Italy Student Visa for Pakistanis 2026: New €10,179 Bank Statement Rule, Universitaly & Steps

Published September 27, 2026 · by Hijrat — visa consultants, Islamabad & Rawalpindi

Italy remains one of the most affordable study destinations in Europe for Pakistani students — public university tuition is usually income-based, many programmes are taught in English, and regional DSU scholarships can cover accommodation and meals. But the biggest change for 2026 is money: Italy's Ministry of University and Research (MUR) has raised the reference amount that visa applicants must show to €10,179.85 per year for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years, up from roughly €6,947 previously. At current exchange rates that is roughly Rs 3.2–3.4 million.

What changed in 2026

The new figure is the annual subsistence amount that Italian embassies and consulates use when checking a student's proof of funds. Several consultants and older guides still quote €6,000–€7,000, or a monthly figure of about €460 — Pakistani applicants should plan around the higher reference amount unless the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad confirms otherwise in writing. Funds must be lawful, traceable and consistent with the sponsor's income; sudden large deposits without explanation are a common reason for refusal.

Step-by-step: how the Italy study visa works

1. Apply to the university — directly through the university's own admissions portal, usually months before the course starts.
2. Universitaly pre-enrolment — every non-EU student must complete pre-enrolment on the official MUR portal, Universitaly. It is free and mandatory; the university validates it and forwards it to the embassy. For 2026–28, universities may validate applications up to 120% of their reserved seats, so validation is not a guarantee of a visa.
3. Qualification recognition — most universities ask for a CIMEA statement or a Declaration of Value (DOV). Your degree or intermediate certificates should first be attested — see our guides on HEC degree attestation, IBCC attestation and MOFA apostille.
4. Book the visa appointment — through the Italian visa application centre for your jurisdiction, then submit the Type D (national) study visa file. The standard national visa fee is around €50 plus the service charge.
5. After arrival — apply for the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 working days of entering Italy.

Documents Pakistani students typically need

A valid passport, completed visa form, photographs, Universitaly pre-enrolment summary, university admission or conditional offer, CIMEA/DOV, attested academic documents, proof of accommodation, health insurance of at least €30,000 valid in Italy, and bank statements plus sponsor documents (income proof, tax returns, relationship proof). Many files also need certified translations and, occasionally, a police character certificate.

Working while studying

Students on an Italian study permit can generally work part-time — up to 20 hours per week (1,040 hours a year). This helps with living costs but should never be counted on to meet the visa's financial requirement.

Timeline advice

Treat the process as a 6–9 month project. For September 2027 intakes, shortlist universities now, prepare attestations over the winter and start Universitaly pre-enrolment as soon as the portal opens, because embassy appointment slots in Pakistan fill quickly in summer. Students comparing destinations may also read our Germany student visa and UK student visa guides, our fully funded scholarships list, and for those aiming to work rather than study, our note on Italy's Decreto Flussi work visa. You can also browse all our visa services and attestation services.

Disclaimer: This article is general guidance based on publicly reported information as of September 2026. Italian visa requirements, financial thresholds and fees change frequently and are applied by the Embassy of Italy; the final decision on every application rests with the Italian authorities. Hijrat is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government or embassy. Always check the latest official checklist before applying.