Air ticket or a minimum of 2,200 Euros on top of required financial documentation.
Language Proficiency Test
IELTS or TOEFL test is compulsory unless you apply to a college which does not mandate it or your medium of education throughout was in English.
Italy student visa rate
While in 2019, nearly 17 million people from developing countries applied for a visa to enter the Schengen area, the number of visas issued in 2020 was less than three million because of the pandemic. But according to the 2019 statistics, Italy student visa rejection rate was 9.9 percent and the primary reasons were either funding or documentation issues. If you follow all the rules strictly there is no reason to worry about rejection. You could always seek assistance of Career2Life, whether it’s an admission, accommodation or visa query. We are here to help you pursue your dream of studying abroad.