There are many legal ways to obtain residency in Italy. One option for young applicants, for whom other Italy residency methods such as investment, financial self-sufficiency, self-employment, or Blue Card are not suitable for their conditions and goals, but given their academic credentials, professional background, and age, there is the possibility of entering Italy with a scientific-academic visa and then obtaining work or freelance residency inside Italy.
Residency through academic and scientific background is suitable for individuals who hold a valid university degree, have scientific or professional expertise, and wish to enter Italy through an educational pathway and subsequently convert their residency to work or self-employment type. In this path, the individual first enters Italy by being accepted into a specialized academic program such as: (Master di I/II livello), and then during their student residency, takes advantage of the legal opportunities to convert residency to work.
This is a residency pathway for educated young people that is built on entering Italy through a scientific-academic route and subsequently leads to long-term work or self-employment residency. In fact, this method legally and intelligently utilizes the existing laws of Italy to open a path to permanent residency. This approach, titled “Italy Residency through Academic and Scientific Background,” is both legally enforceable and attractive to young, educated, and forward-thinking individuals.
Requirements for Italian scientific residence
- Academic degree: Having at least a 12-year high school diploma, meaning either the 3-year diploma of the new system for those born in 1380 (2001) and after – or for those born in 1379 (2000) and before who have a 3-year experimental, mathematics, or humanities diploma, possessing both the high school diploma and pre-university certificate; and for Kar-Danesh or technical-vocational fields, possessing the high school diploma and associate degree.
- Age conditions: At least 18 and 36 years of age, the maximum age for the 22-year diploma – 29-year bachelor’s degree holders – can be done for graduates of postgraduate degrees up to 36 years.
- GPA: The GPA is only considered for the last academic degree as follows: New high school diploma or pre-university with a written GPA preferably above 14 and minimum 11 (the overall GPA is not important) – Bachelor's and Master's degrees with a GPA of 15 and above are suitable.
- Academic gap: Up to 4 years of the latest degree.
- Bank balance: Financial sufficiency and 6-month bank statement in the name of the applicant or parents equivalent to 10,000 euros in IRR.
- Language proficiency: Having an Italian or English language certificate, minimum B1 level is recommended.
Note 1: Familiarity with Italian or English at B1 or B2 level is considered an important advantage and facilitates the residency obtaining process.
Note 2: If the applicant’s language level is intermediate, we help the applicant to improve their language skills and achieve the desired score.
Note 3: This program is not feasible for those who do not know any language and do not have the aptitude for learning a language.
Note 4: Before taking any action, we assess the applicant’s language level and other conditions, and if they meet the requirements, we proceed with their case.
Note 5: For applicants who do not meet these conditions, such as low GPA – or older age, it is still possible to apply, but obtaining the invitation letter and visa will be more difficult.
Note 6: Having university degrees is a very important advantage but is not a mandatory requirement.
Benefits of Italian scientific residence
An academic-study residence is one of the smart, low-risk, and legal pathways to enter Italy and build a bright future in Europe. This method allows educated, young, and skilled individuals to first enter Italy with a study visa and then convert their residence permit to a work or self-employment type. In the following, we will examine the most important advantages of this immigration pathway:
- Easier entry compared to work residence: To obtain a study visa, there is no need to have a job offer or a sponsor from Italy. Admission to academic or specialized courses is usually easier and faster than finding an employer for a work visa.
- Using a completely legal and step-by-step pathway: It is carried out according to the official immigration laws of Italy and the European Union, and all stages are followed up through the embassy, university, and immigration office and are official.
- The ability to convert a study residence permit to a work or self-employment residence permit: It is possible to convert the residence permit without needing to leave the country. After 5 years of legal residence and paying taxes, you can apply for permanent residence (Carta di soggiorno). After 10 years, you can also apply for Italian citizenship.
- Access to the European job market: By participating in courses and living in Italy, the opportunity to connect with European professors, companies, universities, and employers is provided.
- The right to use public and social services: After obtaining a residence card, you can have access to the following services: the public healthcare system (by registering with the SSN) - insurance and pension services (subject to INPS payments) - free education at universities.
- The possibility of family reunification: After a while, you can apply for a family visa or residence permit (ricongiungimento familiare). Your spouse and children under 18 will be able to join you.
- Relatively lower cost of living compared to other Western European countries: The cost of living in medium-sized Italian cities such as Bologna, Turin, or Bari is lower than in cities like Paris, Amsterdam, or Berlin.
- Opportunity for professional growth in a diverse cultural environment: Italy is a country with a diverse economy, a tourism and art market, the fashion, food, and design industries. For entrepreneurs, there are many opportunities for international collaboration.
The process of action and obtaining Italian scientific residency
Check your conditions for this type of residence
Prepare documents for invitation
Registration in a specialist period in Italy
Visa Application from the Italian Embassy
Entering Italy and applying for a residence card
Fingerprinting
Conversion of residency
Documents necessary for Italian scientific residence
- Copy of the passport’s first page.
- Preparation of a CV for Bachelor’s or Master’s degree holders.
- Completion of the visa information form.
- One 3×4 color personal photo.
