National Research Visa for stays longer than 90 days

Foreign applicants holding a PhD or higher education qualification which, in the Country where it was obtained, provides access to doctoral programs, seeking to carry out research activities at Universities or Research Institutes registered in a dedicated list of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), on the basis of a reception agreement between the Institution and the applicant, for longer than 90 (ninety) days.

1. Proof of residence within the Toronto consular jurisdiction the Provinces of Ontario (except for the city of Ottawa and the Outaouais region, the Carleton, Dundas, Glengarry, Grenville, Prescott, Russel, and Stormont counties under the jurisdiction of the Italian Embassy in Ottawa): domestic utility bill or driver’s license (original and a photocopy).

2. For non-Canadian citizens, proof of legal residence in Canada: Canadian permanent residence card or visa valid for at least three months after the date of re-entry (original and a photocopy).

3. For travelers not returning to Canada after leaving the Schengen area: relevant visa or travel document authorizing entry into the Country of destination outside the Schengen area, and a photocopy of such.

4. National Visa Application Form carefully and correctly filled-out and signed. Please ensure you leave no blank spaces. If an item does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable). Please print the form in high resolution.

5. Passport-size photo full front and white background, not older than 6 months; must be free of all headgear, no hats, scarves, headbands or other decorative objects.

6. Your passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expiry date, as well as photocopies of the first 2 pages and of visas previously issued, if any. Furthermore, there must be at least two blank pages in the passport.

7. Prepaid Xpresspost envelope (or any other courier service pre-addressed and prepaid envelope) with your address already filled (TO) and the address of the Consulate as sender (FROM), with a photocopy of the envelope itself, to return your passport.

8. Nulla Osta (entry clearance) to be requested by the employer and already issued by the competent Italian immigration desk authority (Ufficio SUI della Prefettura – Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione). The applicant must have a photocopy of the entry clearance before applying for the visa.

9. One-way travel flight ticket reservation.

10. Visa fee paid in Canadian dollars. Visa fees can be paid by money order/bank draft made out to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto (Canadian dollars only). Because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate, the type of visa and duration of stay, the fees are subject to change. Please consult regularly our updated list of Consular Fees.

PLEASE NOTE

Citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as Palestinian Territories and Travel Documents holders (with the three letters code XXA or XXB appearing in the ICAO) need to provide full names of mother and father as indicated in the birth certificate or a Consular declaration.

All the documents mentioned above must be sent by mail.  You do not need to book an appointment to submit your application.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 11, 2025, fingerprints must be acquired even for National Visa Applicants.

(1) Please send all necessary documents (see above), including a money order or bank draft for due consular fees payable to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto and a prepaid and pre-addressed XpressPost (or any other courier service) envelope, which will be used to return your passport, by registered mail (with a tracking number) to the Visa Office at the address below.

Consulate General of Italy
VISA OFFICE
136 Beverley St.
Toronto M5T 1Y5

Please be aware that the Consulate does not take responsibility for applications, passports or money order / bank draft lost by the postal service or by courier services.

(2) If you do not already have an account, please, set up an account on Prenot@mi (press the button “register your account”. You only need to register as user. DO NOT book any appointment. The Consulate will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment for fingerprints, in due time. In order to allow the Consulate to assign you an appointment, you must be registered as a Prenot@mi user.

(3) Once the Consulate will have received your postal application, if you will have registered on Prenot@mi, the Visa Office will contact you to make an appointment. On the day of the appointment, applicants must attend the Consulate in person. Being summoned for fingerprinting DOES NOT imply that your visa application will be granted.

The only exemptions to the requirement of fingerprints are: children under the age of 12; physical inability, even temporary; Heads of State and Government and members of foreign governments with their delegations on official missions; sovereigns and members of royal families on official missions. Even if exempt from the requirement of fingerprints, children under the age of 12 must attend the appointment for identification purposes.

Kindly note that INCOMPLETE or INCORRECT applications will NOT be processed, and they will be returned to your address.

Within eight (8) working days of entry into Italy, foreign nationals must fulfil the obligations of the laws regarding residence in the territory of the State by submitting a request for a Residence Permit relevant to the purpose of the visa. Procedures are indicated here “Types of Visas”. Select the type of National Visa you wish to apply for by clicking on the button “types of visas” and carefully read the information provided.