How I got an Italian study visa & you can too!

Ciao friend,
This video is based off of my personal experience as an American citizen in getting my study visa to Italy in 2021. I am not a legal professional, so please do your own research when applying for your student visa. This video is to help give you an idea of what you can expect during the process. Always message your consulate with any questions you may have.
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[@moviegirlkatie]

Thanks for this, I am probably going to have to rewatch this when it comes closer to me leaving the states.

[@SarahNorris]

I'm British and I'm moving to Italy at the end of next month and have my visa appointment in a few days!! The process sounds very similar to if you're coming from the UK so this was really useful and reassuring, thank you ☺🇮🇹

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

I’m happy it was helpful to you! Good luck Sarah and enjoy Italy 😍❤️

[@SheaJordan]

Thanks so much for this video! I have my visa application appointment in February and am now collecting everything I need for it. I saw on my consulate it said it would "not provide visas for basic language instruction" which I think is what you explained when you said you had to prove you had been studying Italian. I have been studying and am at a B1 level, but not because I've done any official course. My consulate doesn't say anything on the website about what is needed to prove my language level, but I'm hoping the letter from my program in Italy can mention that I will be entering as a B1 student and that will be enough! I just started hearing about this rule! Unfortunately my boyfriend also wants to come on a study visa but he's never studied Italian, so maybe I will have him enroll in a short course right now. Thanks for all these tips and the background of your video is beautiful! So excited to get to Italy soon too!

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi Shea, thanks for writing! I would reach out to your program and ask them to include the detail of previous study, or just see what they say. My school knew about this requirement, as I think it's a very common one now. It shouldn't be a problem for them to include it on your letter of acceptance into the program. That's where they mentioned it for me, at least. As for your bf, see what level they require to "prove" previous study - I think my consulate said you have to at least be A2. And he can take online courses to prove this, again, having his school or program mention it on his acceptance letter. I hope that was helpful! Good luck with the process and I'm excited for you!!

[@lindseyashlock1518]

Hello! I just came across this language requirement as well. I am now concerned that the program my husband and I have been accepted to would be considered basic language instruction. How did this situation turn out for you? Great video! So helpful!

[@SheaJordan]

@@lindseyashlock1518 ​ @Lindsey Ashlock For me, my school acceptance letter said I was entering at a B1 level and it was ok. But if you are trying to start at an A1 or complete beginner level, I'm not sure they will accept that? I'm not sure if it's a rule for Italy or maybe it differs by consulate.

[@lindseyashlock1518]

@@SheaJordan Thank you so much for the response! I was able to speak with the school and we will be doing some online lessons prior so that they can put us into a B1 course instead of an A level course. The consulate we will be applying through is in Los Angeles. They do no state what needs to be notarized under their requirements. What documents did you have to get notorized?

[@SonamGuptaaa]

Ohh you got it nice I'm going to apply

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Haha hey thanks! And good luck! ✨💛✨

[@writecentralvideos]

Thank you for posting this! I am in the process of applying and I’m planning on entering the country a couple months in advance like you did. I was just curious as to how you submitted your dates when you applied? On the form itself, did you put the date that was 90 days in advance? And also submit the flight with that same date?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

You only need to put the dates of your course on your visa application. Your flights can be any time (within 90 days before and after the dates of your course) and they don't care about that. People need to go early to find accommodations, health insurance, and submit their kits for the permesso di soggiorno, so the consulate knows your flight dates won't match the dates of your course exactly. Don't worry about this (:

[@sldhu_12]

You are so good

[@hallerogers8964]

Thank you soo much for this video!! I am going through the process with the same San Fransisco consulate and I am struggling😭 How did you find information on the language level required for the visa? I have emailed the consulate for advice but never heard back!

