Prior to arrival: A Student Visa is required for non-EU students enrolled in programs that last longer than 90 days and must be requested at the Italian Embassy or Consulate that covers your area of residence. Embassies/Consulates require a series of documents in order to issue a student visa. Among these documents, the Admissions office provides the following: a letter of enrollment and worldwide insurance coverage for studying and living in Italy (if applicable). Please note: Your visa allows you to stay in the Schengen Area only as long as your visa is valid. Depending on citizenship, some students may need a student visa even if they are studying in Italy for a period shorter than 90 days. Please carefully check the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for further information. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a student visa. 

After arrival: Once a student has entered the country on a student visa (for programs longer than 90 days), they must apply for a ‘permit of stay’ or Permesso di Soggiorno within 8 days of arrival in Italy. Our staff will assist with the ‘permit of stay’ application during Orientation, as indicated in the Orientation Schedule. The meeting is mandatory, and students are required to provide the following items during the meeting:

• Original Passport photo 
• Photocopy of your Passport (photo & visa pages)
• Photocopy of acceptance letter (stamped by Italian Embassy)
• Copy of your international health insurance card
• Black ink pen
• 16.00 euro in cash*
• 122.00 euro cash or card (this payment covers the cost of the official stamp, mailing, and processingg fees). *

*Application costs may vary according to Italian immigration laws; the Institution is not responsible for any last-minute change in cost). 

Important: Do not submit any original documents with your Permesso di Soggiorno application. All originals must be brought to Italy and stored in a safe place during your stay. 

After this first application meeting, students will be escorted to the Immigration office’s representatives within the local post office for passport verification. Once the application has been submitted, students are given an appointment at the Questura (Police Department) for fingerprinting and identification before the Permit can be issued. This meeting is mandatory and cannot be changed. Please do not make travel plans until you have received your appointment time and date. While the Student Life Department will be available to facilitate the application filing and advise students on reaching the immigration office, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the Immigration Police and complete this procedure. Important: Students are responsible for checking their Permit of Stay status after submitting the application. For students staying longer than one semester, it is the student’s responsibility to extend the permit to stay. If the extension request is NOT submitted to the immigration office BEFORE the permit expires, students will be required to return to their home country and apply for a new student visa. Thank you for your cooperation!