Islamabad, Dec 11: The Italian government has announced significant changes to visa requirements for international students and individuals applying for long-term visas (D Visa) for stays exceeding 90 days. From January 10, 2025, applicants will need to schedule and attend individual appointments at Italian consulates, where their fingerprints will be collected.
This policy change, reported by Schengen.News, removes the batch processing option previously used to speed up visa applications, increasing the administrative load on consulates and complicating the process, especially for students.
Concerns About Increased Costs and Delays
Jill Allen Murray, Deputy Executive Director of Public Policy at NAFSA, expressed concern about the added costs and stress that the new policy will place on students, particularly those traveling long distances for consular appointments.
Melissa Torres, CEO of the Forum on Education Abroad, also cautioned that these changes could affect Italy’s appeal as a study destination, especially as the number of U.S. students choosing Italy has increased by 37% in the past year.
The added financial and administrative burdens could discourage students from opting for semester-long programs, and some U.S.-based study abroad providers are considering reducing program lengths in response.
Impact on Students from Iran and Afghanistan
The new visa process may create additional challenges for international students, particularly those from countries like Iran and Afghanistan. Iranian students have already been protesting long visa processing times, with approximately 1,000 still waiting for responses. In a similar situation, over 150 Afghan students are awaiting appointments, some since July, with many needing to travel to Pakistan or Iran for their visa applications. These new measures could lead to greater frustration among international students, potentially discouraging them from choosing Italy and increasing the logistical and financial burdens for both students and study abroad providers.
