Effective January 10th, 2025, the Italian government has introduced updated visa requirements that are causing significant concern among various stakeholders. There is a growing fear that these changes could complicate the process for international students wishing to study in Italy.

Under the new regulations, applicants for Type D visas—specifically those planning to study for more than 90 days—must now schedule individual appointments for fingerprinting at Italian consulates. This shift is expected to increase administrative burdens and could result in delays for students eager to embark on their educational journeys in Italy.

Melissa Torres, CEO of Forum on Education Abroad, expressed her concerns to The PIE News, stating, “In addition to the added costs many students will face traveling to a consulate and enduring long wait times for visa appointments, I worry this new requirement will deter students from committing to a full semester abroad.”

Jill Allen Murray, Deputy Executive Director of NAFSA, also voiced her apprehensions regarding these developments. She highlighted that the elimination of “batch” processing—a method employed by U.S. universities to assist large groups of students in securing visas efficiently—will exacerbate the situation.

Murray elaborated, “The policy change effectively removes the option for ‘batch’ processing, increasing the administrative demands on each Italian consulate.” This adjustment could further complicate the visa application process, potentially leading to confusion and delays for both students and institutions.

Italy has been a favored destination for U.S. students studying abroad, with reports indicating that 15% of students chose Italy during the 2022/23 academic year—a remarkable 37% increase from the previous year. However, the new visa rules may prompt students to explore alternative study-abroad destinations. According to The PIE News, several U.S. study-abroad providers are already considering shortening programs to navigate the complexities of the visa process.

If these new requirements prove too challenging, we may see a decline in students opting for long-term programs in Italy.

In light of these changes, NAFSA and Forum on Education Abroad have taken action by sending a joint letter to the Italian ambassador. They are advocating for the reinstatement of batch processing and urging Italy to allocate additional resources to manage consular appointments effectively. Furthermore, they are requesting that fingerprinting be permitted at honorary consulates or local police stations.

Both organizations caution that the new system may lack the capacity to handle the anticipated demand for student visas and recommend that students apply as early as possible to mitigate potential delays.

Students planning to study in Italy are advised by NAFSA and Forum on Education Abroad to submit their D visa applications well ahead of the new rules' implementation date on January 10th, 2025. Given the expected strain on consular services, early applications will be crucial in ensuring that students meet visa deadlines and avoid disruptions to their academic pursuits.