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi Halle! I found out via email. I've heard that some people have a hard time contacting consulates, but I never had a problem with the San Fran one, honestly. Are you certain you emailed the correct department? Maybe that could help. They told me you need to be at least an A2, by the way. And you'll need a certificate to prove this (a letter from a school saying that you are in this level or that you've previously taken classes to this level, etc.) I hope that helps & good luck!

[@briannagabche7826]

Hello Alyssa, thank you for the video it was very informative. I wanted to aks how long is my flight reservation supposed to last? And also, i wanted to ask where I can get a flight reservation that can last for 2 or 3 weeks whilst the student visa is processing?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi Brianna, I’m glad it was helpful! I’m a little confused about your question. I’d recommend waiting to buy your flights until after you receive your passport back with your visa printed in it. I know you could also mention to your consulate when your flight reservation is for, but I’m really not sure how to answer. I’m sorry!

[@victoriameyer1339]

I am helping a family member prepare for school in Rome and applying for the student visa. Your videos are really helpful. Re: insurance, why did you choose to get Italian insurance after arrival and how did that go? I didn’t know that was a possibility.

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi there! I'm happy they are helpful, thank you for saying that! I chose that option because my American health insurance wouldn't cover me while abroad. It was actually really easy, and cheap. You have to sign an affidavit saying you'll purchase Italian health insurance upon arrival and submit this document with the visa application. You can find the affidavit pdf link on your consulate's website. Once I arrived, I chose Welcome Association Italy. The info the consulate gave me was actually incorrect!! Anyway, you can buy it online, but I chose to go in person to their office in Rome to just get it taken care of and make sure there were no errors. It was quite easy and fast that way. I suggest you have your family member do the same. Just go in person once they arrive. Hope that helps!

[@TheQueen-ie5nv]

Thank you! Do you not need an appointment if you just mail everything to the consulate? Did you have to get the forms reviewed by an honorary consulate place?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi there. Because they allowed me to mail it in, I didn't need an appointment. The honorary consul where I lived in Oregon was absolutely useless and unhelpful lol So, I suggest you speak directly with the Consulate that is over your state. And my process might not be the same for you, so please keep that in mind!! 💛

[@aranakatasema1854]

Thanks so much! I'm struggling to understand what to do once I have the visa. Were you saying that you used your visa-free status, then had to physically leave Schengen and come back on the first day of your visa? My visa day is the first day of classes. Do I have to miss that day because I'm leaving and re-entering the country on that day? Or did I get that wrong-- how did you transition from your 90 day visa-free to your study visa? Thanks so much!

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

No, quite the opposite! You get those 90 days in addition to your visa dates. So from your start day - end day of official visa dates, the 90 days pause. You can have them before, or after the dates of your visa- up to you when, but 90 days in total combined with your visa dates. Does that make sense?

[@charleneava]

Can you explain more about notarizing the forms and which ones? The bank statements and how to have them verified properly for the application has been confusing me. The consulate doesn’t even answer my questions about that.

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi there, it can be confusing. I went to my bank to have them print it out for me, and the bank manager signed it. Our banks don't notarize these, so they didn't have the notary do it. But the manager's signature worked. They also stamped it so it looked more official. Notarize the ones that they say in the application instructions that you find on the consulate website. For me, I had my affadavit for buying health insurance notarized, as well as my actual application (wait to sign it until in front of the notary), and the copy of my driver's license. Anything that needs a signature, or ID verification. Better to notarize it than not. I mailed in my application and did not have an interview, so that might be different for you depending on how you apply. Hope that helps!

[@user-sh5uv6fi8q]

Thank you so much for your video. It was very informative! Did you ever have to meet with Italian Consulate in person? Did you mail in your documents because the Consulate was not taking appointments as a result of Covid closure? Or, was this new procedure since Covid? Did you get your approval/summary from the University and/or Universitaly platform that gave you the go ahead to send all the documents to the Consulate for your Visa? My son got his pre-acceptance letter to university and submitted his application on Univeristaly and was told to wait for his "Summary". In the meantime, he made an appoint with the Consulate in Los Angeles, but the only appointment is a date beyond the date school will start.

