The visa · Part A: What the visa is, and how it works
Is the Italian student visa a Schengen visa?
Short answer: No. You get a national long stay visa, type D. That is a different document from the short stay Schengen visa most people mean when they say "Schengen visa".
| Short stay visa (type C) | National long stay visa (type D) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Tourism, business, a visit | Living in Italy to study, work or join family |
| Who it is issued for | The whole Schengen area | One state, by that state |
| How long | Up to 90 days in any 180 | A study visa from Dhaka is valid 365 days, multiple entries |
| What comes after | Nothing, you leave | You apply for a residence permit within 8 working days of arriving |
The study visa is permission to enter Italy and begin. The residence permit, the permesso di soggiorno, is what actually lets you stay. The permit answers are in the bachelor's, master's and PhD guides.
Why this confuses people
The type D sticker looks like a Schengen sticker, and its territory field says ITALIA rather than "Schengen States". That does not mean you are confined to Italy, which is V2.
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.