Italy · Student
Italy Student visa
Savings needed: €10k+ a year ≈ $11k
Study visa (long stay)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student visa is a student route for Italy. Applicants need savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €10k+ a year ≈ $11k
- Government fees
- €50 ≈ $56 · €30.46 ≈ $34
- Processing
- Up to 90 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; savings to show €10k+/yr ≈ $11k; decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€50 ≈ $56 · €30.46 ≈ $34
- EUR 50 (≈ $56)National study visa (type D) fee, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate.
- EUR 30.46 (≈ $34)Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable.
Shown, not spent€10k+/yr ≈ $11k · ~$50/day
- EUR 10,179.85 a year (≈ $11,400)Subsistence means for students enrolling in higher-education courses from academic year 2026/2027, shown with documentation of lawful, traceable resources.
- $50 a dayAbout USD50 per day for study-abroad students, shown by a bank letter (New York consulate figure).
RenewalRenewable
Request renewal at least 90 days before the permit expires; the Questura checks that the original conditions still apply.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
The EU long-term residence permit does not apply to people staying for study or vocational training (Art. 9(3)).
ProcessingUp to 90 days
A residence permit must be issued, renewed or converted within 90 days of the application when requirements are met (Art. 5(9)).
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for the long-stay study visa at the Italian consulate by the university deadline, then request the permit at the Questura.
Consulate General of Italy in Buenos AiresConsulate General of Italy in New York
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Applications are made from outside Italy, not after arriving
- Needs a place at a school or university in Italy
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant enrols in a university degree, master, doctorate or foundation course, or in a study-abroad programme of at least 20 hours a week.
- Language level of at least B2 for courses taught in Italian or English, and B1 for foundation courses.
What you must show2
- Subsistence means of at least EUR10,179.85 (≈ $11,400) a year from academic year 2026/2027.
- Study-abroad students show about USD50 per day by a bank letter at the New York consulate.
Documents2
- University pre-enrolment validated on Universitaly and proof of lodging.
- Health insurance covering the stay; the New York consulate asks for cover of at least EUR30,000 (≈ $33,500).
Steps2
- Degree and master visa applications are due by 30 November 2026 for 2026/2027 and 31 October 2027 for 2027/2028.
- Master, doctorate, Erasmus and single-course applicants have no fixed ministerial deadline.
What happens at day 183
How Italy decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax year (184 days in leap years)A person who for most of the year (at least 183 days, 184 in leap years) satisfies at least one residence condition is resident in Italy for income tax.
- Foreign-source income
Flat lump sum EUR 300,000
Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years.
- Special regime
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income · Tax relief
All tax rules for Italy Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Health insurance covering the stay
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Long-stay visa for full Italian university programmes and study-abroad programmes of at least 20 hours a week. Degree applicants pre-enrol on Universitaly, and from academic year 2026/2027 must show EUR10,179.85 (≈ $11,400) a year in means. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least EUR 10,179.85 a year (≈ $11,400) · Subsistence means for students enrolling in higher-education courses from academic year 2026/2027, shown with documentation of lawful, traceable resources. 2
- Savings of about $50 a day · About USD50 per day for study-abroad students, shown by a bank letter (New York consulate figure). 1
- A fee of EUR 50 (≈ $56) · National study visa (type D) fee, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. 4
- A fee of EUR 30.46 (≈ $34) · Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable. 5
Requirements
- The applicant enrols in a university degree, master, doctorate or foundation course, or in a study-abroad programme of at least 20 hours a week. 2 1
- Language level of at least B2 for courses taught in Italian or English, and B1 for foundation courses. 2
- Subsistence means of at least EUR10,179.85 (≈ $11,400) a year from academic year 2026/2027. 2
- Study-abroad students show about USD50 per day by a bank letter at the New York consulate. 1
- University pre-enrolment validated on Universitaly and proof of lodging. 2 1
- Health insurance covering the stay; the New York consulate asks for cover of at least EUR30,000 (≈ $33,500). 1
- Degree and master visa applications are due by 30 November 2026 for 2026/2027 and 31 October 2027 for 2027/2028. 2
- Master, doctorate, Erasmus and single-course applicants have no fixed ministerial deadline. 2
Stay
- A national visa is issued for a maximum of 365 days, whatever the length of the course. After arrival the student requests a residence permit for study at the Questura within eight working days, and timely renewal of that permit allows the stay to continue until the course is completed.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Student permit holders may work up to 20 hours a week, within a limit of 1,040 hours a year.
