Academic Year 2026–2027
PRELIMINARY PROCEDURE
Students wishing to enrol in an Italian higher education institution must first complete the pre-enrolment procedure through the Universitaly portal
The pre-enrolment process is carried out directly by the applicant through the Universitaly platform. Upon successful completion of the procedure, applicants must submit the Universitaly pre-enrolment receipt together with the required visa documentation.
Appointments for visa applications must be booked exclusively through the Prenot@mi Portal
The deadline for submitting university enrolment study visa applications for the Academic Year 2026–2027 is 30 November 2026.
DECLARATION OF VALUE
The assessment of foreign educational qualifications for admission to study programmes in Italy falls within the competence of the receiving Italian university.
Through the Universitaly portal, the university will inform the applicant whether a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore – DoV) is required. If requested by the university, the Declaration of Value must be obtained from the Italian diplomatic or consular mission competent for the country where the qualification was issued and shall constitute a mandatory requirement for the issuance of the visa.
Please note that the Embassy of Italy in Budapest may issue a Declaration of Value only for qualifications awarded by educational institutions legally recognised in Hungary.
As an alternative, applicants may obtain a Statement of Comparability and/or Statement of Verification issued by CIMEA, provided that the receiving university accepts such documentation. The CIMEA procedure is entirely independent of the Embassy of Italy.
APPOINTMENT BOOKING AND APPLICATION SUBMISSION
All students intending to enrol in academic programmes offered by Italian higher education institutions, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, Foundation and language courses, must first complete the pre-enrolment procedure through the Universitaly portal.
The Universitaly procedure also applies to admissions to:
- Institutions of Higher Education in Art, Music and Dance (AFAM);
- Higher Schools for Linguistic Mediators (SSML);
- Marco Polo and Turandot programmes;
- Institutes of Specialisation in Psychotherapy.
CONSULAR FEE
The consular fee for a university enrolment study visa is EUR 50.00.
Payment must be made in cash in Hungarian Forints (HUF). The corresponding amount in HUF is adjusted quarterly in accordance with the applicable exchange rate.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Completed and signed visa application form;
- Passport valid for at least three months beyond the expiry date of the visa and containing at least two blank pages;
- Photocopy of the passport;
- Valid Hungarian residence permit with at least three months’ validity;
- Photocopy of the Hungarian residence permit;
- Two recent passport-size colour photographs with a white background;
- Receipt confirming completion of the Universitaly pre-enrolment procedure;
- Health insurance covering the initial period of stay in Italy until enrolment in the Italian National Health Service or issuance of the residence permit, without limitations or exclusions for emergency hospitalisation;
- Proof of adequate financial means to cover the costs of the intended stay in Italy (minimum EUR 10,180, plus sufficient funds for repatriation), including:
- Personal bank account statement showing transactions for the previous three months. A bank account held with a Hungarian financial institution is required in all cases;
- Alternatively, parents’ or legal guardians’ bank account statements covering the previous three months, accompanied by a declaration undertaking responsibility for the applicant’s maintenance during the stay in Italy. Such declaration must be translated into Italian or English and duly legalised in the country of issuance;
- Scholarship documentation, where applicable. The availability of a scholarship does not exempt the applicant from demonstrating adequate financial means;
- Proof of accommodation for the initial period of stay in Italy. Where accommodation is provided by an Italian/EU citizen or a legally resident foreign national, the relevant invitation form must be submitted;
- Reservation for travel to Italy (air, rail or bus);
- Certificate attesting language proficiency at level B2 in Italian or English, depending on the language of instruction of the chosen programme. For Foundation Courses, a minimum level of B1 is required. Language proficiency may also be certified directly by the receiving institution;
- Educational records and qualifications obtained in Hungary or at previous academic institutions, where applicable;
- Declaration of Value (if required by the university) or a CIMEA Statement of Comparability/Verification (if accepted by the university). Original educational qualifications must be presented to the Consular Office.
VERIFICATION OF ENROLMENT
Applicants are informed that the Embassy will conduct verification checks at the end of the academic year to ascertain whether visa holders have effectively completed enrolment in the study programme for which the visa was issued.
