Last Updated on December 17, 2024
Italy’s charm—old, picturesque streets, centuries-old art, pasta that can melt in your mouth–is the stuff of dreams, especially for anyone wanting to study abroad in a foreign country. However, from the 10th of January 2025 onwards, the country’s visa process is going under a bureaucratic change, which decidedly does not sound nearly as romantic. Students planning to study in Italy for a program of more than 90 days must set their own meeting with the Italian consulate. There will be no more batch processing, no more universities showing how to streamline things efficiently – just the consulate staff and, of course, biometric fingerprinting.
Why the Fuss about these “New” VISA Changes?
Until now, many universities could process students’ visas in batches, making the journey for scholars going abroad for education in other countries easier. With this new rule, however, that efficient mode of operation is no longer on the table. Instead, each student has to arrange an appointment and attend the Italian consulate for fingerprint verification. The process now will become more personal, time-consuming, and, for many, nerve-wracking.
Here’s Why the VISA Changes Matters:
Italy today is not simply an idealized couch-surfing destination on the map of international education. With reference to the recent academic year 2022-23, 15 percent of students completing their education in foreign countries preferred Italy as their study destination. Moreover, in 2023, Italy has had a 37% increase in student tourism, whether that be through course admissions or via exchange programs.
Thus, in other words–Italy is an extremely popular study-abroad destination to look out for. And as a consequence, this rule change will be numerous times more significant than any other changes implemented during the period. For one, students will now literally have to fight for limited consulate appointments. This can, thus, result in increased wait time not only among students but among the consulate staff as well.
So, here’s the million-dollar question:
Is Study Abroad in Italy Still Worth It?
In one word–Absolutely. The experience of studying in Italy cannot be described in mere words. The art, the architecture, the food—it is a cultural experience you won’t find anywhere else.
But getting there? That just got harder.
Nevertheless, for students looking to bypass the stress, the advice is simple:
- Plan Early: Begin your search for scheduling of consulate appointments. You should go for your visa slot as early as possible to make sure everything is clear in the last few days.
- Stay Informed: Follow the consulate’s regulations and be aware of all required paperwork and documents needed.
- Breathe: As much as the journey might be stressful, do not forget that at the end of the day, you will be going to Italy.
This policy shift also raises a big question: Could other countries do the same?
Well, Maybe. Possibly. Because within the context of a society that is increasingly focusing on security, the necessity of personalized biometric requirements might become the new norm. For now, at least, Italy has paved the way for the world to take its lead and possibly mimic what can be done.
Therefore, my advice to all prospective Italian scholars: prepare yourself for more paperwork, more waiting time and perhaps a little more patience in the future. But if you think about it… you might realize that actually nothing has changed. It is the same beautiful Italy with a somewhat longer way leading to it though!
Or maybe it can be viewed as your first lesson on how bureaucracy works in Italy – a lesson which would enhance the appreciation of the next views of Florence sunsets and the slices of pizza of Naples.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
And for those looking to study in Italy, contact Admissify today or book a free counseling session with our experts to take your best step forward.
Bhaskarjyoti Paul is a seasoned content writer with over three years of experience within the ed-tech space. Specialising in study abroad and academic content, Bhaskarjyoti excels at creating SEO-optimized articles that drive traffic and engagement and blog and website content that engages and informs readers. Bhaskarjyoti handles social media content for Admissify, designs compelling narratives and spearheads engagement across multiple platforms. With a desire to help students and a keen eye for detail, Bhaskarjyoti brings a wealth of knowledge to every project.
