Italy's New Visa Rules May Discourage International Students

Starting January 10, 2025, students applying for long-term visas (over 90 days) to Italy will need to make an individual appointment at an Italian consulate for fingerprinting. This change will increase the administrative workload for consulates and students, as they will have to travel to a consulate and face potentially long waiting times for appointments.

Melissa Torres, CEO of Forum on Education Abroad, is concerned that this new rule could discourage students from studying abroad for a full semester. Jill Allen Murray, from NAFSA, explained that this policy removes the option for group visa processing, which US schools often used to help students secure visas faster, and will add more administrative burden to consulates.

In 2022/23, Italy was the top destination for US students studying abroad, with 15% of students choosing Italy. The new rule might lead students to choose other countries or shorter programs instead. Some study abroad providers are even considering shortening their programs if the visa process becomes too difficult.

NAFSA and Forum on Education Abroad have written to the Italian ambassador, urging them to restore group processing, provide more resources for student visa appointments, and allow fingerprinting at honorary consulates or local police stations. They are also advising students to apply for their visas before January 10, 2025, to avoid the new requirements.

In addition, from mid-2025, travelers from 60 countries will need to apply for travel authorization (ETIAS) to visit Europe, even if they don’t need a visa.