Health Insurance for EU citizens
Health care assistance is available to all European citizens (belonging to EU Member States and EEA States) who have the EHIC/TEAM card (European Health Insurance Card) or who enroll in the Italian National Health Service.
If you have the EHIC/TEAM card, you can go directly to any family doctor, during outpatient time, and have the right to any services needed, on a case by case basis (therefore, you cannot choose your own doctor).
For a list of doctors and outpatient schedules, it is possible to visit the page Ricerca medici ("Search for doctors").
Students must bring their health card and a photocopy of the card (by doing so, the doctor will not need to request payment for the visit).
Those who want to sign up to the Italian National Health service will have to ask the health insurance scheme of their country to issue the certificate E106 or E109 or S1 and present it at the counter of the Health District on Via Garibaldi 198.
If you have the requested forms and the tax code (issued at the "Agenzia delle Entrate"), the registration is free and you have the right to choose your own family doctor and take advantage of basic services.
EU member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary.
EEA States (non UE members): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.
Information provided by:
International Relations Office
International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 - 56126 Pisa
Chat with our international students and staff
https://unibuddy.unipi.it/EN/
Fairs and Institutional Visits
The university system internationalisation is one of the goals the University of Pisa aims to achieve fostering some activities such as signing agreements with EU and non-EU universities, providing education in English, awarding joint/double degrees and enhancing services for international students.
Unipi encourages the internationalisation process, inter alia, through institutional visits to partner universities and to other universities which can develop new partnerships, as well as the participation in international fairs arranged by the several agencies/recruitment companies to promote the universities' educational activity for students interested in studying abroad.
Since March 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic has, however, considerably determined a significant change also in this field imposing restrictions and difficulties in travelling on the one hand, and spreading the use of ever smarter and more accessible digital technologies on the other. International fairs have, indeed, become major online events; exhibitors' stands have given way to virtual spaces that visitors can visit at any time and on any device; meetings between exhibitors and visitors have taken the form of online appointments.
In 2023 Unipi attended / will attend the following fairs among others:
- Greece, QS Master’s Event - Athens, 28 February 2023 and Thessaloniki, 1 March 2023
- Greece, Information Day on Studies in Italy - Italian Cultural Institute - Athens, 2 March 2023
- Ghana, Kenya, Camerun, Study in Europe Virtual Fair Africa, from 1 to 3 March 2023
- Thailandia, APAIE Asia-Pacific Association for International Education - Bangkok, from 13 to 17 March 2023
- Kazakhstan, International Education Fair 2023, Atyrau, 15 March 2023 and Aktau, 16 March 2023
- Turkey, International Education Fairs, Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, from 16 to 23 March 2023
- Albania, Studiare in Italia 2023 - Tirana, 24 and 25 March 2023
- USA, Nafsa 2023 - Washington, from 30 May to 2 June 2023
- The Netherlands, EAIE 2023 - Rotterdam, from 26 to 29 September 2023
- China, CSC Fair, October 2023
From September 2022 we are been slowly coming back to the face-to-face fairs.
Self-Employment Visa for Visiting Fellow
The self-employment visa (visto per lavoro autonomo) allows a non-UE self-employed visiting fellow to enter and stay in Italy for a paid academic activity from the hosting University.
At the University of Pisa, for the first step, a non-EU visiting fellow has to apply to the Visiting Fellow Programme and contact the International Coordinator of the Department he/she chooses.
Regarding the visa procedure, the steps are the following:
- The Department of the University of Pisa will contact the local Governmental Office called Ufficio Territoriale del Lavoro (Labour Territorial Service) in order to present the contract between the hosting Department and the visiting fellow and to request the Certificate stating that the visiting fellow will not be employed as a subordinate worker.
- The Certificate released by the Labour Office is forwarded to the visiting Fellow (the Department will hold a copy of the Certificate).
- The Visiting Fellow (or his/her Proxy), enclosing the Certificate released by the Labor territorial office, applies for the authorization (nulla osta) issued by the competent Italian Questura (Police Headquarters) stating that the visiting fellow is allowed to enter to Italy. The proxy may be an Italian colleague or hosting Department staff. For information on how to carry out the proxy, we suggest you to contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your Country. In addition, the visiting fellow has to show that he/she has already booked an accommodation here in Pisa.