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

No, I didn't... Sometimes they allow mail in applications, and in your case, I think they would allow it. You need a letter of acceptance or something from the school stating the hours of study, where, and officially sealed in order to send everything in, so I'd first get the school to send that to you. Once, I was living in Nevada and the closest Consulate to me was in LA, so because of the long distance required to travel there, they let me mail it in. That was in 2014, so, long before covid. If I were you, I'd try to ask the school when they might have the documents ready- usually these days they can do it online and you don't have to wait for it in the mail, too. And in the meantime, email the consulate and ask to mail it all in - tell them his flight departure dates, and the fact that there were no available prior appointments, and they usually work with you to expedite the process. Hope that helps! Good luck (:

[@user-sh5uv6fi8q]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend Thank you! We keep being told to wait for Summary that should be coming after he uploaded his letter of accpetance and application for pre-enrollment to the Universitaly platform.... We are hoping the Summary will provide him instructions/timely appointment for getting his study visa.

[@libbybuchanan98]

Im doing my visa process now and ive also seen people say you need a background check before you go even though i dont see it on their website. did you need to do any of this?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

I didn’t need a background check. Maybe it depends on where you’re from or what type of visa you’re applying for. I’d try to email your consulate with this question. 💛

[@pink2nt47]

Since you came 90 days early, did you apply for the permesso within 10 days of being in Italy or just before the 90 days was up?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

My consulate said to apply 10 days “upon arrival” so I applied right when I got here

[@aranakatasema1854]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend are you saying you applied for the permesso while you were on visa-free status, like 80 days before your course of study and around 80 days before your Visa was valid? I'm having trouble with this detail.

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

@@aranakatasema1854 You have to apply for and receive your visa while in your home country, so no. I was not already in Italy.

[@freelanceandtravel]

Hey what is that certificate that you need for the consulate that shows that you have taken Italian before? Any references?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

A letter from your school or course you completed showing what level

[@svetlanabaranova4671]

I saw you said you had an additional 90 days on top of the visa to be allowed to stay in Italy, so you spent the summer before there. May I ask where you saw that? I’m trying to stay an additional 90 if needed at the end.

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi, so I can only speak for Americans because that’s all I know about from experience. So, if you are American, this info is located on the document you can find on the consulate website that gives you a list of all requirements for the visa application. Everyone gets 90 days either before or after or both, from the dates of their visa. It’s the tourist visa 90 day allowance that is allowed on top of your visa you’re applying for. Hope that helps and makes sense!

[@svetlanabaranova4671]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend ok, that’s what I thought (it being the 90 day tourist one). Thank you!

[@carlyhansen4225]

What month did you send in your visa packet? We sent in July and praying we get it approved before our flight in late August 🙏

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

I did it a few months in advance. You can email the consulate to let them know your flight date. They’re usually good at getting it back to you in time.

[@carlyhansen4225]

Question! My husband got accepted to a University in Florence, so he will get a student visa... What about myself and our son? Do we get a different visa to tag along with him? WE ARE SO LOST on this process!

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Oh gosh, I’m not sure! I would start by asking his school for help and advice. If they can’t help, try emailing and calling consulates in the USA. I haven’t heard of visas for family members of students, so I’m really no help. I’m sorry!

[@lovealwaysgigi]

What did you find out?

