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Exchange visa for a period of study at a university operating in Italy

Exchange visa for a period of study at a university operating in Italy (this category also includes dual degree programs).

 For general information on this type of VISA, please visit the following Italian government website: vistoperitalia.esteri.it

What is it used for and who can use it?

This visa allows foreign citizens of legal age to enter Italy if, currently attending university they wish to study at a university operating in Italy, provided that a specific exchange agreement between the two universities is already in place, without which this visa cannot be obtained. In order to apply for this type of visa, the period of study to be carried out in Italy must be understood as the completion of the missing semesters (e.g., if the student has completed 9 out of 10 cycles of study at the university, the visa will apply for the duration necessary to complete the missing cycle).

Under no circumstances will applying for this type of study visa allow the student to apply for another type of study visa.

The visa can be applied for three months before the course start date and up to 1month before the course start date.

Type of visa: “D” long-stay visa (more than 90 days up to 365 days).

REQUIREMENTS: Must be submitted following the strict order below:

  1. National visa application form duly completed in all fields and signed.
  2. Two photographs (3,5 cm x 4 cm), white background in color (identical and recent), one of which must be pasted to the form in the corresponding box.
  3. Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond the duration of the visa) with at least two free pages and a plain copy of the passport (only the page of the passport containing the holder’s personal information).
  4. Payment of consular fees in cash (they are paid on the day of the appointment, see Consular Fees Table)
  5. ID card- for foreigners cédula de extranjería / carne de migracion, valid (in both cases only an enlarged and legible copy).
  6. Pre-registration on Universitaly portal, printed and signed.
  7. Letter of acceptance from the Italian University stating the date of commencement of studies, the duration of the course and specifying the course of study and the language in which it will be conducted (original and copy).
  8. Letter of introduction from the current university stating the student’s biographical data and the existing Agreement under which the two universities (Italian and local) have established this arrangement, specifying the course of study to be pursued.
  9. A plain copy of the existing agreement between the two universities (in Italian or Spanish) if the university has not already registered it with the Embassy.
  10. Declaration of Valor: plain copy issued by the corresponding Office of the Italian Students who need the Dichiarazione di Valore should contact the Study Office of the Italian Embassy in advance at: panama.segreteriacm@esteri.it.
  11. If the course lasts longer than six months and is taught in Italian, an official B2-level certification issued by one of the following bodies must be presented: CILS; CELI; PLIDA. However, the Italian Embassy reserves the right to verify the level of knowledge of the Italian language during the interview and to request any additional documentation deemed necessary. If the course lasts more than six months and is taught in English, an official B2-level certification issued exclusively by one of the following three institutions must be presented: TOEFL, MICHIGAN, IELTS. In either case, the certification cannot be more than two years old before the date of the visa application.
  12. Demonstrate the availability of economic means (for the entire duration of the course of study) that must be constant in time (not of last moment) and available on the day of the visa application according to the values indicated in Table A attached to the Directive of the Ministry of the Interior dated 03.2000, which provides for the availability of the following minimum amount: 206.58 Euros basic + 27.89 Euros x each day of the duration of the course, (example: for courses of 365 days: 27.89×365+206.58=386.43 Euros) demonstrable through one of the following options:
    1. Availability of a bank account in the name of the student or parents at an Italian/EU Bank. This availability must be demonstrated through bank statement(s) of the account(s) for the last six months preceding the date of the visa application appointment (original, duly stamped by the issuing Bank – no documents downloaded from the Internet lacking the above criteria will be accepted). ONLY THE BANK CERTIFICATE WITH THE CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE AND CREDIT CARD SUPPORT IS NOT IN CASE THE LATEST BANK STATEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BANK STATEMENTS WITH THE CURRENT BALANCE ARE REQUESTED.
    2. Availability of a bank account in the name of the student or parents in a bank in the country of residence. This availability must be demonstrated through bank statements of the account(s) for the last six months prior to the date of the visa appointment. Originals duly stamped by the issuing bank must be submitted – documents downloaded from the Internet without the above criteria are not accepted). ONLY THE BANK CERTIFICATE WITH THE CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE AND CREDIT CARD SUPPORT IS NOT ACCEPTED. IN CASE THE LATEST BANK STATEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BANK STATEMENTS WITH THE CURRENT BALANCE ARE REQUESTED.
    3. When expenses are to be borne by the parents: notarized letter of commitment from the parents to a Notary Office + bank statement(s) of the parents’ account(s) for the last six months prior to the date of the visa application appointment in original, duly stamped by the issuing Bank + employment letter from the parents (Note: in this case, a plain, legible copy of the visa applicant’s birth certificate attesting to filiation must also be submitted. ONLY THE BANK CERTIFICATE WITH THE CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE IS NOT ACCEPTED, NOR IS THE CREDIT CARD SUPPORT. IN CASES WHERE THE LATEST BANK STATEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BANK STATEMENTS WITH THE CURRENT BALANCE ARE REQUIRED.
    4. If the person is a recipient of scholarships provided by recognized institutions (e.g., university, IFARHU, government, etc.), the letter from the institution must state the name of the scholarship recipient, the purpose of the scholarship and the exact amount awarded in U.S. dollars; it must be signed by the head of the granting institution and accompanied by a photocopy of the scholar’s ID card.
    5. The Embassy reserves the right to accept bank transactions from active accounts in a country other than Panama/States of Accreditation or the European Union.
  1. Demonstration of accommodation availability through one of the following options:
    • Hotel/residence reservation covering the first 10 days from the date of arrival in Italy.
    • Letter of invitation issued by an Italian/European citizen or foreigner legally residing in Italy.
  2. Medical insurance with 30,000 euro coverage in the Schengen States for the first 10 days after departure. NOTE: Insurance must be made with agencies within the country of residence or directly in Italy; reservations and/or purchases made through Internet sites are not accepted. Insurance must be in the name of the student(s).
  3. Reservation of a round-trip flight with final destination Italy (copy) and proof of financial availability to purchase the return ticket to the country of residence in case only the outbound ticket is presented. It should be noted that the trip must be made no later than 8 days before the start of the course. Applications with earlier travel dates will not be accepted. NOTE: Airline reservations must be made directly by the airline or a travel agency in the country of residence or directly in Italy (reservations made online will not be accepted). Airline reservations must be in the name of the student(s).

