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Visa Guidelines - Italy

In order to study abroad in Italy for a semester for any program longer than 90 days, you must apply for and obtain a student visa before you go. A student visa is a stamp in your passport that grants you permission by the Italian government to live and study in that country. The type of visa you receive is specific to the length of your stay and your country of origin. Most student visas dictate that you are a full-time student at a host university and that you will not be working while abroad. The visa will be stamped in your passport. You will also need to complete paperwork for a Permesso di Soggiorno (Permission to Stay) upon arrival in Italy, which carries an additional cost. You should receive instructions from your Italian Host Institution on how to receive your Permit of Stay as well as the cost of the Permesso.

You will need to apply for your student visa between 90 and 30 days before your program start date. Begin gathering the required documents now so that you may submit your visa application paperwork within the specified time window at the Italian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence.

Please locate the Italian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence here: Italian Consulates in the United States. 

The instructions below are for the Washington, DC Embassy. Beginning in Fall 2022, we will be doing batch processing at the DC Embassy, which means you will submit your complete application and supporting documents to EA, and EA will submit them directly to the Embassy. All UMD students are eligible to apply at the DC Embassy because they are students in Prince George’s County.

If you are eligible for and choose to go to another consulate, it is YOUR responsibility to source their requirements and follow appropriate procedures. Other consulates typically require that you submit your application in-person and that you make an appointment online. Appointments typically fill up MONTHS in advance. Most consulates do not accept mailed applications.

NON-U.S. CITIZENS: You may need to follow a slightly different process to gain permission to study in Italy so please start this process early. Review the Italian Consulate's website for your jurisdiction for more information and visit the UMD Office of International Student Scholar Services to notify them that you will be studying abroad for an extended period of time.

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

(for the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC. Instructions and forms required may differ for other Consulate locations)


Please be aware that requirements can change without notice and will vary by consulate, so it is your responsibility to check for the most recent requirements at your consulate of jurisdiction. Consular offices may also request additional documents at their own discretion.

*DO NOT STAPLE ANY DOCUMENTS that you turn into the Embassy/consulate.
 
  1. National Visa Application Form 
    1. EA Notes: The visa application form available here: National Visa Application. Please review the guide for completing the application form. You can also view a sample application form. Please print it SINGLE-SIDED and make sure that when you print out the application, the bottom of the application does not get cut off. You can complete the form online or by hand. If you complete it online, you will need to physically sign the form (wet signature) on the second and third pages after printing it. If you complete the form by hand, use blue or black pen and make sure your handwriting is CLEAR, legible, and stays within the boxes. 
       
  2. 1 recent official passport-size photo
    1. EA Notes: Must have a white background, be sized to 1.2”x1.5” or 3x4 cm, scanned or photocopied photos will NOT be accepted; the photo must have proper resolution. The photo is of head and neck area – not full torso. You can get one of these at CVS, Walgreens, and post offices for a fee. 
       
  3. Valid Passport plus 1 photocopy of the photo and signature page together as ONE scan.
    1. EA Notes: The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned return to the US, and you will be submitting your PHYSICAL passport. Make sure the photocopy is CLEAR and does not cut off any part of the passport information. Make sure you have at least two blank pages in your passport to affix the visa. 
       
  4. Non-US Citizens only: original plus 1 photocopy of Permanent Residence Card OR other US immigration document allowing re-entry into the United States (e.g., valid long-term US visa, Advanced Parole, etc.). The US Residence permit or visa must be valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen territory. International students must submit original and copy of F-1 Visa and valid re-entry ("travel") signature on I-20. Please provide copy of old passport if US Visa is affixed there. 
     
  5. Original and copy of Driver’s License or State ID as proof of residence within the jurisdiction of this Embassy of Italy. If you recently moved and have not updated your ID, you must submit another proof of current address (e.g., utility bills, bank statements, etc.). Full-time students must also show their Student ID.  
    1. EA Notes: EA has verified that you will only need to submit ONE photocopy of your UMD student ID as proof of residence within the Embassy’s jurisdiction. You do NOT need to submit your actual ID card. 
       
  6. Confirmed roundtrip flight reservation/booking – must cover the period of the visa and include RETURN flight reservation, unless the visa being requested is for more than 1 year.  
    1. EA Notes: Open-ended or one-way tickets will not suffice. Printed itineraries should have student name and confirmation number listed. We recommend booking refundable/changeable flights so you can change the end date if needed. 
       
  7. Health Insurance Provider or Study Abroad Program certification – on official letterhead – clearly stating that the student has minimum coverage of 30,000 Euro for hospitalization, emergencies, evacuation and repatriation for for the ENTIRE duration of their stay within the Schengen territory. If the insurance provided by your educational institution does not cover the ENTIRETY of your stay (as shown on your flight booking), you MUST purchase additional insurance with the same terms stated above.
    1. EA Notes: This will be added to your application by UMD with the CISI insurance letter. You do not need to provide this document. 
       
