Non-EU Students - Visas and Residency in Italy
This section explains how non-EU students can determine if they need a visa for Italy and the steps to apply for one. It also outlines the process for officially registering their stay in Rome, including the procedures based on whether they hold a Schengen Residence Permit.
I am a non-EU incoming exchange student. What should I do?
Before the arrival
A guided procedure created by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website will help you determine if you need to apply for a visa based on your nationality, country of residence, reasons for your visit, and length of stay: Four questions to find out if you need a visa for Italy. If you need a visa for Italy, you'll be provided with all the necessary information and application forms.
Visa requirements may vary depending on the country and institution. An official Acceptance Letter issued by Luiss University is required.
Students must complete a two-step application process:
- Pre-register and submit an application on the Universitaly portal (mandatory). Please note that this application is separate from the online Exchange Program application.
For Second Semester (Spring) Students: Pre-registration must be completed by November 29 at the latest. - Apply for a study visa: Procedures vary by Consulate, so students should refer to the specific instructions on the website of the Consulate where they intend to apply. It is highly recommended to thoroughly research the visa requirements and schedule an appointment at the Consulate as early as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about the procedure, you can contact the Consular Chancery responsible for your area.
Note: Once you complete this pre-registration, you will need to apply for a study visa through the Consulate.
Start the registration process:
Pre-register on the Universitaly portal.
To begin the registration process, go to the homepage and select the “First steps in Italy” section. Then, follow the provided registration guide and create an account.
Once completed, you will see the “Pre-enroll now” option in your personal area—click on it to proceed.
You will need to complete a 3-step form.
STEP A:
Provide your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport.
STEP B:
Enter your passport number and expiration date, then upload a scanned copy of the page with your personal details.
Upload a recent passport-sized photo.
Select your country and the Italian Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for your visa.
In the section labeled “specify the reason for the visa application,” type: “I intend to undertake a study/traineeship mobility period (e.g., Erasmus).”
Choose Luiss as your university and select “Single courses” from the “Course type” dropdown menu.
In the “Course name” field, enter “Exchange Program.”
STEP C:
As an exchange student, in this section, you will only need to upload your Luiss acceptance letter:
In the “Qualifications and Language Certificates” dropdown menu, select “Other.”
Then enter “Luiss Acceptance Letter” in the “Qualification name” field before uploading the document.
If you need technical support while filling out the form, please contact universitaly@cineca.it.
FINAL ACTION:
⚠ you have completed the pre-enrollment on Universitaly, please notify us via email at in_erasmusexchange@luiss.it.
After the Arrival
Students must officially register their stay in Rome in accordance with the applicable requirements:
OPTION 1: I am a non-EU incoming exchange student, and I do not have a Schengen residence permit for study purposes issued by a Schengen Area country.
To study in Italy, you must have a residence permit. You must apply for it within 8 working days of your arrival in Italy.
What is a residence permit?
- The residence permit is issued by the Police Headquarters (Italian: “Questura”) in Rome and entitles you to live temporarily in Italy.
- To apply for a residence permit, you will need to provide and submit the following information to a post office (we recommend those located at Via Yser, 4 or Piazza Bologna, 39):
⚠ Every semester, the day after the orientation, we typically hold a meeting to help students complete their application. Specific details regarding the time and location are emailed to the students involved.
What documents do I need to submit at the post office?
- Yellow Kit – Application form: Be sure to complete Form 1 , which is included in the yellow-striped envelope application/kit for non-EU citizens. You can obtain this kit from a post office (e.g., Via Yser, 4). You can find a detailed explanation on how to complete the form in the guide “How to Fill in the Yellow Kit.”
- Photocopy of the official Luiss acceptance letter (preferably sealed by the Italian Consulate during the visa application process).
- Photocopy of the Financial Statement document certifying adequate financial resources (approximately €5,985 per year).
- Italian duty stamp (revenue stamp) of €16.00. It can be purchased at any Tabacchi shop and must be affixed to Form 1 of the permit of stay application.
- Photocopy of your passport’s personal data page and student visa page only (the original document must be presented when submitting your application at the Post Office).
- Application Fee: €30.00, to be paid at the Post Office when submitting the application.
- Receipt of payment (bollettino) of €70.46 paid at the Post Office for the Permit of Stay.
