How to obtain the visa

New students who need a ‘visa for entry and stay for study purposes’ in Italy can obtain a pre-enrolment certificate from the General Secretariat, which is necessary to apply for this visa.

There are two different procedures for religious and secular students.

Pre-registration certificate

The pre-enrolment certificate is a document required by Italian consulates in order to apply for a visa. It must be authenticated by the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Vatican Secretariat of State.

To obtain this certificate, the candidate will have to start the admission procedure.

How can I apply for the certificate?

The pre-enrolment procedure involves the following steps:

Admission Request

Filling in the contact form: the applicant will receive the link to the admission form by e-mail. It will be necessary to prepare the necessary documentation for admission.
Sending the admission form after uploading the required documents in digital format.
If the Faculty Dean or Institute Director approves the documents received, they will ask the General Secretariat to draw up the pre-enrolment certificate, which must be authenticated as already indicated by the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Vatican Secretariat of State.

Authentication of the certificate at the Holy See

The authentication (endorsement) of the certificate at the Holy See and its subsequent dispatch are the responsibility of the interested party or delegate present in Italy, or the procedure may also be arranged to be carried out by the University.
Charges borne by the Ateneo: the candidate must provide the exact shipping address and pay the stipulated fees for these services (20 euros for authentication | 40 euros for insured courier shipment)

Payments can be made from abroad by bank transfer to the following bank account. The reason for payment must specify: “Authentication and/or international dispatch of pre-enrolment cert. (insert candidate’s first name and surname)”.

Once in Italy, the candidate will have to:

Supplement the copy of the visa issued by the Italian Embassy.
Wait for the official letter of admission to arrive by e-mail.
Make the enrolment payment (instructions can be found on the admission letter)

To apply for a religious student visa, the following procedure must be followed:

Present a photocopy of a valid identity document (preferably passport).
Indicate the place of residence in Rome during the study period (indicated on the admission form).
Present the presentation letter from the Religious Superior or the Ordinary of the diocese they belong to (the Ordinary’s signature must be authenticated by the Apostolic Nuncio).
Present the declaration of responsibility or ‘assumption of responsibility’ of the institute or private individual guaranteeing the payment of board, lodging and any medical expenses during the period of stay in Italy, or the certification of the scholarship obtained including board and lodging expenses, or a document attesting to the possibility of supporting oneself personally for study and subsistence expenses. The responsibility declaration must state:
- if issued by a religious person, the authentication of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life;
- if issued by a priest, a private individual or an entity, clearance from the Ordinary of the Italian Diocese of origin (with the signature authenticated by the Apostolic Nuncio) – in the case of a declaration of self-maintenance, the document must bear the clearance from the Ordinary of origin (with the signature authenticated by the Apostolic Nuncio)
Provide a photocopy of the degree (including grades) previously obtained
Submit the declaration in lieu of certification of qualification (model)
Only for admission to the Doctorate cycle, submit a copy of the Degree thesis
Provide certificate of knowledge of Italian language level (B1). Those who do not have this certificate will have to take an examination or submit the certificate by the end of the first academic semester.

To apply for a lay student visa , follow this procedure:

Provide a photocopy of a current identity document (preferably passport).
Indicate the place of residence in Rome during the study period (indicated on the admission form).
Present the presentation letter from the Ordinary of the diocese they belong to (the Ordinary’s signature must be authenticated by the Apostolic Nuncio).
Submit photocopies of the qualifications (including grades) previously obtained
Provide the declaration in lieu of certification of qualification (model)
Only for admission to the Doctorate cycle, submit a copy of the Degree thesis
Provide certificate of knowledge of Italian language level (B1). Those who do not have this certificate will have to take an examination or submit the certificate by the end of the first academic semester
Present the declaration of responsibility or ‘assumption of responsibility’ of the institute or private individual guaranteeing the payment of board, lodging and any medical expenses during the period of stay in Italy, or the certification of the scholarship obtained including board and lodging expenses, or a document attesting to the possibility of supporting oneself personally for study and subsistence expenses.
- The declaration of responsibility, if issued by a priest, a private individual or an entity, must bear the clearance from the Ordinary of the Italian Diocese it belongs to (with the signature authenticated by the Apostolic Nuncio)
- In the case of a declaration of self-maintenance, the document must bear the clearance from the Ordinary of the diocese it belongs to (with the signature authenticated by the Apostolic Nuncio)

The letter of presentation of the religious authority and the declaration of responsibility or self-maintenance must be received in their original copies (per request of the Holy See). They can be brought by a delegate present in Italy to the counter of the General Secretariat or be sent to the following address:

Pontifical Ateneo Regina Apostolorum
General Secretariat
Via degli Aldobrandeschi, 190
000163 – Rome (RM)
ITALY