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Study Visa

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need to apply for a Schengen Visa and you landed to this page directly from an Internet search, please go to the main page of the Schengen Visa Section which contains crucial information about the process to lodge your application with this Consulate General.

Click on the links below for information on how to apply for a Schengen Visa for Study purposes


Do I need a Schengen Visa for Study purposes?

To find out whether you need a Schengen Visa, visit the web portal “Il Visto per l’Italia“.

If you are a Canadian citizen, kindly note that Canadian citizens, and nationals of some other Countries, are EXEMPT from the visa requirement for visits up to a maximum of 90 days in six months for the following reasons: tourism, mission, business, invitation, participation in sports events and study.
The EU Home and Migration Affairs website has a common list of countries whose citizens must have a visa when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. Click here to check the list

Citizens of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and the Ukraine are exempt from visa obligation only if the passport contains biometric data. All passports with biometric data show a special symbol (e-passport) at the front cover of the passport.


How to apply

You MUST book an appointment through the web portal Prenot@mi.

If you cannot find any available time slots on Prenot@mi, we suggest that you log in after a few hours or in one or two days and, in general, we advise to check regularly (particularly around 6pm Toronto time) for available slots as the situation my change quickly.
Please, read carefully our FAQ Section as it may contain useful information related to bookings.


Documents required to apply
    1. Proof of residence within the Toronto consular jurisdiction area: domestic utility bill or driver’s license (original and a photocopy).
    2. For non-Canadians, 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, and a photocopy.
    4. Electronic Schengen Visa application form carefully and correctly completed and signed. Please ensure that you leave no blank spaces. If a question does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable). Be sure to print the form in high resolution.
    5. One recent passport-size colour photo (must have been taken less than six months before the application), size 35mm x 40mm, full-face and light coloured background. Face must be correctly centred and must be seen from a front view, with both sides visible. Styled poses (looking over one shoulder, head bowed etc.) are not allowed. The head 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 post envelope (or UPS preaddressed envelope) with your address already filled (TO) and the Address of the consulate as sender (FROM), with a photocopy of this very envelope, to return your passport.
    8. The visa fee paid in Canadian dollars. Visa fees can be paid at the counter, preferably by Canadian debit card (credit cards or other digital payments cannot be accepted) or alternatively in cash or through money order/bank draft payable 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 refer to the dedicated page on this website.
    9. A copy of your round trip flight reservation or ticket and full itinerary. Buying your ticket in advance does not ensure that a visa will be issued.
    10. Hotel booking for each day of your stay in the Schengen area stating number of reservation, name of the applicant, address and telephone number of the hotel, OR letter of invitation (declaration of hospitality), signed by the person inviting, plus a copy of his/her ID (in case of person without Italian citizenship, copy of his/her Italian permanent residence permit, “Permesso di soggiorno’”).
    11. Proof of enrolment or pre-enrolment in a course of study, indicating duration of course (i.e. letter of acceptance from the school or university in Italy indicating the address of the school in Italy, student accommodation (if applicable) dates of the program and payment of the fees (if applicable).
    12. Documentation of educational history (i.e.: diploma) in applicant’s country of origin.
    13. Proof of financial means of support (as per Ministry of Interior Directive 1.3.2000 DIRETTIVA1° marzo 2000): last three months bank statements clearly indicating the name of the holder and salary slips if applicable.
    14. If you are financially dependent on a family member, you must provide an Affidavit of financial support, together with a copy of his/her picture ID and his/her last three months bank statements. Signatures must be certified by a Canadian notary public. If parents or family members providing financial support do not reside in Canada, their documents and signatures must be notarized and legalized in the Country of residence (legalization to be carried out by Italian Diplomatic-Consular Mission) or apostilled. 
    15. A travel medical insurance policy valid throughout the Schengen area. Please underline or highlight: your name, the medical emergency expenses coverage (minimum € 30,000) including hospital care and repatriation for medical reasons or in case of death
    16. This visa is FREE OF CHARGE.Useful templates can be found here.

Visa Fees

Schengen Visa for Study purposes is free of charge.

Please, be aware: the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto does not rely on any outsourcing agency for visa services.
Appointments can be booked only via Prenot@mi and they are always free of charge.

If someone asks you for money claiming that they can book an appointment at the Consulate for you, it is a scam.