It is extremely important to inform students on Italian immigration rules before they leave for Italy. The International Relations Office can provide students with information on requirements and procedures.
Compulsory registration for temporary stay (iscrizione allo schedario della popolazione temporanea).
Students with EU citizenship (and citizens coming from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) can live in Italy for 3 months without incurring in any legal obligation.
If your stay is longer than three months but still temporary (as an exchange student i.e.), at the end of the 3rd month, you must carry out a compulsory registration (iscrizione allo schedario della popolazione temporanea) at the municipality offices.
Applications must be submitted to the "Ufficio Anagrafe", that is the dedicated office located in each neighbourhood of the town where you live: Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna o Rimini.
The registration is free of charge and must be carried out within the first 3 months of arrival in Italy.
Documents needed in order to apply:
- Personal ID (or equivalent)
- Declaration by the University of Bologna stating the duration of your exchange period (this document is issued by the International Relation Office at your arrival)
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an insurance policy covering all health risks that you might incur in during the whole exchange period abroad. The insurance company will also need to fill in an additional form, that can be found in the attachment box: the Certificate of compliance to the Italian law (Certificato di Conformità alla legge italiana). PLEASE NOTE: The Ufficio Anagrafe will not carry out the registration procedure unless this form is duly filled in and attached to the policy itself
- Proof of your economic means of subsistence. You can submit a self-certification, providing information on the kind of economic support you have (i.e. grant, support from your parents etc.) and you must give all the details (of your bank account or a photocopy of your credit card, which must be suitable for Italy, i.e. Maestro) needed for verification. The amount of money, which is considered sufficient, is calculated in relation with the social allowance, equal to 5.317,65 for the year 2009.
You will need both the original documents and a copy of each of them (The office will keep the copies). The application must be submitted to the Ufficio Anagrafe of the neighbourhood where you live. In the attachment box you will find a list of the offices you can refer to, according o the area where you live.
Once you are registered, you can apply for a certificate. Both the application and the certificate are fee paying.
Compulsory registration (iscrizione anagrafica).
Students with Eu citizenship (and citizens coming from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) can live in Italy for 3 months without incurring in any legal obligation.
At the end of the 3rd month, they must carry out a compulsory registration (iscrizione anagrafica) at the municipality offices.
Applications must be submitted to the "Ufficio Anagrafe", that is the dedicated office located in each neighbourhood of the town where you live: Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna o Rimini.
The registration is free of charge and must be carried out within the first 3 months of arrival in Italy.
Documents needed in order to apply:
- Personal ID (or equivalent)
- Certification of enrolment at a University academic programme with details of its duration
- E106 Form: This model is usually provided by the National Health Service of the home country before departure. Alternatively, if your country does not provide you with the E106 form, you will need a private insurance policy covering all health risks that you might incur in during the whole exchange period abroad.
The insurance company will also need to fill in an additional form, that can be found in the attachment box: the Certificate of compliance to the Italian law (Certificato di Conformità alla legge italiana)
PLEASE NOTE: The Ufficio Anagrafe will not carry out the registration procedure unless this form is duly filled in and attached to the policy itself
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used for medical assistance within the first 3 months, but will NOT be accepted for the purposes of registration: you will need a Health Insurance.
- Proof of your economic means of subsistence (Document proving that you have enough economic resources: minimum is euro 5.317,65 per year).
You can submit self-certification, but you must provide information on the kind of economic support you have (i.e. grant, support from your parents etc.) and you must give the details of your bank account or a photocopy of your credit card, which must be suitable for Italy (i.e. Maestro).
You will need both the original documents and a copy of each of them (The office will keep the copies). The application must be submitted to the Ufficio Anagrafe of the neighbourhood where you live in.
You must ask for an appointment; in the attachment box you will find a list of the offices you can refer to, according o the area where you live.
Once you are registered, you can apply for a certificate. Both the application and the certificate are fee paying.
Before leaving for Italy : visa and health insurance
In order to have detailed and correct information on how to apply for the visa, please check the website of the Italian Government.
In any case you will have to contact beforehand the nearest Italian Consulate in your home Country.
If you buy a health insurance in your home Country, you must make sure that the Italian Consulate validates it (which means putting a stamp on it) before departure. Without that stamp your insurance will not be considered legally valid when applying for the residence permit, and you will be obliged to buy an Italian insurance.
When you arrive: applying for the residence permit
Applications for the residence permit must be submitted within 8 days after your arrival in Italy
Before applying you must register at the International Relations Office of the University (only if you are an exchange student coming to Italy within a mobility programme).
After registration you will be given the necessary documents to be attached to the application; if you need it the office will provide you with assistance and information on how to submit a correct application.
How to submit the application
First of all you will need the so-called kit: i.e. the envelope containing all the forms and the instructions; the kit can be found at the post office.
Once you have filled in the forms and attached all the required documents, you have to go to the post office to send the application; here is the check list of what you have to bring with you:
- The kit containing all the forms you have filled in, the envelope must be open (and with the 14,62 euro stamp on it)
- Passport (or another equivalent identity card) and a photocopy of all the pages of the document
- Statement by the University of Bologna (it will be given to you when you register at the International Relations Department)
- Copy of the Health Insurance covering the whole period of the Residence Permit (if you bought it in your Home Country, it must be certified by the Italian Embassy or Consulate - or copy of the Italian Insurance you bought in Italy)
The Post Office will give you a payment form to fill in (€ 27,50 for electronic Residence Permit)
You will have to fill in the registered mail form and pay € 30 in order to send the application.
On the receipt of the registered mail you will find the "codes" (Codice Assicurata and Codice Ologramma) which gives you access to the protected area where it will be possible for you to know the status of your application.
You must keep all the payment receipts that legally prove that you have applied for the residence permit in case of police control.
Appointment at the Police Department
Some months after having applied you will receive a registered mail by the Police Immigration Department. You will be asked to go there to be fingerprinted and to collect your residence permit. Take with you 4 passport-sized photos with a white background, one of them will be attached on your Residence permit.
For further information on these issues please refer to the website of the Italian Police, Foreign citizens section