The Residence Permit for Study Purposes (Permesso di Soggiorno per Motivo di Studio) is the required residency title for non-EU foreign citizens who have entered Italy with a visa for study purposes and who must attend courses or training programs lasting more than 3 months. It must be requested from the competent Police Headquarters (Immigration Office) within 8 days of the student’s entry into the country, through a postal kit.

The Residence Permit for Study Purposes has a variable duration (from 6 months to 1 year) depending on the type of course activated.

The Residence Permit for Study Purposes can be renewed in order to cover the entire course of study provided for in the issuance of the entry visa.

First Issuance of the Residence Permit for Study Purposes

The non-EU foreign citizen must complete the appropriate documentation to be forwarded within 8 days, with a specific envelope through authorized Post Offices, to the competent Police Headquarters (reference: Immigration Office) for the territory.

The following must be attached to the application:

Form 1 of model 209 (example – for reference) properly filled out;
Copy of the passport or equivalent valid document (pages showing personal data, photograph, stamps, visas);
Documentation attesting to enrollment in the activated course of study:
- SECOND CYCLE STUDY: copy of the certification attesting to the course of study to be followed, stamped by the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Representation upon issuance of the entry visa and copy of the enrollment;
- UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT: copy of the certification attesting to the course of study to be followed, stamped by the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Representation upon issuance of the entry visa and copy of the enrollment made;
- PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: documentation attesting to enrollment in the professional training course issued by the accredited institution;
Copy of the insurance policy, valid in the national territory, for the duration of the residence permit, against the risk of illness and/or accidents, it is possible to subscribe to the SSN policy as voluntary enrollment at the beginning of the calendar year;
Demonstration of economic means (e.g., possession of a credit card, active bank account, etc.);
Demonstration of a suitable place to establish one’s domicile;
€16.00 revenue stamp.

Application Costs

The amounts of the contributions payable by adult foreigners are as follows:

Receipt of payment of €30.46 for the issuance of the Residence Permit in electronic format (PSE) to be paid into postal current account no. 67422402 made out to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department with the reason “amount for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit”;
Payment of €30.00 for postage expenses of the postal kit (insured format);
Contribution payment of €40.00 for the issuance of the Residence Permit lasting more than 6 months up to 1 year.

The receipt of payment of the new contribution must be presented at the time of convocation at the Police Headquarters for fingerprint acquisition.

The foreign citizen must submit the request at authorized Post Offices.

The Poste Italiane operator will deliver to the foreign citizen the receipt of the shipping recommendation, which must be retained. Two personal identification codes (user ID and password) are printed on the receipt, which can be used to check the progress of the procedure, the date of convocation for fingerprinting, and the subsequent collection of the Residence Permit here.

The Police Headquarters subjects the foreign citizen to fingerprinting and photographing (identification).

With the Residence Permit for Study Purposes, it is possible to work, for the same period and under certain conditions, without converting the residence permit itself: it is possible to activate contracts that do not exceed 20 hours per week.

It is not allowed to move to another institution different from the one for which the visa was requested, except in special cases.

In case of withdrawal from the course of study, it will be necessary to return with another entry visa for study purposes.

Renewal of the Residence Permit for Study Purposes

It is necessary for the non-EU foreign citizen to continue staying in Italy for study purposes when the residence permit is due to expire or has expired. The renewal application must be submitted to the Police Headquarters by the expiry date of the permit in possession and, in special cases, up to 60 days after the expiry of the said permit. It must be requested from the Immigration Office of the competent Police Headquarters through a postal kit and is renewed only if the condition of being enrolled in the course of study or equivalent persists.

In order to renew the permit, it is necessary to have passed at least 1 exam in the first year, two exams subsequently, and it is not possible beyond the third year out of course.

The renewal application for the Residence Permit must be submitted to the Police Headquarters with the shipment of the postal kit at authorized Post Offices, attaching the following documentation:

Form 1 of model 209 (postal kit), properly filled out;
Form 2 of model 209 (postal kit) only if there are activities or income from work, if allowed;
Copy of the passport or equivalent valid document (pages showing personal data, photograph, stamps, visas);
Copy of the expiring Residence Permit;
Documentation attesting to enrollment in the course of study to continue:
- SECOND CYCLE STUDY: enrollment certificate at the school (the same one for which the entry visa was obtained) showing the overall duration of the course of study (number of years and end date of the course) and which year the student is attending;
- UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT: copy of the certification attesting to the passing of at least 1 exam for the first renewal and at least 2 exams for subsequent renewals of the residence permit, except for force majeure reasons;
- PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: documentation attesting to enrollment in the professional training course issued by the accredited institution, showing the overall duration;
Copy of the insurance policy, valid in the national territory, for the duration of the residence permit, against the risk of illness and/or accidents, it is possible to subscribe to the SSN policy as voluntary enrollment at the beginning of the calendar year;
Demonstration of economic means (e.g., possession of a credit card, active bank account, etc.);
Demonstration of a suitable place to establish one’s domicile;
€16.00 revenue stamp.

Application Costs

The amounts of the contributions payable by adult foreigners are as follows:

Receipt of payment of €30.46 for the issuance of the Residence Permit in electronic format (PSE) to be paid into postal current account no. 67422402 made out to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department with the reason “amount for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit”;
Payment of €30.00 for postage expenses of the postal kit (insured format);
Contribution payment of €40.00 for the issuance of the Residence Permit lasting more than 6 months up to 1 year.

The receipt of payment of the new contribution must be presented at the time of convocation at the Police Headquarters for fingerprint acquisition.

If the renewal of the Residence Permit is requested using a single kit from Poste Italiane for the same family unit, the receipt of payment of €30.46 must be attached for each member of the family unit.

Under certain conditions, it is possible to extend the duration of the permit by continuing studies by enrolling in another course of the same level or higher level.

The Study Permit can be converted to Subordinate Work or Self-Employment, within the provincial quotas of the flow decree if still within the course of study or outside if the legal age has been reached in Italy or if a diploma has been obtained in Italy, through a contractual proposal exceeding 20 hours per week, or to characteristics that the Single Immigration Desk will consider sufficient to convert to Self-Employment, in both cases the application must be submitted online through the portal of the SUI of the reference Prefecture.

In the case of a student with a diploma in Italy or who has reached legal age in Italy, the Study Permit can also be converted to Job Search.

The working student or holder of a regular income can reunite with their family members.