- After getting the authorization (nulla osta) from the Questura, the proxy will forward it to the visiting fellow who can finally apply for the specific Italian visa at the Italian Embassy/Consulate in his/her Country of residence, enclosing the Questura nulla osta. The specific self-employed Italian visa to apply for is called: "VISTO PER LAVORO AUTONOMO ai sensi dell’art. 27, comma 1, lett. c”.
- In case the Embassy releases a long stay visa, type D, at his/her arrival in Pisa, the visiting fellow will have to apply for the Italian residency permit within the first 8 days from his/her arrival.
Please bear in mind that, in order to have the visa, the visiting fellow (at the very least) will be required to demonstrate:
- That he/she has already booked an accommodation here in Pisa (minimum one month booking is necessary).
- A contract showing a yearly income higher than the minimum level provided by the Italian law for exemption from participation in medical and health public assistance (8.500 Euro).
For further info about the visa, please visit http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en.
The Italian Embassy will give you all further information and useful suggestions. The list of Italian Embassies/Consulates is available at this page.
Information provided by:
International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 56126 Pisa
Visa for accompanying family members
Visas for accompanying family members (“familiari al seguito”) allow a non-EU citizen to enter Italy accompanied by his/her family members.
Even those who hold a study visa, in the cases and conditions foreseen by law, can apply for visas for accompanying family members.
However, before applying for visas for accompanying family members, it is necessary to apply for the authorization called “Nulla Osta” to SUI, Sportello Unico Immigrazione (the Single Immigration Desk) of the Prefecture of the City where you are going to stay.
The request for the authorization for the accompanying family member has to be done electronically (after the non-EU citizen has registered himself/herself and obtained an electronic ID called SPID identity) on the website of the Ministry of the Interior by the non-EU citizen himself. The procedure is in Italian language.
Alternatively, if the applicant is abroad, he/she can make use of a proxy and apply for the authorization through the Patronati offices (workers unions’ offices). The proxy may be an Italian or foreign colleague, already in Pisa, with a regular and valid residency permit. For information on how to carry out the proxy, we suggest you to contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your Country or one of the Patronati offices in Italy suggested below.
Please note that it is not easy to obtain the authorization for an accompanying family member, so it is highly suggested to contact the Embassy or Italian Consulate in your Country of residence well in advance. The Italian Embassy will give you all further information and useful suggestions. The list of Italian Embassies/Consulates is available at this page.
Please bear in mind that the following documents/proofs (at the very least) will be required in order to obtain the authorization for an accompanying family member:
- Annual minimal income: has to derive from legal sources and has to be no lower than the annual amount of Italian social allowance (in 2022 equal to euro 6.079,45 per annum), plus half of the amount of the social allowance per family member. If the income is earned abroad, the income statement must be translated and legalized by the competent Italian consular diplomatic representation;
- Accommodation (in Italy) has to be consistent with house building standards. In order to prove this, a certificate from either the Italian Local Authority Office (Ufficio comunale) or a certificate of sanitary and hygienic suitability from the Asl (the Italian Health District in the town where you will be staying) needs to be released.
Documentation required for accommodation:- Copy of lease agreement, loan for free use or title deed of the accommodation;
- Suitability of accommodation, namely the certificate released by the Local Authority Office, attesting that your place of stay abides by the minimal standards according to the regional law concerning public/private housing.
- Certificate from the Registry Office (in your home Country) stating your family relationship. The certificate has to be translated, legalised and validated by the Italian Consular Authority of the applicant's home country/country of origin.
As for the accommodation, if you are abroad, we suggest you to book for at least one month a residence or hotel structure in Pisa.
Suggested accommodation:
Residence Le Benedettine (Foresteria dell’Università di Pisa)
Residence Tulipan
Further suggestions at this link.
Patronati offices (workers unions’ offices) suggested in Pisa:
Patronato ACLI, Via Francesco da Buti 20, tel. 050.913108, e-mail: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
Patronato INCA, Viale Bonaini 71, tel. 050.515217, e-mail: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
After examining the application for authorization of accompany family members, if successful, the delegate will be summoned by the Sportello Unico Immigrazione (Single Immigration Desk) to collect the Nulla Osta (authorization), which he/she will then forward to the non Eu citizen still abroad. At the same time, the Single Immigration Desk will forward the Nulla osta authorization to the Italian Embassy/Consulate in the Country where the non-Eu citizen reside so that he/she can finally apply for the accompanying family member visa.