Cases involving failure to complete the enrolment process may be reported to the competent Italian police and administrative authorities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Students seeking information regarding the university enrolment study visa procedure are kindly requested to contact the Consular Office by email in Italian or English at consolare.budapest@esteri.it.
A list of Italian-speaking translators is available on the Embassy’s website.
For information regarding other visa categories or general visa-related enquiries, applicants may consult the Visa for Italy portal or contact the Consular Office directly.
URGENCY REQUESTS
Visa applications may only be submitted following an appointment personally booked through the Prenot@mi portal.
No exceptions or priority procedures are available on grounds of urgency.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL VISA CATEGORIES
In addition to the specific requirements of each visa category, all applicants must comply with the following conditions:
- Submission of a completed and signed visa application form no earlier than six months and no later than fifteen days before the intended date of departure;
- Possession of a passport valid for at least three months beyond the expiry date of the requested visa and containing at least two blank pages;
- Possession of a valid Hungarian residence permit;
- Submission of one recent passport-size colour photograph with a white background;
- Payment of the applicable consular visa fee;
- Collection of biometric data.
LEGAL NOTICE
For regulations concerning reports made by public officials and public service employees, reference is made to Article 331 of Presidential Decree No. 447 of 22 September 1988.
INFORMATION ON THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA FOR THE ISSUANCE OF ENTRY VISAS TO ITALY AND THE SCHENGEN AREA
(EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 – Article 13)
Personal data collected for the purpose of issuing entry visas to Italy and the Schengen Area are processed in accordance with the principles of lawfulness, fairness and transparency and with full respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.
- Data Controller
The Data Controller is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic (MAECI), acting through the Embassy of Italy in Budapest:
Embassy of Italy in Budapest
Stefánia út 95
1143 Budapest, Hungary
Email: consolare.budapest@esteri.it
PEC: amb.budapest.consolare@cert.esteri.it
Telephone: +36 1 460 6200
- Data Protection Officer
The Ministry’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) may be contacted at:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Piazzale della Farnesina 1
00135 Rome, Italy
Email: rpd@esteri.it
PEC: rpd@cert.esteri.it
- Categories of Personal Data Processed
The Visa Office processes the personal data contained in the visa application form, the Visa Information System (VIS) and the national visa database.
- Purpose of Processing
The personal data provided are necessary for the examination of visa applications submitted by third-country nationals subject to visa requirements.
- Legal Basis
The processing of personal data is governed by the following legislation:
- Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 concerning the Visa Information System (VIS);
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code);
- Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998;
- Presidential Decree No. 394 of 31 August 1999;
- Interministerial Decree on Visas No. 850 of 11 May 2011.
The provision of personal data is mandatory. Failure to provide the requested information will render the visa application inadmissible.
- Methods of Processing
Data are processed by authorised personnel through both manual and automated procedures.
For short-stay visas, data are entered into the Visa Information System (VIS). For long-stay visas, data are entered into the national visa database.
- Disclosure of Personal Data
In accordance with applicable Schengen legislation, personal data may be made available to the competent Italian security authorities, European Union institutions and the competent authorities of other Schengen Member States.
- Data Retention
Data entered into the VIS are retained for a maximum period of five years.
Upon expiry of this period, data relating to visa applications processed by Italy are transferred to the national visa database, where they may be retained for longer periods for reasons of national security, legal proceedings, research or statistical purposes.
- Rights of the Data Subject
Applicants have the right to access and request correction of their personal data.
Within the limits established by applicable legislation, they may also request the deletion of personal data, restriction of processing or object to processing.
Applicants who acquire the nationality of a Member State of the European Union within five years of the issuance or refusal of a visa, or whose visa refusal is definitively annulled by a competent administrative or judicial authority, may request deletion of their data from the VIS.
Such requests must be submitted to the Embassy of Italy in Budapest and notified to the MAECI Data Protection Officer.
If an applicant believes that his or her data protection rights have been violated, a complaint may be submitted to the MAECI Data Protection Officer or to the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la Protezione dei Dati Personali).