For general information on this type of VISA, please visit the following Italian government website: vistoperitalia.esteri.it
What is it for and who can apply for it?
- This visa allows entry to Italy for foreign nationals who wish to perfect their knowledge of Italian in Requests from those who have no knowledge of the Italian language will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Italian Embassy in Panama.
- It also allows entry to those who wish to further their knowledge of other types of studies/courses (e.g. Fashion-Art-Cooking-Exc.) as long as the course in question represents a continuation of previous studies previously pursued (these requirements do not apply to the visa for Undergraduate, Exchange, Postgraduate Studies).
The visa can be applied for three months before the course start date and up to 1 month before the course start date.
Type of visa: long-stay “D” visa (91 to 365 days).
REQUIREMENTS: The visa application file must be submitted following the strict order indicated.
- National visa application form duly completed in all fields and signed.
- 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.
- 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).
- Payment of consular fees in cash (paid on the day of the appointment, see Consular Fees Table)
- Identity card – for foreigners, cédula de extranjería or carne de residencia (in both cases original and enlarged, legible copy).
- Certificate of enrollment in Italian from the Institute/Academy that will hold the Italian language course (or another chosen course) with a description of the level (basic/intermediate/advanced) you wish to attend, the start date, duration (in days) or, alternatively, the end date of the course and the daily hours of the course (1 original + 1 copy). In case of attending an Italian language course, the certificate should also state the starting and ending level of the course.
- For courses other than Italian language courses (see item B), the applicant must submit the certificate of enrollment (see item 6), in which the language in which the course will be held is also indicated, and the applicant’s previously obtained study records, duly apostilled, showing that he or she has already acquired a knowledge of the study he or she wishes to perfect in Italy.
- Dichiarazione di Valore: (not required for Italian language courses): plain copy issued by the corresponding Office of the Italian Students who need Dichiarazione di Valore should contact the Study Office of the Italian Embassy in advance at: panama.segreteriacm@esteri.it.
- 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 Euro basic + 27.89 Euro x each day of the duration of the course (example: for courses of 365 days: 27.89×365+206.58=386.43 Euro) demonstrable through one of the following options:
- 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 prior to 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 ACCEPTED. IN CASE THE LATEST BANK STATEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BANK STATEMENTS WITH THE CURRENT BALANCE ARE REQUESTED.
- 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. The originals duly stamped by the issuing Bank must be submitted – documents downloaded from the Internet without the above criteria are not accepted). ONLY BANK ATTESTATION WITH CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE OR CREDIT CARD SUPPORT IS NOT ACCEPTED. IN CASE THE LATEST BANK STATEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BANK STATEMENTS WITH THE CURRENT BALANCE ARE REQUESTED.
- 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 (in original). 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.
- In case the person is a recipient of scholarships provided by recognized institutions (e.g., university, IFARHU, government, ), 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.
- 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.
- Proof of Italian language proficiency, if any (including by certificate(s) of previously attended Italian language course(s) indicating the level of proficiency obtained)
- For other courses (other than Italian language courses – see point B); if these are taught in English, he/she must present an official B2 level certificate issued exclusively by one of the following three institutions: TOEFL, MICHIGAN, IELTS. The certificate cannot be more than two years old before the date of the visa application.
- 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.
- 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 in the country of residence or directly in Italy, no reservations and/or purchases made through internet sites will be accepted. Insurance must be in the name of the student(s).
- 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 submitted. Please note 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 with 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.
- The letter of enrollment for the course referred to in items 6 (Languages) and 7 (Other Courses), as well as the letter of invitation (item 12b) must always be accompanied by a copy of the registrant’s identity card with visible signature and a copy of a valid Permesso di Soggiorno if the undersigned is a foreign national legally residing in Italy.
- The certificate referred to in items 6 and 7 must always be accompanied by a copy of the identity card of the owner or delegate of the language school or other school that issued the certificate.
- Financial guarantees are not accepted from third parties residing in Italy or abroad who are not close relatives as stated in Section 9c.
- 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 Embassy of Italy 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.
- A visa (if granted) may be granted with a date of entry into Italy a few days before the start of studies, as indicated in the letter from the Italian institute or academy (see point 6 – 7). Those wishing 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 arriving in Italy, must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno from the relevant Italian authorities within the first eight working days.