Visas and residency permits are required to students and professors holding non EU citizenship and who wish to study and teach in Italy for a period exceeding 90 tot. days of stay*.
VIU supports students and Professors in obtaining their Visa and Nulla Osta (Professors only) prior to departure and in applying for their residency permit once in Italy.
Before departure, students are provided an Invitation letter by VIU. This letter, specifying the dates of the program, is necessary for the visa request. The letter is usually sent to the International Offices of the students’ home Universities.
Professors in need for a Visa will receive a Nulla Osta – entry clearance which is provided by VIU through application on the Italian Ministry for Internal Affairs portal. The issue of the Nulla Osta is a pre-requisite for the Visa request. The Nulla Osta application requires that the Professor provide a series of documents translated into Italian and legalized by the Italian Consulate of reference. This process requires several weeks and is carried out with the collaboration of a network of translators located in the country of residence of VIU Professors. The Nulla Osta is usually issued by the Prefecture of Venice (territorial office of the Italian Ministry for Internal Affairs) within 4 weeks from the date of application and is sent electronically to the consulate indicated by the Professor for his/her visa application. Professors must contact their Italian Consulate/Embassy of reference to schedule in advance an appointment for the Visa request.
Each Consulate and Embassy has different procedures concerning appointments and documents to be provided, therefore please look for this information before applying for a Visa.
For a list of embassies and consulates visit the web site of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs at: http://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/servizi/italiani/rappresentanze/
Students and professors who do not comply with these procedures will not be accepted in VIU programs.
More details in the Visa and Permits page
For information about study visa and nulla osta for participating in VIU Globalization Program: visas@univiu.org
For other programs please refer to the VIU coordinator.
* Professors from the European University at Saint Petersburg teaching at VIU for shorter periods are required in any case to apply for a Visa and for a Residency permit.
---
Visa for students
Students from countries outside the European Union must obtain a student visa if they wish to study in Italy.
N.B. Obtaining a Visa and proceeding all documents for the residency permit once in Italy are a pre-requisite to be accepted in the Globalization Program.
Visas are issued by Italian embassies and consulates in the student’s country of origin.
For a list of embassies and consulates visit the web site of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs at: http://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/servizi/italiani/rappresentanze/
To check if you need a Visa according to your nationality, check the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs website, Visa for Italy section: http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en#BMQuestionario
All applications for student visas require the following documents:
• A valid passport – it should be valid for at least 3 months beyond the validity date of the visa requested. The passport must have a blank page available for the visa to be affixed.
• Visa request form, available from competent embassy or consulate.
• One passport photograph.
• Original letter of acceptance from VIU. This letter must specify the dates of the program, and that the student will be provided with accommodation for the duration of the program.
N.B. This letter must be stamped and returned to you by the Italian Consulate/Embassy: it will be required for the residency permit application once in Italy (see below).
• Proof of health insurance coverage.
• Evidence of financial means.
Note: always bring photocopies of all of your documents.
The consular office may ask for any additional documentation at its discretion.
---
Visa for Professors
If you have non-European citizenship, in order to come and work in Italy you will need to apply for a "work visa” (subordinate work for University Professors).
For obtaining this type of Visa, you will need to:
1. ask for a "Nulla Osta – entry clearance" - procedures are implemented by VIU
2. after the issue of your Nulla Osta, finalize procedures in your local Italian consulate/embassy for getting the Visa (check in advance the procedures required to schedule an appointment)
VIU will apply for Nulla Osta for Professors. In order to submit the application to the Prefettura di Venezia (local Office of the Italian Ministry of the Interior) through their website, Professors should provide the following information:
- scan of a valid passport
- your city of birth and the actual address of residency
- marital status
- the Italian consulate of reference (address), where you will finalize your Visa request (point 2)
The following documents must be handed in or sent by post to a translator indicated by VIU. They are also necessary for the Nulla Osta application but they need to be translated into Italian and legalized by the Italian Consulate in your own country before VIU can submit them to the Prefettura:
a) original PhD diploma or other relevant diploma
b) short CV (max. one page)
c) proof of employment in the home university: a signed letter to this effect by a competent office, for example, Office of the Provost, Office of Human Resources, stating that the individual is in employment at the university, since when (specific date please), and declaring professor's yearly income
d) Health insurance policy valid in Italy/EU and covering the whole period of stay (dates of validity and country of validity must be specified). The policy must include repatriation of the remains in case of death.
Once that documents a), b), c) and d) have been collected, you could deliver or send them to a translator identified by VIU, who will get them translated into Italian and legalized by the Consulate.
The translator will then send the documents to VIU.
VIU will submit the Nulla Osta application to the Prefettura.
Once the Nulla Osta is issued, it is sent electronically by the Italian Ministry to the consulate indicated by the Professor for the visa application.
The Professor could then proceed with the work Visa application. For the Visa issue the Consulate may requests other documents, therefore please check information on Visa issue on the Consulate website.
Once in Italy, within 8 working days after your arrival VIU will schedule an appointment at local Prefecture to sign the temporary working contract (Contratto di Soggiorno) and submit the Residency permit request.
