Receiving an admission letter from an Italian university is an exciting milestone! But before you can pack your bags and enjoy la dolce vita, you need to take several important steps. This guide is for non-EU students, especially those in India, planning to apply for a study visa for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Step 1: Confirm Your Admission (If Required)
Some Italian universities may ask you to confirm your seat by:
- Accepting the offer online
- Paying a pre-enrolment or tuition fee
- Uploading additional documents
Tip: Double-check the deadline in your offer letter or university portal.
Step 2: Pre-Enrol on the Universitaly Portal
To apply for a study visa, you must first pre-enrol on the official Universitaly portal: 🔗 https://www.universitaly.it
You’ll need to upload:
- Passport
- Admission letter
- Educational documents (degree, transcripts)
- Passport-size photograph
- any other documents specified by the university
After submission, your university will validate it and forward it to the appropriate Italian consulate.
Step 3: Apply for the Declaration of Value (DoV)
Most universities and consulates require a Declaration of Value (DoV), which certifies your academic qualifications.
Documents Required:
- Final degree certificate (apostilled)
- Transcript/mark sheets (apostilled)
- Passport copy
- Admission letter
- Pre-enrolment confirmation (Universitaly)
- Classification and grading system info
How to Apply:
- Through VFS Global or Uni-Italia (varies by region)
- Some consulates allow applying together with visa, others require it before
Step 4: Book Your Italy Study Visa Appointment
Once your Universitaly pre-enrolment is validated, you can book a Type D Study Visa appointment via VFS Global.
Checklist:
- Valid passport
- Completed visa application form
- Admission letter + Universitaly summary
- DoV or CIMEA certificate
- Proof of financial means (min. €6,079/year)
- Proof of accommodation
- Health insurance (min. coverage €30,000)
- One-way flight ticket
- Educational documents attested and Apostilled, translation if your document is not in English or Italian, asked by university, asked by embassy.
Please check detailed checklist on respective embassy website
Visa Deadline: 30 November 2025 (as per MUR guidelines)
Step 5: Plan Your Stay in Italy
- Book short-term or long-term housing early
- Search university dorms or trusted rental platforms
- Join student WhatsApp/Facebook groups for support
Pro Tip: Use Facebook or Telegram groups to find roommates or get local insights.
Step 6: Learn Basic Italian
Even if your course is in English, daily life is easier if you know basic Italian. Try:
- Duolingo
- Babbel
- Preply (for tutors)
Step 7: Prepare for Departure
- Collect physical and digital copies of all documents
- Carry original degree, apostille, and passport
- Keep accommodation and insurance proofs handy
FAQs if you are from India– Italy Student Visa & DoV 2025–2026
Q: Can I apply for the visa and DoV together?
A: Yes, in consulates like Bengaluru and sometimes Mumbai (if your degree falls under its jurisdiction). Not allowed in Delhi.
Q: When is the last date to apply for a student visa for Italy?
A: November 30, 2025 (as per MUR guidelines).
Q: What is the Universitaly portal for?
A: It’s used to pre-enrol for Italian universities and link your admission to the consulate for visa purposes.
Q: Can I use SDM attestation instead of HRD?
A: No. Italian consulates in India only accept HRD-attested documents for DoV.
Final Thoughts
Getting into an Italian university is just the first step. By organizing your documents, pre-enrolling on Universitaly, and understanding how to handle the visa and DoV, you’ll be fully prepared for your journey ahead.
If you’d like help creating a personalized checklist or calendar, feel free to ask!
Need help? Book a one-to-one session with Meghna to get expert guidance for your Italy journey.
