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Student visa (enrollment in universities of Italy under the Laurea and Laurea Magistrale programs, in AFAM and SSML institutions)

Dear applicants,
 
Students who have pre-enrolled at a university via the UNIVERSITALY portal must schedule an appointment to submit their visa documents by contacting the Visa Management Service (VMS), the authorized Italian Visa Center in St. Petersburg, exclusively by email at spb@italyvms.ru

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE APPLICATION FOR A UNIVERSITY STUDY VISA IN 2026/2027 AND 2027/2028 ACADEMIC YEARS

Those who wish to enroll in Italian universities, including art, music and choreographic training profile institutions (AFAM) or in higher schools for intercultural communication (SSML), as well as students participating in the international exchange programs ‘Marco Polo’ and ‘Turandot’ in 2026/2027 and 2027/2028, must apply for admission through the UNIVERSITALY portal.

Pre-enrollment and visa application submission must be completed:

• by November 30, 2026, for the 2026/2027 academic year;

• by October 31, 2027, for the 2027/2028 academic year.

The specified deadlines apply to visa applications for core educational programs: Bachelor’s degree (Laurea), Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), First-level Academic Diploma, and Second-level Academic Diploma, including ‘single-cycle’ degree programs.

For all other types of study (Master’s programs, PhD programs, the Erasmus program, individual courses, and Foundation Courses), there are no specific deadlines for submitting visa applications. However, the application must be submitted before the start of classes.

University applicants and students must visit theUNIVERSITALY portal and fill out the pre-registration application form online. After completing the procedure and receiving confirmation, students should print it out and then begin the process of legalizing and translating the documents required by the university.

Therefore, applicants should take the following steps:

1. Complete the preliminary online registration on the UNIVERSITALY portal;

2. Print out the confirmed application for admission;

3. Apostille the diploma (or other educational document) and translate it in accordance with the requirements of the relevant university (documents originally issued in English do not require translation);

4. Legalize the translations;

5. Obtain a Dichiarazione di Valore: a certificate issued by the territorially competent Italian consular or diplomatic mission confirming the equivalence of the educational document in accordance with Russian or foreign educational legislation, if required based on the pre-enrollment results;

6. Prepare the remaining required documents and apply for a student visa through the VMS Visa Application Center.

PLEASE NOTE:All students enrolling in Bachelor’s (Laurea) and Master’s (Laurea Magistrale) degree programs (either two-year or single-cycle) whose pre-enrollment applications have been confirmed on the UNIVERSITALY portal will be notified by the Italian Visa Center in St. Petersburg via email (to the address specified during registration) regarding the date and time for submitting their visa documents through the VMS Visa Application Center.

All other categories of students (e.g., Erasmus program participants, PhD students, students of Master’s programs, individual courses, language courses, etc.) must schedule their appointments to submit documents through VMSindependently.

Complete information on higher education in Italy can be found on the website of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, specifically in the circular note regarding the procedures for the entry, residency, and enrollment of international students in higher education programs in Italy (also available in English).

PLEASE NOTE: For admission to postgraduate technical specialization programs organized by higher technical institutes (ITS), university entrants should contact the educational institution of their choice directly.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA FOR STUDY AT ITALIAN UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN ART, MUSIC AND DANCE (AFAM), HIGHER SCHOOLS FOR LANGUAGE MEDIATORS (SSML), AS WELL AS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE ‘MARCO POLO’ AND ‘TURANDOT’ INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

(Since universities may require different sets of documents for admission, applicants are advised to verify the full list directly with the relevant educational institution before applying for a visa).

1. Visa application form ‘D’ type;

2. Copy of the pre-enrollment application validated by the university, an AFAM or SSML institution, or an organization participating in the ‘Marco Polo’ or ‘Turandot’ international exchange program. The pre-enrollment application can be downloaded from the UNIVERSITALY portal;

3. Copy of the school diploma confirming completion of at least 12 years of education, or a document of equivalent legal standing (e.g., confirmation of a completed Foundation Course, an academic transcript confirming completion of the first year of university, etc.). It is preferred that the aforementioned educational documents, after being apostilled, be accompanied by a certified translation into Italian.