Please bear in mind that only after having received the nulla osta (authorisation), it is possible to apply for an accompanying family member visa.
After obtaining the visa, once having arrived in Italy, non-EU citizens must apply for the residency permit within the first 8 days after their arrival.
Information provided by:
International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 56126 Pisa
Welcome Office
The Welcome Office is available to assist all international students coming to the University of Pisa to visit, study or carry out research.
Services offered:
Information about:
- Assistance with visas for studying, scientific research, family reasons
- Info for the search of accommodation
- Orientation about the services available at the University of Pisa
- Residency permit, health insurance coverage, Italian tax code, other practical matters
Languages spoken:
Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Hebrew.
Drop-in opening hours:
Information can be required sending an e-mail to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
From September 3rd 2024 to February 27th 2025 the office will be open at the "Palazzo Modica" in Piazza Torricelli 4 on Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 12pm
Information provided by:
International Relations Office
International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 - 56126 Pisa
Integration project
For several years now, the International Office has been actively involved in an Integration Project that consists of various initiatives aimed at publicising the University’s image as a welcoming and friendly institution for International and European students who choose to begin or complete their studies in Pisa. Some of the most significant initiatives include orientation and welcome meetings, cultural meetings and international parties.
Orientation and welcome meetings
These meetings take place in the first few weeks of each semester (usually between September and November and again between January and March) and are designed to welcome new international students to Pisa and to discuss the logistical, administrative and socio-cultural aspects of living abroad in Italy.
Moving away from home and from family and friends, to a new and unfamiliar environment where you are exposed to a different way of life and a foreign language can be challenging for students. In both the academic and social sides of student life, there are various problems or difficulties students may encounter. The Welcome Office believes that an orientation session in order to support the integration of students to their new home is essential to help this transition into their new home.
With this in mind, the meetings have 3 key objectives:
a. Understanding: the staff at the International Office are committed to promoting the cultural awareness between new international students by creating opportunities in which they can interact and get to know each other.
b. Clarification of any concerns: students are provided with detailed information about logistical and administrative aspects related to university life (such as, where to find various buildings, the services available with the Cartapiù, the academic calendar, etc.), as well as those related to daily life (such as, emergency numbers, where to find museums, cinemas and theatres in the city, etc). There is always the opportunity for students to discuss any queries or doubts with staff members, who they are invited to stay in contact with for the duration of their studies in Pisa.
c. Awareness: students are reminded that feelings of loneliness and homesickness are very common amongst younger students who are on their own in a foreign country or even a foreign continent for the first time, where they are forced to speak an unfamiliar language with a risk of not being understood. During this session, the staff of the International Office are joined by the mentors from the Centro di Ascolto (Listening and Counselling service) who participate in these orientation meetings to offer their availability to new students who may need support.
Cultural meetings
Once a month, the International Office invites students of different nationalities to present their country of origin to the International unit. A small group of students will present their land, its culture, its language, its traditions and often share a musical or dance performance. Students also share some typical dishes of their country for everybody to try at the end. The aim of these cultural meetings is to raise cultural awareness amongst the staff in the International unit of the origins of incoming international students. So far, there have been presentations on Vietnam (October 2016), Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (February 2017), Azerbaijan (March 2017), Mongolia (May 2017), Morocco (July 2018), Chile and Peru (February 2019), Egypt (Dicember 2019), Indonesia (October 2022).
International parties
Twice a year, the International Office organises an International Party (in December and May) for international students. The aim of the party is to share traditional food, dances, music and cultural aspects from countries around the world. The most recent International Party hosted guests from 27 different countries such as China, India, South Korea, Mongolia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Peru, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Honduras, Vietnam, and many others.
For this event, students are invited to bring a typical dish of their home country to share the flavours with other people.
As well as sharing food from around the world, some students will also share presentations of the most important aspects of their country, through images, videos and traditional music. This gives students and members of staff the possibility to learn more about the unique features of different countries.
