Visa Guide: Italy

The USA admissions is excited to help you prepare for your course in Italy with EF! A student visa will be required if your course exceeds 90 days. Students on shorter courses can study in Italy with their valid U.S. passport. Below is a general guide to help you through the visa application process.

Please note that while EF will certainly help guide you through the visa process, applying for a visa is the responsibility of each individual student. Please stay informed about all visa requirements, which can change frequently. Please, do not hesitate to ask your study abroad for guidance while completing the process.

1. Locate your corresponding Italian Consulate. Consulates are located in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. 

You must work with the Italian consulate that corresponds to your state and/or county residency or where you are currently attending school. https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/informazioni_e_servizi/la_rete_consolare/la%20rete%20consolare.html

2. Enter the Visa Tab of your consulate and review visa requirements are for National/Long Stay/Student – Study Abroad Visas. You are NOT applying for a Schengen Visa

3. Schedule an appointment at your corresponding consulate. Typically, appointments can be scheduled many months in advance, but the date of the appointment can usually be no more than 3 months before your start date. We suggest trying to get an appointment as early as possible.

Currently appointments can be obtained in the following ways, although this is subject to change so please review the page of your corresponding consulate:

• • • • • • • • • Boston: Online Scheduling Tool
                • Chicago: Online Scheduling Tool
                  • It may also be possible to submit by mail, however additional notarizations will be required
                • Detroit: Online Scheduling Tool
                • Philadelphia: Mail-in Applications (appointments not needed)
                • Houston: Online Scheduling Tool
                  • Note that currently Houston uses a different online scheduling tool than all other consulates
                  • It may also be possible to have documents verified at honorary consulate in Dallas and then mailed to Houston
                • Los Angeles: Online Scheduling Tool
                • Miami: Online Scheduling Tool
                • New York: Online Scheduling Tool
                • San Francisco: Email request [e-mail]
                  • This e-mail must include your nationality, your city and state of residence in the USA, your intended flight date, and that you are applying for a long stay National student visa
                • Washington D.C.: Online Scheduling Tool

There may not be available appointments when you check. We suggest checking daily, multiple times per day. Some students have reported success at finding appointments posted around 9 am Italy time. If ultimately you cannot find appointments, you can try emailing your consulate.

Many consulates will email you approximately 3 days before your appointment to confirm so please be on the lookout for this email.

4. Review thoroughly the documentation required by your particular consulate. Each consulate is different in the exact specifications of the documents required. Typical documents required include:
   • Letter of Acceptance: This is the only document provided by EF. This will indicate that you have housing/accommodation and meals through EF unless you have opted out if this.
   • Proof of Health Insurance: Health insurance is not provided by EF. The Italian consulates are very specific in their insurance requirements. Most require repatriation coverage as well. It is likely your normal health insurance plan will not suffice and buying international heath insurance will be necessary. Please check with your study abroad advisor if you require further assistance.
   • Proof of funds: You may be asked to provide bank statements and/or notarized statements indicating you have proper funds to cover your to cover living expenses in Italy. Parent/guardian bank accounts can often be used with notarized authorization letters.

4. If you are a minor additional special documentation will be required. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to make sure you have what you need.

6. Make sure to have copies of every single document you submit to the consulate

7. Inform your EF after you have submitted your visa application and upload a copy of your visa to your Campus Connect portal once you have received it.