Visiting scholars for study and advanced training coming from abroad

Before arriving in Italy

If you are a citizen of one of the European Union countries or of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and San Marino, you must:

• check that your identity document is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Italy;
• have appropriate health care coverage valid in Italy (EHIC card and/or private insurance).
  
  

After your arrival in Italy

After three months of residence in Italy, you can register with the registry office of the municipality where you live. Visit your municipality's website for instructions on how to:

• apply for temporary registration, while keeping your primary residence outside of Italy (see, for example, instructions for the municipalities of Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna o Rimini),

or

• transfer your residency to Italy (see, for example, instructions for the municipalities of Bologna, Forlì, Cesena, Ravenna e Rimini).

Before arriving in Italy

You must check if you need a visa on the Visa for Italy website by selecting “Study” as the reason for your stay.

If you need a Visa, you must apply for an “invitation” or “study” purposes visa at an Italian Embassy, usually by submitting:

• passport or valid travel document expiring at least three months following the requested visa;
• a letter of invitation from the department at the University of Bologna or the documentation concerning the study activities to be undertaken;
• a document demonstrating suitable means of financial support;
• demonstration of accommodation (hotel booking, declaration of hosting signed by an EU citizen or non-EU citizen with an Italian residence permit);
• if you are not entitled to health care in Italy by virtue of agreements in force with your home country, a health insurance policy for medical care and hospital treatment. In case of study visa, read more information on Medical assistance for international students.

Contact your competent Italian Embassy well in advance to check which documentation is specifically required. 

In order to obtain a study visa, you should also pre-enrol online via the Universitaly portal (step 6). In the application you must indicate:

• “Specify the reason for the visa application”: I want to spend a mobility period for study/traineeship (e.g. Erasmus);
• “Course information”: Institution: Università di Bologna, Course type: Corso/i singolo/i – Single course(s), Course name: in the text field you must describe your position at the University of Bologna, e.g.: Visiting Scholar (and your reference professor at Unibo).

Important: the visa by invitation does not allow you to request a residence permit or receive any form of payment. Expenses in some cases may be refunded.

The D-type study visa allows you to apply for a residence permit. While your residence permit for study purposes is valid, you may work for up to 20 hours a week. These hours are cumulative over fifty-two weeks, with a maximum limit of 1,040 hours (for more information, see art 14 comma 4, DPR n. 394/1999).

After your arrival in Italy

If you intend to stay in Italy for less than 90 days, you do not need to apply for a residence permit, but you must go to the Questura within 8 days for the Declaration of presence (if not exempted). Read the general information on how to make the Declaration of presence for exchange students. Attention: in contrast to what is stated, as a visiting scholar you check-in at the hosting Department. 

Before arriving in Italy

You must check if you need a visa on the Visa for Italy website by selecting “Study” as the reason for your stay.

If you need a Visa, you must apply for an “invitation” or “study” purposes visa at an Italian Embassy, usually by submitting:

• passport or valid travel document expiring at least three months following the requested visa;
• a letter of invitation from the department at the University of Bologna or the documentation concerning the study activities to be undertaken;
• a document demonstrating suitable means of financial support;
• demonstration of accommodation (hotel booking, declaration of hosting signed by an EU citizen or non-EU citizen with an Italian residence permit);
• if you are not entitled to health care in Italy by virtue of agreements in force with your home country, a health insurance policy for medical care and hospital treatment. In case of study visa, read more information on Medical assistance for international students.

Contact your competent Italian Embassy well in advance to check which documentation is specifically required. 

In order to obtain a study visa, you should also pre-enrol online via the Universitaly portal (step 6). In the application you must indicate:

• “Specify the reason for the visa application”: I want to spend a mobility period for study/traineeship (e.g. Erasmus);
• “Course information”: Institution: Università di Bologna, Course type: Corso/i singolo/i – Single course(s), Course name: in the text field you must describe your position at the University of Bologna, e.g.: Visiting Scholar (and your reference professor at Unibo).

Important: the visa by invitation does not allow you to request a residence permit or receive any form of payment. Expenses in some cases may be refunded.

The D-type study visa allows you to apply for a residence permit. While your residence permit for study purposes is valid, you may work for up to 20 hours a week. These hours are cumulative over fifty-two weeks, with a maximum limit of 1,040 hours (for more information, see art 14 comma 4, DPR n. 394/1999).

After your arrival in Italy

If you have a D-type visa for study purposes and intend to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit within 8 working days of your arrival in Italy. Read the information about how to apply for a residence permit for exchange students.

Attention: in contrast to what is stated as a visiting scholar you will check-in at your hosting department instead of at the International Relations Office.

For information and to book a free appointment with an immigration support service, you can write to ases.visiting@unibo.it. The staff of the immigration support service will provide you with an application kit (including the envelope, required forms and payment slip), and will assist you free of charge in filling out the application for the issue or renewal of the residence permit.

To start their mobility, international guests of the University of Bologna who are hosted in a department receive an acceptance message by e-mail.

You must follow the instructions in the e-mail and complete the online registration.

Contact your department’s offices to get information on the welcoming procedures.

Department contacts

At check-in, bring an identity document with you: your passport or, only if you are an EU citizen, your identity card.

At check-in, you will get a username and a password to access the online services of the University of Bologna and your Arrival Statement, which you will then use to apply for your residence permit.

Badge

If a badge is issued, after the check-in you will receive an e-mail with a QR CODE and the instructions to follow to collect your badge at one of the self-service machines.

Useful information and contacts to find accommodation.

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Useful information for using the healthcare services in Italy.

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The “codice fiscale” (Italian tax code) is essential to carry out a wide range of activities in Italy, such as opening a bank account, entering into a rental contract, registering with the Italian National Health Service, and receiving payments or reimbursements from the University of Bologna.

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Guests of the University of Bologna Departments must have an adequate insurance coverage for accident and civil liability for damage to third parties.

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Useful information on coming to Italy with your family.

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At the end of your stay, you will have to check out and submit a report on the activity carried out. You will get a Certificate of Departure, confirming the start and end dates of the mobility you have completed.