4 Documents

Academic Record

By June 30 for the academic year/spring students and December 31 for the fall students, IU Education Abroad needs evidence of completed course grades.

Passport & Visa

If you do not already have a valid passport, apply for one immediately. You can download an application at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/. You can also pick up an application form and instructions at a post office. Turnaround time can be as much as 12-18 weeks, so submit your application promptly.

You are required to obtain a student visa for your stay in Bologna before you leave the U.S. A visa, which is a stamp in your passport that permits you to travel or reside in another country for a stated period of time, is issued by the country’s consulate in the U.S. Late spring, IU Education Abroad will send academic year and fall students documentation and instructions to apply for a student visa. For this purpose, it is essential that you have your passport by mid-May. If you are not a U.S. citizen, immediately contact the nearest Italian consulate for visa instructions. Spring semester students will have a shorter timeframe in late fall to make visa arrangements. Any questions about visa processing must be directed to the Italian Consulate.

Depending on your citizenship and the timing of your application, you will pursue the visa application process in one of two ways:

1. Group or Batch Processing (for U.S. citizens only): Since some Italian consulates allow programs to offer a group (or batch) processing service for U.S. citizens within their jurisdiction, some schools may use the batch processing system for participants who are U.S. citizens. Check with your home school to see if this option is available to you.
2. Standard Processing : The standard process to apply for a visa requires collecting documentation (some provided by IU’s BCSP and/or your home institution), scheduling an appointment with the appropriate Italian Consulate with jurisdiction (based on your permanent or school address), and going in person to your appointment to submit your application. In some cases, a student may meet a local Honorary Consul or Consular Correspondent in person to have their application reviewed and then mail the full application to the consulate (please verify process with the consulate directly). All non-U.S. citizens must apply for their visa using standard processing.

Schedule your appointment early because they fill up quickly!

You are advised NOT to leave the U.S. for any international travel before receiving your visa because you will have to surrender your passport to the consulate anywhere from several weeks to as long as two months or more before the program starts. If you must be out of the country more than a couple of days immediately prior to the program start date, there is no guarantee that the consulate will process the visa in time for your departure.

If you will be abroad prior to the start of the program, please be advised that it is nearly impossible to obtain a student visa outside of the U.S. In addition, consulates and embassies outside the U.S. are generally unfamiliar with student visa requirements as they relate to U.S. students and will often provide conflicting or incorrect information that will ultimately delay the visa application process and jeopardize your chances of obtaining a visa in a timely manner. Therefore, you should return to the U.S. to obtain your student visa.

There is a 90-day grace period in which to travel only in Schengen countries as a tourist to be used either before the visa start date or after the visa expiration date. The 90 days do not have to be used consecutively and can be distributed before or after the visa validity. Please note that the period is 90 days total for tourism purposes and must be used in Schengen territory.

When you arrive in Bologna, the program staff will help you apply for a residency permit (permesso di soggiorno). This is a rather long process, composed of multiple steps, and takes up to three months.

Students should not travel outside Italy after 90  days from their arrival if they have not yet received the permit.

Fall only students who decide to extend their studies into the spring semester should be prepared to return to the U.S. over the winter break to extend their visa.

Health Insurance

International health insurance coverage is provided either through IU Education Abroad or your home school. In some cases it is included in the program fee. Usually policies require payment upfront for medical care, then filing for reimbursement, but some may also set up a direct payment system with the doctor or hospital. You will demonstrate to the Italian Consulate that you have medical insurance to obtain an Italian student visa.

Students with European Passports

If students with EU citizenship have residency in their European country, then they are most likely enrolled in the country’s national health care system and possess an EU health insurance card, valid for medical care in all EU countries. Otherwise, if you are an EU citizen but reside in the U.S., you should use the private international health insurance provided through IU Education Abroad or your home institution.