Official sources
- Study visa requirements · Consulate General of Italy in New York (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Foreign students: MUR procedures for academic years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 (means EUR10,179.85, B2 level) · Consulate General of Italy in Buenos Aires · checked 2026-10-10
- The visa for Italy: long-stay visa types (investors, self-employment, subordinate work, elective residence, research, study, working holiday) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Cost for a visa and how to pay · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11
- How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11
- Presidential Decree 394/1999, Art. 14 (study permits and work) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- National study visa · Consulate General of Italy in Toronto · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
Student visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | Needs savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k | – | Yes |
| Student permit Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Internship permit Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| D3 study visa Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Student permit Greece | – | – | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student visa?
Savings of at least EUR 10,179.85 a year (≈ $11,400). Subsistence means for students enrolling in higher-education courses from academic year 2026/2027, shown with documentation of lawful, traceable resources. Savings of about $50 a day. About USD50 per day for study-abroad students, shown by a bank letter (New York consulate figure). A fee of EUR 50 (≈ $56). National study visa (type D) fee, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. A fee of EUR 30.46 (≈ $34). Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable.
How long can I stay on the Student visa?
A national visa is issued for a maximum of 365 days, whatever the length of the course.
How long does the Student visa take to process?
A residence permit must be issued, renewed or converted within 90 days of the application when requirements are met (Art.
Can I work on the Student visa?
Yes. Student permit holders may work up to 20 hours a week, within a limit of 1,040 hours a year.
Who can apply for the Student visa?
Non-EU/EEA nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Student visa lead to permanent residence in Italy?
Time on the Student visa doesn't count toward permanent residence in Italy.
Is there a tax break for Student visa holders in Italy?
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income (Art. 24-bis TUIR, flat tax): Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income (Art. 24-bis TUIR, flat tax)
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Not resident in Italy for at least nine of the ten tax periods before the option starts
- Limit: €300k/yr ≈ $335k
Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income of eligible individuals who transfer residence to Italy; Italian-source income is taxed under ordinary rules.
Who it applies to
- Not resident in Italy for at least nine of the ten tax periods before the option starts.
- The option is made in the tax return for the transfer year or the next one; an advance ruling request (interpello) is possible.
- Family members who meet the same residence test can be added at EUR50,000 (≈ $55,900) each a year from 1 January 2026 (EUR25,000 (≈ $27,900) for earlier cohorts).
- The option can exclude chosen foreign states, whose income is then taxed under ordinary rules with a foreign tax credit.
Exclusions
- Italian-source income stays under ordinary taxation.
- Gains on substantial participations (Art. 67(1)(c) TUIR) realised in the first five option periods are outside the lump sum.
- Revocation or loss of the option (for example for non-payment) bars a new option.
Limits
- EUR 300,000 a year (≈ $335,000) · Main taxpayer: residence transferred from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025 art. 1 paras. 25-26 raised EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) to EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000))
- EUR 50,000 a year (≈ $55,900) · Per family member, residence transferred from 1 January 2026
- EUR 200,000 a year (≈ $223,000) · Main taxpayer: residence transferred 11 August 2024 to 31 December 2025
- EUR 25,000 a year (≈ $27,900) · Per family member, transfers before 1 January 2026
- EUR 100,000 a year (≈ $112,000) · Main taxpayer: transfers before 11 August 2024
Tax residence
The cohort is set by the date residence is transferred to Italy. The lump sum is paid in one instalment by the balance-payment deadline, and the option lapses after fifteen tax periods.
Visas
No visa is needed for the election; it is a tax option.
Other taxes
Italian VAT, social contributions and local taxes are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Italy
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 9 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Study visa requirements · Consulate General of Italy in New York (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Foreign students: MUR procedures for academic years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 (means EUR10,179.85, B2 level) · Consulate General of Italy in Buenos Aires · checked 2026-10-10
- The visa for Italy: long-stay visa types (investors, self-employment, subordinate work, elective residence, research, study, working holiday) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Cost for a visa and how to pay · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11
- How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11
- Presidential Decree 394/1999, Art. 14 (study permits and work) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- National study visa · Consulate General of Italy in Toronto · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.