- Scan of the original educational documents and transcripts for all levels after middle school.
- Translation of the original high school diploma and its transcript – pre-university certificate and its transcript.
- Translation of all university documents and transcripts for each level (Associate Degree, Bachelor’s, Master’s).
- Holders of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree must obtain 2 academic recommendation letters from university professors.
- If employed, a work certificate from the place of employment.
- Passport with a minimum validity of 2 years for the applicant.
- Copy of the passport and copies of previous Schengen visas.
- Original and Italian translation of the applicant’s birth certificate.
- Visa application form and 2 color photos.
- Proof of financial means and 6-month bank statement with a balance equivalent to 9,000 euros.
- Invitation letter from the educational institution.
- English language certificate (IELTS 6 Academic or TOEFL 90) or Italian B2.
- Italian translation of all high school and university documents.
- Original and copy of passport and copy of residence visa.
- The special residence permit form. A package known as (Kit Giallo).
- Rental agreement for the residence in Italy.
- Documents related to one-year insurance.
- Copy of the invitation letter from the educational institution.
Application fees for Italian scientific residency
- PAREX service fee for obtaining the applicant’s residence.
- Travel expenses to Italy (including flight, hotel, transfer to the destination city).
- Costs related to buying or renting a home including: deposit, monthly rent, agency commission.
- Government payments such as insurance, revenue stamp = about 500 euros per person.
- Cost of document translation and legalization at the Italian embassy = about 300 to 700 euros.
- Italian embassy revenue stamp fee for the visa = 116 euros per person.
- To register a company with the Chamber of Commerce, you must have 10,000 euros in your company’s account.
Family reunification for parents of the main applicant
For parents over 65 years old: It is possible to obtain accompanying residence for parents over 65 in 2 cases. If the parents do not have another child in your country to take care of them, or if the son or daughter who is with the parents in your country themselves have a severe and serious illness.
For parents under 65 years old: If the parents are dependent on you to pay for their living expenses and do not have another child in their own country.
Renewal of the Italian scientific residence permit
- Conversion to work residence (Subordinato): Requires a work contract with an Italian employer.
- Conversion to self-employment residence (Partita IVA): You must either register a company, purchase an active business, or obtain an Italian business license (Partita IVA) that matches your expertise. In this last case, i.e., PARTITA IVA, one of the required documents is showing a bank balance in Italy of at least 28,000 euros, which amount needs to be in your account for at least one day.
Permanent Residence and Citizenship with Italian Academic Residence
After 5 years of temporary residence in Italy, you can obtain permanent residence in this country. Conditions for obtaining permanent residence include: having an A2 Italian language certificate, residing in Italy, maintaining annual income sources according to the necessary standards to cover living costs in Italy.
The validity of the Italian passport ranks second in the world, even higher than the UK, Canada, and the USA. Usually, after 10 years of living and residing in Italy, you can apply for it. Conditions for obtaining Italian passport and citizenship include: having a B1 Italian language certificate, residing in Italy, no criminal record in Italy and Iran, and maintaining annual income sources according to the necessary standards to cover living costs in Italy.
Residence of the spouse and children of the applicant receiving the Academic Residence of Italy
What conditions must the main applicant meet to receive family member residency?
- The applicant’s own residence permit in Italy must have been issued.
- Having sufficient income according to the Italian standard of living that covers the total cost of the family.
- Have suitable accommodation in Italy: providing a rental agreement or deed of ownership, the house must meet health standards and have enough space for all family members.
Ways to Get Residence for Family Members
First method: After the main applicant receives their residence permit, their family travels to Italy with a tourist visa and obtains their family reunification residence permit in Italy. In this method, practically one year after the main applicant, the conditions and necessary documents for family reunification are prepared.
Second method: After the main applicant receives their residence permit, a Nulla Osta request for the family is applied for in Italy, and the family travels to Italy from the Italian embassy with a national family reunification visa and receives their residence permit.
Important note: Currently, the second method is not recommended, because according to the new laws, the applicant can obtain a Nulla Osta for their family after having 2 years of declared income.
Time process of receiving Italian scientific residency
In general, the timeline for obtaining Italian self-employment residence varies depending on the status of the documents, the destination city, and the response time of the relevant offices. The entire process, from start to receiving the residence permit, includes 2 main stages:
- Process inside your country: from start to receiving the residence visa while the applicant is in Iran, taking 3 to 8 months.
- Process inside Italy: from the applicant’s entry into Italy to receiving the residence permit.
The approximate time for each stage is as follows:
| Row | Different Stages | Description | Approximate Time |
| 1 | Preparation of applicant’s documents | Official translation of applicant’s documents and power of attorney with legalization from the Italian embassy | 1 to 2 months |
| 2 | Applying for academic admission from an educational center. | Detailed review of documents by the Italian government for issuing the permit | 2 to 5 months |
| 3 | Obtaining a visa from the Italian embassy | Requesting an embassy appointment and submitting the visa application | 1 to 2 months |
| 4 | Travel to Italy and receiving the first residence permit | Applying for the residence permit and fingerprint registration at the Questura | 2 to 4 months |