Italy Introduces New Visa Rules for International Students Starting in 2025

The Italian government has introduced changes to visa rules for international students and all others applying for a long-term visa (D Visa) who want to remain in the country for more than 90 days.

Starting on January 10, 2025, these students have to book and attend an individual appointment at the Italian consulate, where they will have their fingerprints collected, Schengen.News reports.

Becoming a Student in Italy About to Be More Expensive 
On top of all the expenses that students have to pay, travelling to the Italian consulates to have their fingerprints done will cost them even more. In addition, these situations make the application process even more stressful and difficult for students.

The new measures could drift American students away from Italy, which is the most popular study destination for this nationality group. The number of American students wanting to pursue an academic career in Italy has increased by 37 per cent in the last year. 

Torres also confirmed that several studies abroad providers in the US are looking into shortening programs if the new requirements make the application process more stringent. She also warned of the increased financial demands on organisations if they are not able to carry out batch processing.

Iranian & Afghani Students Waiting for Months Now for a Visa Appointment at Italian Embassy 
The new measures can prompt more dissatisfaction among international students who now have to travel to the respective embassies to meet these administrative requirements. As it is, international students are frustrated with the Italian authorities, with thousands of Iranian students protesting against the long processing times of their visas to Italy. 

In addition, Afghan students who have to either go to Pakistan or Iran to apply for their Italian student visa have also complained about long waiting times for visa appointments. It is estimated that over 150 Afghan students are still waiting for an appointment for their Italian student visa, with some of them waiting since July. 

On the other hand, around 1,000 Iranian students are waiting for a response on their visa appointments for an Italian student visa.

Source: https://schengen.news/italy-introduces-new-visa-rules-for-international-students-starting-in-2025/