At the end of the party, students have the opportunity to chat and get to know each other, as well as watch students perform traditional dances from their own culture. The most recent party also featured a quiz which dealt with various geographical and cultural general knowledge questions. Students were split into groups by numbering their name tags upon arrival, so everyone had the opportunity to mix with different people.
The international parties are therefore lively and fun events in which students have the chance to meet new people and expand their knowledge of other cultures, whilst encouraging them to challenge any timidity by speaking in front of a large audience, often in a foreign language. Over the course of the evening, participants will have had the opportunity to absorb cultural understandings spanning across all the continents, within just a few hours in the same room.
Unipi meets Indonesia - 20 October 2022 event
Entry and residence rights for EU citizens
All EU citizens have the right to free movement, with entry and residence in Italy, for stays up to 3 months and it is not necessary to fulfill any formalities. However, EU citizens must have an identity document valid for travel abroad (according to the law of their nationality).
Stays longer than 3 months are regulated by the Legislative Decree n. 30 from 06.02.2007 (and related laws) and EU citizens must apply to be registered at the Vital Records office (ufficio Anagrafe) of the municipality of residence in Italy.
The Ufficio Anagrafe of the Town Hall (Comune) of Pisa is located in Via degli Uffizi, 1 (a side street near Corso Italia, parallel to Lungarno Gambacorti).
The information page for foreign citizens (immigration from another country) is: Variazioni di residenza / Servizi / Homepage - Comune di Pisa (available in Italian only).
The documentation required for an EU student (who is not employed) is:
- A copy of a valid ID for travel abroad (or passport), issued by the competent authorities of the country of which he or she is a citizen;
- Documentation confirming that the student is enroled at the University;
- Self-declaration of possession of sufficient resources so not to become a burden on the social assistance system of the Italian state, of at least equal to €468.10 per month, for each month of the duration of the academic year;
- Students who apply for registration in the category of temporary population will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by the country of origin or a ‘EU community form’ called S1 certificate. (Info available in different languages at http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&langId=en page).
Warning: it is suggested that EU citizens, before arriving in Italy (for stays longer than 3 months), ask the insurance fund/health district's own country to issue the S1 certificate. After arriving in Pisa, the S1 certificate must be presented at the counters of the Health District at Via Garibaldi, 198, together with the tax code released by the Agenzia dell’Entrate of Pisa.
With possession of an EHIC card, S1 certificate, and tax code, the registration to the Italian Health Service is free and you are entitled to choose a general practitioner and basic services.
Registration for the Italian Health Service also facilitates the registration to the Vital Records office (Ufficio Anagrafe) at the Town Hall of Pisa, in the manner mentioned above.
Information provided by:
International Relations Office
International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 - 56126 Pisa
Entry visa for family reasons
If you are planning to come and study in Italy for one year or more, and you intend to bring your wife/husband/child, please contact the Italian Embassy - or the Italian Consulate nearest to you in your country - for information about the visa for family reasons.
Please bear in mind that the following documents/proofs (at the very least) will be required in order to obtain the visa for family reasons:
- Annual minimal income: has to derive from legal sources and has to be no lower than the annual amount of Italian social allowance (in 2019 equal to euro 5.954,00 per annum), plus half of the amount of the social allowance (euro 2.915,38) per family' member:
1 relative: euro 8.746,14 annual
2 relatives: euro 11.661,52 annual
3 relatives: euro 14.576,90 annual.
- Accommodation (in Italy) has to be consistent with house building standards.
In order to prove this, a certificate from either the Italian Local Authority Office (Ufficio comunale) or a certificate of sanitary and hygienic suitability from the Asl (the Italian Health District in the town where you will be staying) needs to be released.
Documentation required for accommodation:- Copy of lease agreement, loan for free use or title deed of the accommodation;
- Suitability of accommodation, namely the certificate released by the Local Authority Office, attesting that your place of stay abides by the minimal standards according to the regional law concerning public/private housing.
- Certificate from the Registry Office (in your home Country) stating your family relationship. The certificate is to be translated, legalised and validated by the Italian Consular Authority of the applicant's home country/country of origin.
For more information:
http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en
Information provided by:
International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 56126 Pisa