From January 10, 2025, applicants for Italy’s long-term Type D visas will need to schedule individual fingerprinting appointments at Italian consulates. This policy aims to enhance security measures but introduces additional challenges for students planning to study in Italy.
Understanding the Type D Visa
A Type D visa is mandatory for individuals planning to stay in Italy for more than 90 days. It caters to international students enrolling in undergraduate, postgraduate, or research programs.
Indian students applying after January 10, 2025, will no longer be able to submit applications in groups or through batch processing. Instead, they must visit consulates individually for fingerprinting—a significant departure from previous procedures.
Impact on Indian Students
Italy has become a popular destination for Indian students, with a steady increase in study visa holders in recent years.
- 2019: 4,791 Indian students
- 2023: 5,196 Indian students
- 2024: 6,017 Indian students
The new fingerprinting mandate will add to the logistical and financial challenges, especially for students residing far from consulates. Travel expenses and time constraints are likely to make the process more arduous.
While Italy continues to offer a 12-month stay-back period for Indian students to gain professional experience after graduation, the added complexity of visa requirements might deter prospective applicants.
Stakeholder Concerns
The updated policy has raised concerns among stakeholders and education advocacy groups.
Melissa Torres, CEO of the Forum on Education Abroad, highlighted the potential impact on students, emphasizing the additional travel expenses and possible delays caused by longer consulate wait times.
Key Issues Raised by Stakeholders:
- Higher Costs: Individual appointments increase travel and lodging expenses for applicants.
- Administrative Overload: Consulates may face delays due to the elimination of batch processing.
- Competitiveness: The stricter requirements could push students to choose other destinations with simpler visa processes.
Global education organizations, including NAFSA and the Forum on Education Abroad, have called on Italy to explore more accessible options, such as fingerprinting at local police stations or honorary consulates, to mitigate the challenges.
The Bigger Picture
These changes come amid broader shifts in European travel and visa regulations. By mid-2025, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be introduced. This system will require nationals from 60 countries, including India, to obtain travel authorization before visiting visa-free European nations.
The combination of fingerprinting requirements and ETIAS is likely to reshape the study-abroad landscape for students choosing Italy and other EU countries.
As students and stakeholders adapt to these updates, Italian authorities are being urged to allocate more resources to streamline visa processes and maintain Italy’s appeal as a top destination for international education.
Source: INDIA TODAY
