Unpacking the dream of studying abroad can be exciting, but visa and passport requirements can quickly become confusing. This guide gives students what they need to navigate international travel documents. Whether embarking on a semester at SRISA or a full-year program, we’ll provide a clear roadmap for visa and passport preparation.
New passports or renewal of old passports
Applications for new passports or renewals should be completed months ahead of departure. It is possible to expedite (travel between 4 to 8 weeks) for an extra $60 fee plus overnight postage.
Obtaining a Passport
These are the basic requirements for passport application. Specifics may vary from one region to the next so be sure to contact your post office directly to find out all details.
Make sure your passport is valid for six months after your travel date. For further info, check here.
New passports
Documents needed:
- Completed application form (these can be obtained and will eventually be filed at your local post office or you can download them online at www.traveldocs.com.
- 2 professional passport photos
- Proof of citizenship (birth certificate, social security)
- $165.00 government fee (as of 2025)
Passport Renewals
- Completed application form
- 2 professional passport photos
- Most recent passport
- $165.00 government fee (as of 2025)
More information about Passports can be found here.
We recommend that you do not wait to the last minute for obtaining all of your travel documents!
Obtaining a Study Visa for Italy
U.S. Students enrolled in a SRISA program with a duration of less than 90 days (e.g., summer program) do not need to apply for a Student Visa. They only need a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date they plan to leave Italy.
If a student is enrolled in a SRISA program for more than 90 days (e.g., a semester program) they must obtain a student visa through the Italian Consulate that serves their jurisdiction.
- U.S. students should visit the Italian Consular Network page for more information.
- Non-U.S. students must inquire with the Italian Consulate that services their jurisdiction within their home country. Click here for more information about how and where to apply.
- Do not delay on this! You will be glad you started early.
- Most Italian consulates have a visa application fee of around 55 USD as of 2025.
- Make sure you have everything requested plus photocopies.
Additional information about Schengen Visas from a third party can be found at: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/
Basic Student Visa Requirements
Below is a general list of requirements for obtaining a student visa for Italy. Remember that each consulate has specific rules and regulations regarding visas. Students must check the website of their specified consulate for complete information. For example, if a students lives in New Hampshire, consult the Italian Consulate of Boston that services New Hampshire. Consulates can be very strict and extremely bureaucratic.
- Long Term Student Visa application form (D)
- Recent passport-style photo
- Valid Passport at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Italy
- Proof of residence in the jurisdiction of the consulate (ID, Driver’s License)
- Proof of enrollment in the course of study (Enrollment letters in English and Italian provided by SRISA)
- Proof of lodging in Florence (Housing letter in English provided by SRISA)
- Affidavit of Support/Proof of financial means
- Affidavit of Health Insurance
- Round trip flight reservation
NOTE: This is just a guide. Students should go by what their specific Italian Consulate requests.
Applicants Who are Minors
For minor applicants, the following certification is needed:
- Authorization to travel signed by both parents. Parents can either appear in person in front of the Visa Attache’ or send a notarized consent.
- Birth certificate, original or a notarized copy
- Notarized copies of both parents’ picture I.D.
Any foreign documents MUST be translated into English and the translations legalized by the competent consulate.
Permit of Stay
All students studying in Italy for more than 3 months are required by law to apply for a Permit of Stay. The Permit of Stay costs approximately 200 Euro, to be paid directly to the organization that assists with this paperwork. Students staying for 1 semester will file a Declaration of Presence free of charge. SRISA facilitates this process with a few quick meetings during orientation. If a student is an EU citizen of a Schengen country, neither are needed. In both cases students must have health insurance coverage.
The following materials are required to apply for the Permit of Stay:
- Permit of Stay Application (this will be emailed to students before arrival in Florence. This site is operated by our partners at Eduitalia who will be at orientation.)
- Your official passport
- 1 photocopy of the photo page of your passport
- 1 photocopy of the visa page of your passport
- 1 photocopy of your enrollment letters (stamped by the Italian Consulate)
- 1 photocopy of your insurance policy or card covering your stay in Italy (You should check to see if your current policy covers you in Italy. If it does not, we suggest you sign up for insurance. Our guide can help.
Only photocopies are needed, not originals, but students should have access to the original documents as well.
Note: If students have EU citizenship they do not need to apply for a Permit of Stay.
For Non-U.S. Students
If you wish to study with SRISA – and you do not belong to the European Union – you may need to obtain a student visa for Italy, depending on your citizenship, regardless of length of stay. You will need to contact the Italian Embassy or Italian Consulate General in your country to obtain information. SRISA will only provide non-U.S. students their official letters of enrollment to present to the Italian Consulate once full payment has been made. If your consulate requests additional documentation from SRISA, you may contact our office for assistance. Every consulate has specific rules and regulations regarding their visas, therefore we kindly recommend that you contact your specified consulate.
THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES NEED A STUDY VISA FOR PERIODS UNDER 90 DAYS:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua e Barbuda, Arabia Saudita, Armenia, Autorità Palestinese, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrein, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bielorussia, Bolivia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, cittadini britannici che non hanno la qualità di cittadino del Regno Unito di Gran Bretagna ed Irlanda del Nord ai sensi del diritto comunitario, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambogia, Camerun, Capo Verde, Centrafrica, Ciad, China, Colombia, Comore, Congo, Congo (rep. Democratica), Corea del Nord, Costa d’Avorio, Cuba, Domenica, Dominicana (Repubblica), Ecuador, Egitto, Emirati Arabi Uniti, Eritrea, Etiopia, ex-Repubblica Iugoslava di Macedonia, Fiji, Filippine, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Giamaica, Gibuti, Giordania, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Equatoriale, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakistan, Kenia, Dirghizistan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Libano, Liberia, Libia, Madagascar, Malati, Maldive, Mali, Marianne del Nord, Marocco, Marshall, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambico, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua-Nuvoa Guinea, Perù, Qatar, Repubblica Federale di Iugoslavia (Serbia e Montenegro), Ruanda, Russia, Saint Kitts e Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent e Grenadine, Salomone, Samoa Occidentali, Sao Tomè e Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Siria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sud Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tagikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailandia, Timor Orientale, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad e Tobago, Tunisia, Turchia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ucraina, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
List Of Italian Embassy And Consulates: www.embassypages.com/italy
ITALIAN EMBASSY – Consular Section WASHINGTON, D.C. (For U.S. students)
3000 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Homepage: https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/la-rete-consolare/
Tel.: +1 (202) 612-4400
Email: washington.imbamba@esteri.it