If you are an Italian or a European Union country citizen, you need to upload a copy of your passport and of a health insurance valid in Italy on the Student Portal. Please visit the JCU Health and Wellbeing page for information regarding the recommended coverage plan.
Non-European citizens have various steps to complete in order to be able to study and reside in Italy legally. Complying with Italian laws is essential to studying at John Cabot and our staff is committed to assisting our students in the process.
All non-European Union students must apply for a study visa to legally enter Italy. Once you are accepted at JCU, the Admissions Office will provide the information and documents you need to apply for a visa.
If you need to apply for a visa, you must request it at the Italian Consulate with jurisdiction over your home state or city before you come to Italy. It is your responsibility to start the process, so make sure you do it as soon as possible, as the visa may take up to two months or longer to obtain.
After you have obtained your visa, you will need to upload a copy on the Student Portal and check the Immigration Guidelines to know the exact steps you need to follow.
Based on the length of your study visa, you will have to request either a Declaration of presence (if your visa valid for less than 150 days) or a Permit to Stay (if your visa is valid for more than 150 days). These steps are mandatory, as they allow you to legally study and live in Italy.
NOTE: should you decide to register for an additional semester at JCU, you will need to obtain a new study visa. Please make sure to inform both the Admissions and Immigration offices.
You will need to start your Permit to Stay request through the Student Portal by following these steps:
BRING YOUR PASSPORT! During your scheduled Immigration step at Orientation, the Immigration Services Office staff will accompany you to the local Post Office, where you will be issued your Permit to Stay receipt and fingerprinting appointment letter.
The Permit to Stay receipt is the legal proof that you have applied for a Permit to Stay: it is crucial that you keep it in good conditions, and that you take note of the day of your appointment.
The fingerprinting appointment is held at the Central Immigration Police Station (Questura Centrale) in via Teofilo Patini 1. The appointment is automatically scheduled at the time of the Post Office appointment. It is mandatory to attend and cannot be rescheduled. Missing the appointment will result in a € 250 fee and will jeopardize your Permit to Stay application.
The Immigration Services Office staff will accompany you on the date of your appointment. We will send you all information via email about 2 weeks in advance: remember that you are responsible for checking your email regularly.
In order to complete the appointment successfully, you will need to have with you:
REMINDER: Students waiting for their very first Permit to Stay Card may leave and reenter Italy only if they have a valid multi-entry visa. Students traveling under circumstances other than these do so at their own risk.
Students waiting for the renewal of their Permit to Stay Card may leave Italy if they are traveling directly to their home country with their original Permit to Stay Receipt, or if they have a valid multi-entry visa. Students traveling under circumstances other than these do so at their own risk.
The Permit to Stay card should be ready for pickup 50/60 days after your appointment.
Once the card is issued, you will receive an email from the Immigration Services staff and be asked to pick up the card at the police station closest to where you live. You must go to the police station in person with your original Passport and original Permit to Stay Receipt. You must provide the Immigration Services Office with a copy of both sides of your Permit to Stay card. If you miss this last step, a hold will be placed on your account, and you will be blocked from registering for classes.