[@carlyhansen4225]

we found out that we could go for 90 days on our passports and then while we are there, apply for family cohesion to keep us there while he attended school. @@lovealwaysgigi 90 day

[@svetlanabaranova4671]

How long did it take you to get your formal admission letter? That’s the only thing I’m waiting on at this point

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi there! I got it shortly after registering and paying for my course... within a few days. You can communicate with your school to get it if you need it as soon as possible. 💛

[@svetlanabaranova4671]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend lucky you! I got accepted around end of June and then everyone went on their holiday. I emailed them and very slow to respond unfortunately. I also don’t start until February. I’ve paid my fees and everything. I guess just have to be patient now

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

@@svetlanabaranova4671 oh okay, yes I would wait until people start working again in this month of September 😂 unfortunately that’s very normal here in Italy

[@hebemccance800]

Hi, I am applying for a visa for a b1 course but only have a certificate for my a1 studies. Will this be a problem?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Depends on your consulate. Try to contact them because they all have different requirements

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Also you can ask your school to confirm your level in their letter, and your school should be able to help you with whatever the consulate requires

[@hebemccance800]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend thankyou so much

[@riley3107]

How long is the visa valid for? I can't find an answer on my local consulate's website and im confused if it lasts for the whole duration of the degree program (for me its 3 years) or if the max is one year and u have to renew it each year. what was it like for u?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

It should last the duration of your studies. You apply for specific dates. Hope that helps!

[@riley3107]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend oh gosh does that mean i need to have proof of financial means that covers the whole 3 years at the point of application? sorry for the questions but the consulate’s website is super confusing😭 tysm for your help

[@riley3107]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend also does this mean i already have to have housing for those three years? what was it like for u?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

No, I don't think so... that would be a little ridiculous for them to require that

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

For housing, no.. I think they just want to see something initially, and then after that, you can do whatever you need to do for housing. I think they understand that foreigners can't really rent a 3 year place without even being there yet...

[@Almechicano]

I’m also applying through the SF consulate and need to get a certificate saying that I’ve studied Italian in the past. Would you please tell me how official that document needs to be? Thank you:)

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hey!! Yeah, they asked me for that as well. You need a letter from a school saying that you studied until a certain level, so it has to be legit. I ended up having to take an online class with my language school in order to prove I was at A2, and my school wrote that (that I had studied with them until A2) in my official acceptance letter. So I had to do all of that before getting my visa.

[@Almechicano]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend Does it have to be any specific level? Do you know if an A1 level certificate would be sufficient?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

@@Almechicano they told me A2, but I would ask the consulate

[@Almechicano]

⁠@@AlyssaMaeFriendThank you for the help! I’m in a rush and the consulate hasn’t been returning my emails. I hope an A2 certificate is enough!🤞🏽

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

@@Almechicano it should be!! Good luck!

[@tiawilson760]

If you don't mind me asking, which School did you go to for your studies?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hey Tia, it was with Scuola Leonardo da Vinci ✨

[@tiawilson760]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend thank you so much! I'm currently doing the same but in France and my friend really wants to study in Italy so I'm trying to look up some things for her :)

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

@@tiawilson760 that’s great!! Look up that school, they have a few locations in different cities in Italy and they help you get a visa

[@Dikebuka]

What is the proof of fund for masters like?

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

That’s not what this video is about, I don’t know, sorry

[@leonitakarunakaran8933]

Hello alyssa I'm Leonita from srilanka, I have done my ordinary Ilevel (o'level) but didn't do my Advance level (A'Levels) worked as a assistant accountant in a pharmaceutical, currently following a pastry and bakery course in srilanka, I just wanted to know is it possible for me to continue my next level pastry and bakery course in Italy or in France how can I apply for a school in Italy and also what qualifications should we must have? Is it possible for me to study in Italy or in France only with my ordinary level exam results? And how can I apply? Sorry for so many questions I don't know from who to ask but I think you will explain it clearly to me. Thanks in advance ❤️

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hey there! I really don't know the answers for your specific situation, but I would start by contacting the schools you might want to attend. They will know what you need to do. Or you could try to contact the Italian consulate or Embassy where you live to ask some questions. Hope that helps!

[@leonitakarunakaran8933]

@@AlyssaMaeFriend thank you so much sister for your kind reply lord Jesus Christ bless you forever

[@yashsonufitness4306]

Hello I am indain

[@AlyssaMaeFriend]

Hi there!