Please, note that:
- The paperwork provided by VIU is relevant to your work here for a 15-week (105-day semester). You must leave Italy and the Schengen area by the expiry date of the visa issued. If you plan to stay in Venice, travel in Italy or in any other European or Schengen Area country, before or after the semester at VIU, you should seek advice at the Italian consulate and provide any additional justification they require for a longer stay in Europe beyond your contract at VIU. Please note that it is very, very difficult to obtain an extension on your visa once you have arrived in Italy.
----
Residency Permit (“permesso di soggiorno”)
Procedures in force since December 2006
Within 8 working days after arrival in Italy, a student who holds a study visa must apply for a Residency Permit (Permesso di soggiorno). VIU guarantees for your invitation and stay in Italy for the length of the semester, as it should correspond in your Visa.
1. Residency Permit application through Postal Kit
Students:
During orientation week, a meeting on residency permit is organized. During this meeting VIU staff provide information on the residency permit application, check students’ documents, provide the application kit and assist students in filling out the application.
The application kit is a white A4 envelope with a yellow stripe provided by the Italian Postal Service.
The kit contains:
Application form: “Mod. 209 Modulo 1”
Postal order for electronic permit
For completing the application, you also need:
_Mod. 209 Modulo 1 (provided with kit)
_Photocopy of ALL pages of passport, including blank pages and Visa
_Photocopy of certificate of acceptance (VIU invitation letter) with official stamp of embassy/consulate that issued visa.
Some consulates staple this to the back cover of the passport.
If the Visa office did not return this letter to you, request that they send you a copy.
Make sure that officers at immigration control do not take this original document from you.
_Photocopy of INTERNATIONAL health coverage:
If you do not have coverage you can purchase an insurance in Italy. We can advise company WAI, purchased online for €71.00 for the duration of six months (ask your program coordinator for information).
If you have coverage from your country of origin, you must have valid documentation with you that specifies that your policy includes coverage in Italy, and includes the dates of coverage which must cover the duration of your expected stay in Italy.
If you are covered by a family policy, you must have a certificate from the insurance company that specifies that you are covered.
N.B. Only documents written in Italian or English are accepted: ask for an English copy of your health coverage if written in another language!
N.B. You’ll need to have an Italian mobile number at the time of application as communication on your residency permit are sent via text by the Immigration Office. VIU staff will give you instructions on how to get an Italian SIM and mobile number. The cost is between 10 and 15 euros according to the different providers.
Residency Permit Postal Kit costs:
- Stamp duty (marca da bollo): €16.00
- Electronic permit (Postal Order): €70,46
- Postal administration charge: €30.00
- Total costs: €116,46
Please note:
- A compulsory payment of € 100,46 is required at the post office when submitting the application kit forth issue of the electronic permit of stay. Fill out the postal order included in the application Kit, according to the sample order provided by your program coordinator.
- The marca da bollo (stamp duty) cannot be purchased in the post office. You can purchase it in a tobacconist store in advance. Tobacconists displaying the “Lotto” and “T” sign sell the Marca da Bollo. What to ask for: Vorrei una marca da bollo da sedici euro, per favore.
The Post Office does not accept Credit Cards – BRING CASH – EURO ONLY.
(There is an ATM at the post office).
Professors:
The application for residency permit is sent through postal kit right after your appointment at Prefecture of Venice, within 8 working days after arrival in Italy.
2. Appointment at the Immigration Police Office (Questura di Venezia)
Students and Professors:
While sending the application kit at the Post office, you will receive a receipt. The receipt is the proof that you applied for the residency permit as required by law and therefore that you are legally in the country.
As the issue of the permit itself requires some time the receipt is valid as residency permit until you get your permit.
You must keep the receipt and your passport with you at all times as in Italy Police can stop citizens for documents check at any time.
A copy of the receipt must be handed in to the Globalization Program office to prove that you accomplished program requirements as regards immigration procedures.
Together with the receipt you’ll receive a summons to present yourself at the Headquarter of the Immigration Police in Marghera (Questura di Venezia, Ufficio Immigrazione, via Nicolodi 21, 30175 Venezia) to complete the application procedure. The date of the appointment is issued automatically by the system and can’t be changed. There is usually a time for the appointment in the summons, but you don't have to take it into consideration. All people called on the same day must be at the office by 8.30am to take a number.
The Globalization Program office also keep a copy of this summons as absences due to the immigration procedures are justified. Students are invited to upload a scan copy of the receipt on their personal page.
At the Immigration Office you will be fingerprinted. During the appointment you must present your passport, the receipt of the residency permit application, the summons, the original of the documents submitted in the postal application kit and four passport-size pictures (all 4 photos must be identical).
3. Residency Pemit Pick-Up
Once your Residency Permit is ready, you’ll receive a text on your mobile indicating the day of the appointment for picking it up. The appointment is assigned automatically by the system and can’t be changed. On the stated day, you should go back to the Immigration Office in Marghera to pick up your permit bringing your passport, the receipt of the residency permit application, the summons of the first appointment.
The information on this page is provided by VIU however VIU is not responsible for any changes in the Italian law and each student is expected to make sure that all of his/her papers are in order.