If, at the time of application, the student has not yet received their official educational document, it is permissible to submit a temporary academic transcript or a certificate issued by the competent public authority in accordance with the legislation of the country where the education was obtained.

The following do NOT qualify as such evidence:

• A statement drafted by the candidate themselves;

• Documents issued by unofficial organizations or institutions not authorized to issue them.

4. Certificate attesting to passing the university entrance examination in Russia or in the country of origin (only if applicable and required by the university, AFAM/SSML institutions, or the ‘Marco Polo’ or ‘Turandot’ international exchange programs);

5. Statement of Comparability (Attestazione di Comparabilità) and Statement of Verification (Attestazione di Verifica) from the Italian ENIC-NARIC center (CIMEA), or a Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value) issued by the territorially competent Italian consular or diplomatic mission confirming the equivalence of the educational document in accordance with Russian legislation, if required by the university (original and copy). If a Dichiarazione di Valore is required, its submission along with the visa documents is MANDATORY;

6. A language certificate (level B2 or higher under the CEFR) issued by an internationally recognized institution, confirming proficiency in the language of instruction.

7. Financial guarantee or a scholarship award letter of an equivalent value to the required financial resources.

To obtain a Type D student visa and subsequently apply for a residence permit, international students must meet the following requirements:

a) Living Expenses
The financial guarantee must total €10,179.85 per academic year.
Proof of funds can be provided through:
  • Personal financial resources;
  • Financial support from the following relatives: parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, or sisters;
  • Scholarships granted by Italian or foreign institutions, universities, state or local authorities.
PLEASE NOTE:If a student has not signed a lease agreement for the entire duration of their stay or has only partially paid for it, they must provide additional proof of sufficient funds to cover their accommodation costs.
b) Funds for Repatriation (Return to the Home Country)
You must provide proof of funds for your return trip, for example, by showing additional financial resources or a return ticket.
The following documents are accepted as financial guarantees for the first academic year:
  • An original bank statement showing the applicant’s account balance. The account can be in any currency (including Russian rubles). The statement is valid for a maximum of 30 days.
  • A photocopy of a personalized bank card paired with an ATM receipt showing the card balance. (The ATM receipt is valid for 3 days).
In case of financial support from a relative, the following documents must be submitted:
1. The relative’s financial guarantees;
2. Documents proving family relationship:
  • Birth certificate (original and copy);
  • Marriage certificate (original and copy).
In case of a name change(s), you must also provide documents proving each change of surname;
3. A sponsorship letter, written in a free-form format in English or Italian;
4. The sponsor’s identity document (a copy of the main photo page of their domestic passport).
The following documents cannot be submitted as a financial guarantee: fidejussione bancaria or polizza fideiussoria, a 2-NDFL tax certificate, a currency exchange receipt, cash, or a bank statement without an original stamp and signature of the issuing officer.

8. Proof of Accommodation

If the university acceptance letter does not contain information regarding accommodation and the residential address, documents confirming accommodation for at least the first 30 days of stay in Italy must be submitted:

a) A lease agreement accompanied by a copy of the landlord’s identity document and proof of full or partial rental payment;
 
or
b) An invitation letter from an Italian citizen or a foreign national legally residing in Italy, accompanied by a copy of their passport (the page with personal data and signature) or a valid residence permit. The invitation letter must strictly comply with the official template;
or
c) A hotel reservation including:
  • Hotel name;
  • Address;
  • Phone number;
  • Period of stay;
  • First and last name of each applicant;
  • Booking number and confirmation code.

9. Flight ticket or flight reservation;

10. Health insurance that must cover at least the first 30 days of stay in Italy; For details…

A signed commitment to purchase a health insurance policy; For details…

10. A travel document valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of the requested visa, issued within the last 10 years; For details…

11. Passport; For details…

12. Photo; For details…

13. A personal data processing consent form; For details…

Please note that in addition to the visa fee and optional services, a Visa Application Centre service fee is payable after submitting the documents. Service fees can be found here.

The General Consulate reserves the right to request any additional documents.