Makshud.

The Italian student visa

The money, the sponsor, the seven things a file has to survive, and the myths. The same rules whichever program you are applying for.

30 questions, in the order you will meet them. Open the one you need.

Part A: What the visa is, and how it works

  1. V1 Is the Italian student visa a Schengen visa?
  2. V2 What can I do in other Schengen countries, and what can I not?
  3. V3 What are the steps from admission to visa, in order?
  4. V4 What are the real deadlines?
  5. V5 Which documents must be originals, and which can be copies?
  6. V6 CIMEA, ARDI or Declaration of Value: which one is mine?

Part B: The money

  1. V7 How much money must be shown, and in whose name?
  2. V8 Does a scholarship cover it, or do I still have to prove funds?
  3. V9 How old must the money be, and what does "source of funds" mean?
  4. V10 What else costs money before I fly?
  5. V11 Can I use borrowed money or someone else's bank statement?

Part C: The sponsor

  1. V12 Who can legally sponsor me?
  2. V13 Can I show my cousin, uncle or grandfather as my sponsor?

Part D: What a visa file has to stand up to

  1. V14 The seven things a student visa file has to survive
  2. V15 Financial strength
  3. V16 Flight risk
  4. V17 Genuine student
  5. V18 Document authenticity
  6. V19 Academic logic
  7. V20 Language
  8. V21 Immigration history

Part E: Myths, and what actually happens

  1. V22 What is the visa approval ratio for Italy, or for my university?
  2. V23 Does a study gap, a low CGPA or a weak CV kill my application?
  3. V24 Do I need an agent to get a visa?
  4. V25 What actually happens at the VFS appointment?
  5. V26 My visa is late and term has started. What now?
  6. V27 Can I work in Italy, and does mentioning it hurt my application?
  7. V28 If I am refused, what can I do?
  8. V29 What is not a reason for refusal, so you can stop worrying about it
  9. V30 Where to verify

This page explains official rules in plain language. I am not an immigration adviser and I do not give visa advice. For that, always use official government sources. Rules change: confirm with your university, the embassy and VFS before you act.