Italy

Studying for less than 3 months

Students from the below countries can freely travel and stay in Italy for a maximum of 3 months:

• Switzerland
• Norway
• Liechtenstein
• Iceland
• Andorra
• Principality of Monaco
• Repulic of San Marino
• Vatican City
• Other EU member states

Read more information here.

Citizens from the following non-EU countries can enter Italy for a duration of up to 90 days without a visa:

• USA
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong
• Ukraine
• UK

UK Students do not require a visa to enter Italy for less than 90 days to complete the following activities:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Attending business meetings
• Cultural or sports events
• Short-term studying or training

Depending on length of stay and nationality, students from non-EU countries may need to apply for a Schengen visa.

If staying in Italy for a duration of less than 90 days, students from non-EU countries will need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for Italy (visa type C).

Use this handy eligibility tool to find out if you need a visa for your trip to Italy.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C), you will need to gather the following documents:

• Visa application form
• Recent passport-sized photograph
• Travel document, valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry of the visa requested
• Health insurance (if you are not entitled to health care in Italy by virtue of agreements or conventions in force within your country)
• Proof of enrolment in an approved or authorised programme of exchange/partnership/mobility

Your approved/authorised programme must:

• Result from national or European programmes (including Erasmus Plus)
• Result from collaborations between academic, scientific and educational establishments
• Be within the framework of agreements, conventions and implementing protocols with foreign universities

How to apply

Students are encouraged to contact the Italian Consulate to check if they need a visa for less than 90 days. For short-stay visas valid for up to 90 days, please download and fill in the Schengen visa application form.

Upon arrival

All students must apply for a Residence Permit or declare your presence in the method corresponding to your visa type within 8 days of entering Italy.

If you are entering Italy from a Schengen area country (e.g.: France) you are required to declare your presence to the local immigration authority (questura) within 8 days of arriving (‘dichiarazione di presenza’). The questura will provide a form to complete. This requirement is not applicable if you are staying in a hotel or a B&B property.

Studying for more than 3 months

EU students studying in Italy for more than 3 months on a non-temporary basis must register with the Registry office (Anagrafe) in the Italian city where they will live and study.

Non-EU/UK students studying for a duration more than 90 days must apply for a type D visa for the "Study – Exchange and Mobility programme".

Upon arrival

In order to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, students will need to apply for an Italian Residence Permit.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for a long-stay visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed and signed application form - Schengen (short stay) or National (long stay), depending on your trip.
• Valid passport (original + copy) - must be valid for at least 3 months after yout return date and have 2 blank pages.
• Valid UK residence permit (original + copy) - must be valid for at least 3 months after your return date.
• One passport-style photo - including full front, a white background and taken within the last 6 months.
• Cover letter.
• Recent acceptance letter from Italian university - must state course type, hours per week, and dates (issued within 1 month).
• Recent confirmation letter from UK university - confirming enrolment and mobility program (issued within 1 month).
• Travel ticket reservation - for short stays (under 90 days)a round-trip ticket is required and for long stay (over 90 days) a one-way ticket is required. Please note requirements based on travel methods:
  • Plane/train/bus: Ticket must be printed from the official operator, showing name, dates, and route.
  • Car travel: Provide ferry/Eurotunnel tickets, car registration, insurance, and driving licence (original + copy). If renting, include rental documents as well.
  • Multiple Schengen countries: Tickets for all internal travel are required.
  • Using travel agencies/third-party services: Only accepted if based in the UK or Schengen area. Tickets must still be issued by official operators.
• Proof of accommodation:
  • Short stay (less than 90 days): Provide proof of hotel booking for entire stay.
  • Long stay (more than 90 days): Provide proof of rental agreement or hotel booking for at least 15–30 days.
  • Staying with friends/family: Provide invitation letter (find template here) and the host’s ID (with signature and valid permit if non-EU).
• Evidence of travel insurance - this must be issued in the UK or in one of the Schengen countries and should be a minimum of €30,000 coverage for medical/emergency/repatriation. If current insurance doesn't provide this, you must find international insurance. Special insurance for students can be obtained with INA ASSITALIA through the university upon arrival to Italy, if not specified in acceptance letter, a self-declaration (“affidavit”) is required. See the insurance required depending on the length of your stay below: 
• Short stay: must cover full stay in Italy.
• Long stay: must cover at least first 2 weeks.
• Proof of financial means, as per Ministry of Interior Directive 1.3 2000, this can be proven by providing: 
  • Last 3 months of UK bank statements 
  • OR parents last 3 months of bank statements alongside their birth certificate (the original and a copy)

Please note: 

• Non-UK certificates must be translated into English or Italian and legalised by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing country or by the Consular Authority in the UK of the issuing country. 
• Certificates issued by a Schengen country are only accepted if multilingual, otherwise please prefer to the below point.
• Applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Travel Document holders (XXA/XXB appear in ICAO) must provide full names of mother and father via a birth certificate or a Consular declaration. 

Discover the full list of documents.

How to apply

All applications should be submitted in person. All documents must be printed out and presented in original, plus a photocopy where required.

Students should book an appointment through the Italian Consulates in London or Edinburgh.

Upon arrival

If you entered Italy to study with a National visa (a long-term visa for periods of more than 90 days) and you're waiting for your Residence Permit, you can move freely within any other Schengen country for a maximum of 90 days. This movement must take place within 6 months from the initial date of validity of your visa.