How to fill out the “bollettino”:
After submitting these documents at the Post Office, the applicant will receive the following two documents:
- A receipt (form 22A, certified letter receipt) with the user ID and password needed to track the status of the permit of stay application at portaleimmigrazione.it (click on “Area Riservata Stranieri” at the bottom right of the page).
- A letter* with the date and time of your appointment at the police station for your photos and fingerprints.
⚠ Students must go to the Immigration Office on the date and time indicated on the postal receipt (If the appointment is on a date after your departure from Italy, you are not required to attend it, but you should always carry the receipt with you)
*If this letter is not provided at the Post Office, it will be sent later as certified mail (raccomandata) to your address in Italy. If you don't receive it, please check the status of your residence permit application online at questure.poliziadistato.it or portaleimmigrazione.it. Use the user ID and password on your receipt to log in.
⚠ Students must go to the Immigration Office on the date and time indicated on the postal receipt (If the appointment is after your departure from Italy, you are not required to attend, but you should always carry the receipt with you)
What should I bring to my appointment at the Immigration Office (Questura - Ufficio Immigrazione)?
Passport or an equivalent document
Official acceptance letter from Luiss
4 identical passport-size photos
Insurance policy: it must cover the risk of illness and injury throughout the country, and for the entire period of validity of the Visa/permit of stay
Financial Statement: a document certifying adequate financial resources (€10,179.85 per year)
Copy of the Accommodation Contract (mandatory when you go to the Police Station)
Post office receipt + receipt of payment of €70.46 paid at the Post Office for the residence permit
It typically takes 6 to 9 months to receive the Permit of Stay, and the Police Headquarters will contact you when your document is ready for collection. For single-semester exchange students, it's usually impossible to complete the process within this timeframe. In such cases, it is essential to always carry the appointment receipt, as it must be presented during inspections and serves as proof of your legal right to stay in Italy.
You can check online if your electronic resident permit is ready by visiting the dedicated section (accessible using the “insured letter number” in your possession) on the page questure.poliziadistato.it.
OPTION 2: I am a Non-EU incoming exchange student, but I have a Schengen Residence Permit for study purposes issued by a Schengen Area country
What do I need to do if I plan to stay in Italy for less than 90 days?
If you are entering Italy from a non-Schengen country and plan to stay for less than 90 days, the uniform Schengen stamp placed on your passport during border control serves as your declaration of presence.
What do I need to do if I plan to reside in Italy for more than 90 days?
You must submit a declaration of presence at a police station if your stay in Italy exceeds 90 days.
In this situation, you must submit the declaration within 8 days of your arrival at a police station in the province where you reside.
What steps do I need to follow to submit the declaration of presence?
First, you must fill out the Declaration of Presence form.
Within 8 working days of your arrival in Italy, go to any police station (we recommend the one at Via Simeto, 60) and bring the following documents:
A copy of your passport
A copy of your residence permit (front and back) issued in a European Union (Schengen Area) country
A copy of the acceptance letter from Luiss
The certificate of arrival from Luiss, issued by the International Student Mobility Office
A copy of your registration with the Italian National Health Service (SSN) or your health insurance policy
Proof of sufficient funds to cover your living costs in Italy (approximately €5,985 per year). This can be a bank statement or, if you have a scholarship, an official letter detailing the amount, duration, and issuing body.
You will then receive a copy of the Declaration of Presence, along with the stamped expiration date.
⚠ It is important to always carry a copy of your declaration of presence, as authorities may request it during police checks.
Some police stations may be unfamiliar with this procedure and might refuse to sign the document. If this happens, show the clerk the following text:
The declaration is also possible for stays longer than 90 days, following the entry into force of Legislative Decree No. 71/2018, which amended Article 39, paragraph 4-bis, of the Immigration Law (Consolidated Immigration Law, Legislative Decree 286/1998) as follows:
“4-bis. A foreign national holding a valid permit issued by a European Union member state, who is enrolled in a higher technical education or training course or in a higher education institution and is benefiting from a Union or multilateral program that includes mobility measures, or from an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, may enter and stay in Italy for a maximum period of 360 days without the need for a visa or residence permit. This is to continue studies already begun in the other member state or to integrate them with a related study program. The provisions of Article 5, paragraph 7, apply. If the valid authorization is issued by a Member State that does not fully implement the Schengen acquis, the foreign national, when making the declaration referred to in Article 5, paragraph 7, must present a copy of the authorization from the first Member State, along with documentation related to the Union or multilateral program, or the agreement between two or more educational institutions.