This site uses technical (necessary) and analytics cookies.
By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies.

Visas

Study/Internship Visa

To apply for a visa, it is necessary to book an appointment through the Prenot@mi system.

How to Apply for a Study/Internship Visa

Applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the travel date and no more than 6 months in advance. Processing of type D study visa applications may take up to 90 days. To ensure a smooth and timely procedure, applicants are advised to submit a complete application. Incomplete applications may be rejected or result in longer processing times.

 

Study Visa for Italy (Type D)

To apply for a visa, you will need to book an appointment via Prenot@mi booking system.

Applications must be submitted at least 15 days before your travel date and no more than 6 months in advance. The processing of applications for Type D study visas can take up to 90 days. In order to make the process as quick as possible, applicants are advised to submit a complete application with all the necessary documents. An incomplete application may be rejected or result in longer processing times.

Requirements and Application Procedures

To apply for a student visa at the Italian Embassy in Riga, you MUST be legally resident in Latvia, holding a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) or a valid Latvian long-stay visa.

The Embassy does not provide assistance with preparing documentation and does not legalize or apostille academic qualifications not issued in Latvia.

Preliminary Procedure

Before submitting your visa application, you must:

  • Complete the pre-enrollment procedure on the Universitaly platform (www.universitaly.it);
  • Wait for the admission confirmation from the Italian university, which will be visible on the Universitaly portal.

You may only apply for a visa once your admission has been confirmed.

PLEASE NOTE! – Only applications that have been accepted without reservation will be considered.

Required Documentation (mandatory)

  1. National visa application form (Type D), fully completed and signed, stating the name and contact details of your university contact person in Italy.
  2. Passport:
    • Valid for at least 3 months beyond the requested visa duration;
    • Issued within the last 10 years;
    • With at least 2 blank pages.
  3. Latvian residence permit (TRP) or valid long-stay Latvian visa.
  4. Recent passport photo (ICAO format).
  5. Letter of admission issued by the Italian university/educational institution or confirmation of a scholarship.
  6. Health insurance valid in Italy, providing full cover for the duration of the stay for medical treatment and hospitalization: it is important to provide a detailed list of the services covered.
  7. Travel booking (flight/train/bus) for entry into Italy
  8. Proof of accommodation in Italy, to be demonstrated by one of the following:
    • university residence contract;
    • registered tenancy agreement;
    • Declaration of accomodation accompanied by a copy of the host’s ID bearing their signature;

PLEASE NOTE! An application for or eligibility for a place in a university hall of residence does not constitute valid proof of accommodation.

  1. Financial documentation:
    • A recent bank statement (original, signed and stamped by the bank);
    • Proof of at least €10,179.85 and the proof of sufficient funds for purchasing the return ticket;
    • The bank account may be in the student’s name or in the name of the person funding the studies, for example parents or guardians (relatives up to the fourth degree). If the student’s parents, guardians or relatives are funding the studies, they must provide a signed declaration confirming that they are financially supporting the student, a bank statement in their name and a copy of their ID with a visible signature.

In addition, the applicant may provide one or more of the following:

Proof of other personal financial resources (e.g. a scholarship, other financial guarantees provided by individuals or organizations, or by Italian or foreign nationals lawfully residing in Italy, or issued by Italian institutions, including universities, local authorities, and foreign institutions deemed reliable by the Italian diplomatic mission);

Application for or eligibility for a place in university accommodation does not constitute valid proof of accommodation.

Mere application for, or fulfilment of the eligibility criteria for, a scholarship awarded by regional bodies for the right to education, in the absence of explicit confirmation of the award of the scholarship, does not constitute a valid document.

  1. For visa applications relating to courses taught in a language other than Italian, for non-native speakers, proof of adequate knowledge of the foreign language in which the course is taught must be provided:

a) Appropriate certificates for the said language, demonstrating a level of proficiency no lower than B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (QCER), validated by internationally recognized institutions

Or

b) Equivalent certificates issued by the universities themselves, attesting to the possession of the required level of language proficiency in all four skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing);

In the case of an internship (curricular or extracurricular)

For internships, in addition to the documents listed above, the following must be provided:

  • A letter from the university or educational institution explaining the duration, purpose and content of the internship;
  • Internship agreement between the institution, the host organisation and the student, detailing:
    • learning objectives, placement arrangements and supervision;
    • financial support, board, lodging, insurance and travel;
  • For extracurricular internships: training project approved by the Region/Province (where applicable).

Required documents for students enrolled on study programmes in Latvia

If you are residing in Latvia for study purposes, please also attach:

  • Name of the institution/university attended in Latvia;
  • Official contact details of the institution (email and telephone);
  • Certificate of enrolment at the university issued no more than 30 days prior to the appointment date;
  • Student ID;
  • Diploma or certificate issued by the institution, or the latest transcript of exams taken;
  • Other relevant information regarding your academic background or residence status (recent proof of address in Latvia, such as electricity or gas bills, or pay slips)

Timelines and Important Information

  • The cost of a ‘D’ type student visa is €50 and is non-refundable, except in cases where the application is deemed ineligible. Payment can only be made in cash and must be the exact amount (change may not be available).
  • The visa processing procedure may take up to 90 days due to the checks required for student visas.
  • Submitting an application does not guarantee automatic visa issuance.
  • Do not send attachments by email unless specifically requested: documents will only be examined after the official submission of the application at the Embassy.

If necessary, the Consular Section may request additional documents and/or a personal interview. The submission of all required documents does not guarantee the granting of a visa. The information mentioned above is subject to change without notice. No liability is accepted for the consequences of such changes.

Further documentation regarding the authenticity of the foreign qualification may be requested by the relevant diplomatic-consular mission.

 

Useful Links

 https://www.esteri.it/it/servizi-consolari-e-visti/ingressosoggiornoinitalia/vis/