If you have been granted an Italian National visa, you must report to the Questura (Central Police Station) within 8 working days from the date of arrival in Italy to apply for a permesso di soggiorno (Residence Permit). Please note that failing to report to the Questura, might compromise your ability to legally reside in Italy.

Working for less than 6 months

UK students and students from non-visa-waiver countries can complete some work-related duties without a visa or work permit.

In order to enter Italy, non-EU citizens looking to work for less than 6 months must apply for a study/internship visa (Visa D) at the Italian representation in their country of residence.

However, you must submit a 'declaration of presence' in Italy even if you don't need a visa or permit, here's how you do it:

• Travelling to Italy from outside Schengen area: get passport stamped at border upon entry and exit.
• Travelling to Italy from another Schengen country: make declaration to the police.
• Staying in a hotel: declare arrival to management within 24 hours for submission to police.
• Satying in private accommodation: file a declaration of arrival at police station within 8 days of arrival. You'll be given a copy of the declaration of presence form which can be show to authorities upon request.

Once entering Italy with your entry visa, you have 8 days to apply for a study/internship Residence Permit. Please complete this application by attending the Immigration Office (Questura) in your locality in person.

Your internship must last between 3 and 12 months. The internship must start within 15 days from the Residence Application. Your employer will need to start the application process.

Follow the below steps to complete the application process:

1. Your employer should apply for your work permit at the Italian immigration office.
2. Apply for a D visa at the Italian Consulate.
3. Sign a ‘contract of stay’ (contratto di soggiorno) at the local immigration office within 8 days of arriving in Italy. You will then receive your Italian tax code. If applying to stay in Italy for a year or more, you also need to sign an integration agreement.
4. Apply for a Residence Permit at the local post office in Italy.
5. Visit the local police station to provide your biometric data (fingerprints).
6. Collect your Residence Permit from the local police station (once issued).
7. Register your address at the local town hall in Italy.

Gather your documents

To apply for a work permit in Italy, you will need to gather the following documents:

• completed visa application form
• valid passport
• proof of accommodation, with a signed contract (owned or rented)
• degree or qualification certificate
• signed assignment agreement with your UK employer
• copy of passport for the Italian company’s legal representative
• copy of passport for the UK employer’s legal representative
• official document showing the relationship between your UK employer and the Italian company (e.g.: an annual report)
• recent annual tax return for the Italian company
• proof that the Italian company has paid social security (DM10 and F24 forms)
• Chamber of Commerce certificate for the Italian compan
• proof of the Italian company’s registration with the Italian Workers Compensation Authority (INAIL) and the Italian Social Security Authority (INPS)
• annual financial statement for the UK company
• social security cover certificate/confirmation that the Italian company will comply with Italian social security regulations

Your passport or travel document must:

• be valid for at least 3 months beyond the end date of your requested visa
• have at least 2 blank pages

Any documents issued outside of Italy must be legalised (apostilled). All documents must be in Italian. Translations should be legalised by the Italian Consulate.

Discover the full list of required documents here.

Working for more than 6 months

EU/EEA students can work in Italy without any restrictions or the need to obtain further immigration documents such as a visa or work permit.

UK/non-EU/EEA students who wish to work for a duration of more than 90 days will need an Italy work visa, called a Nulla Osta.

In Italy, a work visa falls under the category of a long-stay visa, which may also be referred to as a National or D-visa.

It’s important to note that the Italian work visa simply allows employees to enter the country. To stay in Italy, you will need to obtain a Residence Permit upon arrival.

Before you can apply for your work visa, your Italian employer must apply for a work permit on your behalf.

Dual nationality

If you are a dual UK Italian national, you must register your residency as an Italian national. You cannot apply for the carta di soggiorno elettronica, but you still have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you are a dual national of the UK and another EU country (not Italy), you can choose which nationality to register under.

Discover more information about visa requirements in Italy.

Gather your documents

Students who need to obtain a long-stay visa (D) for the purposes of employment must gather the following documents:

• Copy of a signed employment contract
• Original Nulla Osta, plus an additional copy
• Passport, valid for at least 3 months beyond the end of the requested visa with at least 2 blank pages
• Passport photographs
• Completed Italian long-stay visa application form
• Proof of sufficient financial means
• Proof of accommodation in Italy
• Proof that the visa fee has been paid
• Diplomas and other qualifying certificates

Any documents issued outside of Italy must be legalised (apostilled). All documents must be in Italian and translations also need to be legalised by the Italian consulate.

How to apply

Once you receive your work permit, you can download and complete the Italian visa application form.

All necessary documents, along with the visa application form, should be submitted in person at the Italian Embassy or Consulate.

British Council - Language Assistantships

EU/EEA Language Assistants can enter Italy using their valid national ID card or passport. You do not need a visa to enter Italy. If you are unsure of whether you need a visa or work permit, please use this handy visa checker tool.

Language Assistants travelling to Italy who do not have an EU passport should apply for a long-stay ‘Study Mobility and Exchange programmes’ visa (type D). This applies to all potential applicants, including non-students. Please note that the process of obtaining your visa can continue until just before your arrival in Italy.

Applications for your visa are made through the Consulate General of Italy in London. You should not apply until you have been instructed to do so by the British Council Team.

Please note, as part of your visa application you will need to show proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Italy. You will be required to show bank statements displaying the amount of up to £8,000 in your personal bank account.

Discover more advice and guidance on applying for your visa for Italy.