Contacts 
printable versionVisa - Non-EU citizens
Non-EU students intending to enter Italy must provide the documentation required to justify the reasons and duration of their stay as well as, in some prescribed cases, the availability of adequate economic means and lodging.
In some cases you need a visa, application for which can be made at the Italian Diplomatic and Consular Representations in your country of residence.
According to the period and the programme of study, the procedure to ask for visa may change.
If you are coming to the University of Trento to study within a bilateral agreement or international programme, or a Doctoral Course
You will receive an invitation letter from the Welcome Office of the University of Trento which you must submit to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your Country (closest to your residence place) when applying for a study visa.
If your stay is longer than 90 days you must apply for a visa type D (= "long duration").
If possible, ask for a multi-entry VISA (not for a single-entry visa).
According to Embassy or Consulate instructions, you will have to make a private health insurance.
The Embassy will also ask you to provide evidence of an adequate economic security of at least 350,00 euros/month, of a suitable home in Italy and the amount of money necessary for your return home (you can prove this by showing your return ticket);
If you are going to enrol in a Bachelor or Master degree Course
Please see the section Enrolments and refer to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in order to get all the necessary information about the documentation to submit and the deadlines. In this case, study visas are issued starting from the second half of August. The Embassy will also ask you to provide evidence of an adequate economic security of at least 350,00 euros/month, of a suitable home in Italy and the amount of money necessary for your return home (you can prove this by showing your return ticket);
If you are coming with a "borsa di studio a progetto" (research activity on a specific project) and have at least a Master Degree
You will be asked to get a scientific research visa. This procedure is quite complex and implies the signing of an agreement and the consent by the Unique Immigration Desk (UID) of Trento. The authorization ("nulla osta") will be sent in a telematic way by the UID of Trento to the competent Italian diplomatic Representation abroad for the issuing of the scientific research visa. Three months are needed for the whole process.
If you come from a Country which has a bilateral agreement with Italy
You may not need a visa, provided your stay in Italy is less than 90 days. Check here if your are dispensed from visa.
Waiving of the visa for periods of study in Italy longer than 90 days
It is allowed for those non-EU citizens who have already been studying in another EU country (adhering to the Acquis Schengen) and intend to pursue or integrate their studies in Italy.
One of the following conditions has to be respected:
- that the non UE student has been authorized to stay in the EU Country for at least 2 years; or
- that the non UE student's mobility is to be situated within a EU programme or bilateral agreement; or
- that the study programme of the non UE student foresees a compulsory period of study in Italy.
In any case while applying for the Italian stay permit, a declaration from the academic Authorities in the EU Country must be always submitted. The declaration must state that the Italian study period "is to be considered an integration of the study programme already started in the EU Country" (see the Legislative Decree 10th August 2007 below)
According to the period and the programme of study, also the type of visa may change.
"D"(long term) - "national"
It has a validity of more than 90 days and can be renewed from Italy through the stay permit, provided there are the conditions. According to the European Rule n. 265/2010 of 25th March 2010, you can move freely for up to three months in any six-month period within the other Schengen Countries until your visa is valid even if you have not received the Italian stay permit, yet. The passport and the postal receipt of stay permit application must be shown.
The new measures concern the twenty-five countries which apply the Schengen agreement in full. They do not apply to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark.
"Multy-entry" vs. "single-entry"
"D" visas can be either "multy entry" (allows you to re-enter Italy even without the Italian stay permit, provided you do not travel through other Schengen States and you pass through the same border) or "single entry" (does not allow you to re-enter Italy. The visa also indicates the maximum amount of days, even in a discontinuous way, during which you can stay in Italy. On the basis of a "D" visa the permit of stay is due within 8 working days from your arrival to Italy .
"C" (short term) - Schengen visa
It has a validity of max 90 days and can be either for study or for tourist reasons. It cannot be renewed from Italy.
This is valid also for Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland) for tourist reasons. A Schengen visa can be issued only once every 6 months.
On the basis of a "C" visa the declaration of presence is due within 8 working days from your arrival to Italy.
"C" (short term) - national visa
It does not allow you to travel to other Schengen countries.
On the basis of a "C" visa the declaration of presence is due within 8 working days from your arrival to Italy.