Are you considering a study abroad experience and want to apply at a university in Italy? Well, complimenti! Italian universities are among the most prestigious in the world and you will not only experience excellent teaching, but you will also have the chance to enjoy the famous cuisine, magnificent architecture and get to see numerous breath-taking attractions. If you've decided to study abroad in Italy and come from an EU/EEA country, good news! You won’t need an Italian student visa. For all the other non-EU/EEA students, just follow the next steps and prepare to apply for your student visa: 1. Apply to an Italian university and get the acceptance letter If you’re still not sure where you want to study in Italy, you will have to decide before you can start your student visa application process. After being accepted at an Italian university, you’ll get a letter of acceptance required for the visa application. Consider some of the best universities in Italy: ? Politecnico di Milano ? Politecnico di Torino ? University of Padova ? Free University of Bozen-Bolzano ? Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore ? University of Siena ? SDA Bocconi School of Management 2. Find out what type of visa you need to study in Italy While EU/EEA students can study in Italy without a visa, other international students aren't so lucky. Still, the visa application process becomes less complicated when you have all the necessary information. Depending on how long you plan to stay in Italy and what you will study, you need to apply for one of the following visa types: ? Short-stay visa (type C) – if you apply for a language or a short course that lasts less than 90 days ? Long-stay visa (type D) – if you apply for any degree course that has at least 20 hours of courses per week (or 80 hours per month) and lasts more than 90 days The easiest way to find out if you need a visa is to answer a few simple questions on the official Visa for Italy website. For example, citizens from some non-EU/EEA countries do not need to apply for a visa if they plan to stay in Italy less than 90 days. Here are a few examples: ? The United States of America ? Australia ? New Zealand ? Hong Kong (SAR) ? Ukraine Check out the full list of countries whose citizens: • need a visa for Italy • don't need a visa for Italy 3. Conditions you have to meet to apply for a visa in Italy ? You must have a valid passport with at least two blank visa pages ? You must provide a copy of your flight itinerary ? You must not have a criminal record ? You must not have been denied entry in Italy previously 4. When and where to apply for the student visa in Italy ? Apply for visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country. ? Schedule a visa interview around 4 to 6 weeks in advance. ? Apply for a student visa at least 3 months before your arrival in Italy. The processing time of your application may take between 1–3 weeks and sometimes longer. 5. Tips about the student visa application in Italy If you missed scheduling an appointment at least 4 weeks in advance, check with the consulate for cancellations and try to schedule the appointment date earlier. If you are not able to reach the consulate for the visa interview, you may schedule an appointment at an Honorary Consulate, if it is closer to your home. However, first check with the consulate in your area if this option is available.