NOTES:

  • The procedure is strictly personal. The Embassy has not authorized any agency or intermediary to apply for the visa.
  • Financial guarantees from third parties residing in Italy or abroad who are not close relatives as mentioned in 12c are not accepted.
  • The letter from the Italian University (item 7), if not emailed to the Embassy, must always be submitted accompanied by a copy of the declarant’s identity card with a visible signature and, if the undersigned is a foreign citizen legally residing in Italy, a copy of a valid Permesso di Soggiorno (Residence Permit) must be attached.
  • If the visa applicant is between the ages of 14 and 17, the applicant’s birth certificate must also be submitted.
  • If the visa applicant is between the ages of 14 and 17, permission to leave the country issued by the relevant authorities (apostilled and translated in original and copy) must also be
  • Failure to submit any of the above documents may result in rejection of the visa application at the counter. The application CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
  • The University’s letter of acceptance (item 8) must always be accompanied by a copy of the declarant’s ID with a visible signature. Failure to submit any of the above documents may result in rejection of the visa application at the counter.
  • The Italian Embassy reserves the right to verify the level of knowledge of the Italian language and to request any other documentation deemed necessary.
  • The Embassy of Italy reserves the right to request additional documentation it deems necessary through a document called a “Rejection Notice,” which may be issued a few days after reviewing the visa application.
  • The visa (if granted) can be granted with a date of entry into Italy a few days before the start of studies, as stated in the letter from the Italian university (see item 7). Those who wish to enter Italy before that date may do so as tourists (without a visa) for up to 3 months if their nationality is exempt from requiring a tourist visa.
  • Since the visa is a concession, even if all the required documents are submitted, it can be granted or In the latter case, a “Denial Order” will be issued.
  • If the visa is granted, the holder, upon arrival in Italy, must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno from the relevant Italian authorities within the first eight working days.