  8. Original and copy of the official letter of acceptance from an accredited academic institution in Italy. The letter, on the institution’s letterhead, must be addressed to the Embassy of Italy and specify the period of study, the full-time enrolment (at least 20 hours  per week), and if tuition and room/board are covered in full. 
    1. EA Notes: For students studying on Maryland-in-Florence, Rome, or Perugia, this will be added to your application by UMD, as we receive your official acceptance letters directly from our partners. You do not need to provide this document. Students on all other programs (including the BMGT Exchange at Bocconi) will need to provide their acceptance letters, as we do not receive those letters directly.
       
  9. For Study Abroad students: original and copy of letter of enrolment from USA academic institution addressed to the Embassy of Italy, indicating the student’s current status (full time in good standing) and expected date of graduation. This letter must be accompanied by the letter of acceptance to the Study Abroad Program (original and copy), when this is sponsored by a different US College or University; this letter must also show correspondence between the program you will pursue in Italy and your current studies in the USA. 
    1. EA Notes: This will be added to your application by UMD, as we will prepare a letter of enrollment addressed to the Embassy. You do not need to provide this document. 
       
  10. Proof of suitable accommodation for the entire duration of your stay in Italy, consisting of confirmation of lodging provided by the Italian University or other host.
    1.  If you will be signing a lease to cover your accommodations, you will have to present the registered and executed lease contract (sealed by the appropriate ITALIAN authorities).
    2. If you will be staying at a private home (ie., you’ll be “hosted”), then you must have your host fill out the appropriate form (“proof of accommodation”), sign and date it and present it with proof of legal residence in Italy and copy of their “carta d’identita” or passport. 
    3. If arranged by the University, on university letterhead clearly indicating address of lodging and duration of the accommodation.  
      1. EA Notes: If you are staying in housing provided by your program (ISI, AUR, etc), you do NOT need to submit anything separate, as this information is included in your acceptance letter (#8 above). If you will be staying in independent housing (this is not an option for all programs), you will need to provide proof of accommodation (see #10.1 and #10.2 above). 
         
  11. Proof of financial means. You will need to show proof of having at least ~$30 per day of accessible funds, so ~$1000 per month of your program. (For example, if your program is 5 months long, you need proof of being able to access ~$5000). Applicants must submit one of the following:
    1. If you, the student, are providing proof of financial means for yourself: the last 3 most recent bank statements from a US banking institution. You need to show a current MINIMUM balance (please visit: https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/Moduli/it/Direttiva_MinInterno_1-3-2000.pdf), in a CHECKING or SAVINGS account (no IRAs, investment accounts, etc.), to cover the entire course of study.
      1. Ideally, this minimum balance should be present in your account for the last 3 months, as seen on the bank statements that you will provide. 
      2. If your parents/guardians are also listed as owners on your bank account (i.e., it is a joint bank account), you do NOT need to provide any supporting documentation listed below. You will just need to submit the last 3 months of bank statements as described above. 
    2. Students who receive financial aid supporting your day-to-day expenses must present an official letter from their University stating amount of aid and time of disbursement. 
      1. EA note: If you are receiving financial aid to support your day-to-day study abroad expenses, the UMD Office of Financial Aid can provide a financial aid verification letter upon request. 
    3. If your parents/guardians are providing proof of support: You must submit relevant documentation of the parent/guardian sponsoring the trip with an ORIGINAL AND NOTARIZED Affidavit of Support (scans/copies are NOT acceptable), which must be presented together with:
      1. 1 copy of your (the student's) birth certificate (please do not submit original birth certificates)
      2. 1 copy of the parent’s/guardian’s passport (or other valid ID)
      3. Copies of the parent’s/guardian’s 3 (three) most recent bank statements (bank statement refers SOLELY to standard savings and checking accounts, NOT financial/investment accounts; they must be in the sponsor’s name and be current). 
         
  12. Visa fee of $54.30 (non-refundable) - Money Orders or Cashier's checks ONLY, payable to “Embassy of Italy - Washington, D.C.”, with the applicant's name. Cash, personal checks, and debit/credit cards will not be accepted. Do NOT sign the back of the money order or cashier's check. 
    1. EA Notes: You can purchase a money order at the post office or a Western Union office. If needed, the address of the Embassy is: 3000 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20008. The Embassy changes the visa fee quarterly; the cost above is valid for April 1 - June 30, 2024. The prior fee (valid from January 1 - March 31, 2024) was $53.70. Make sure your name is on the money order/check somewhere. 



Make copies of all application documents and keep them for your records!



Supporting Documents for Permesso di Soggiorno (completed upon arrival in Italy)
  • Original Passport with Italian Visa
  • 1 copy of each page of your PASSPORT
  • 1 copy of the "CERTIFICATO DI ISCRIZIONE" which is the Acceptance Letter, in Italian, written on the University's letterhead that the Consulate has stamped and given back to you with the visa (if the consulate stamped only the letter in English, please use that).
  • 1 copy of your CISI Health Insurance Card (you need to log on to your CISI portal to print it out)

Updated: March 25, 2024