Welcome services for iternational users FAQs

Lecturers for teaching activities

• Are lecturers from abroad invited to the Scuola Normale for teaching purposes required to apply for a visa?

Yes. The visa to apply for is for “self-employment” (“lavoro autonomo”) and the procedure is set in motion by the Director of the Scuola Normale or by a delegate; the application for authorisation (“nulla osta”), including the required documentation, is sent via the appropriate electronic form to the territorially competent Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (hereinafter SUI) (Consolidated Immigration Office)

• Who prepares the documentation for the visa application?

The documentation to be sent to the SUI for the application for authorisation (“nulla osta”) is almost all prepared by the Scuola Normale, except for the attestation of the lecturer's lodging status during his or her stay in Italy, which must be provided by the lecturer, as specified in the recruitment call or in the  communication as to the start of the collaboration with the Scuola Normale.

• Which authority issues the authorisation (nulla osta) and the entry visa for teaching assignments (self-employment/lavoro autonomo)?

After consultation with the Direzione Provinciale Territoriale del Lavoro (The Territorial Employment Office), the Immigration Office of the Questura (the Police Headquarters) notifies the Scuola Normale that the authorisation (nulla osta) has been issued for the lecturer who has been given a teaching assignment.

The lecturer must apply to the Italian diplomatic or consular representative's office for the entry visa within 180 days of notification that the authorisation (nulla osta) has been issued.

Scholars (lecturers or Researcherers) for scientific research

• In which cases must a scientific research visa be applied for?

A scientific research visa must always be applied for in the case of scientific research activities in Italy on the part of a non-Italian lecturer/researcher, whether the duration of the stay is greater than 90 days or shorter (short term research visa).

• What is the procedure for obtaining a visa if the visit of the non-Italian lecturer/researcher is longer than 90 days?

In addition to the stipulation of the employment contract with the Scuola Normale, the procedure involves the stipulation of a “convenzione di accoglienza” (“reception agreement”) on the basis of which the Scuola Normale undertakes to issue sufficient monthly resources so as not to weigh on the welfare system, to provide health cover for the lecturer/researcher and any of his or her family members that join him or her, and to pay the expenses for the return journey to the country of  provenance.

The transmission of the convenzione di accoglienza (reception agreement), together with the rest of the documentation requested by the SUI of the Prefecture of reference (Pisa or Florence), on the part of the employer (the Director of the Scuola Normale or his or her delegate), will enable the issuing of the authorisation (nulla osta) necessary for the issuing of the visa for “scientific research” at the Italian diplomatic representative's office in the country of residence of the lecturer/researcher.

• What is the procedure for obtaining a visa if the visit of the non-Italian lecturer/researcher is less than 90 days?

Also for an application for a short term research visa, a “convenzione di accoglienza” (reception agreement) must be stipulated, although there is no need to obtain the authorisation (nulla osta) for carrying out scientific research from the SUI.

In this case, the lecturer/researcher may submit to the Italian diplomatic representative's office of reference the documentation sent by the Scuola Normale and request the Italian entry visa.

• When does the procedure for the visa application need to be set in motion?

In both cases,at least three months prior to the date of the start of the collaboration.

Lecturers on sabbatical

• Can a non-EU lecturer be invited to spend a year of sabbatical leave at the Scuola Normale in order to collaborate in a research project?

Yes, a non-EU lecturer may collaborate in an ongoing research project at the Scuola Normale during his or her period of leave (sabbatical year) provided he or she continues to be remunerated by the university of appurtenance. In this case, the procedure for periods longer than 90 days applies, with the application for authorisation (nulla osta) and scientific research visa.

• Which procedure within the Scuola Normale is applied for the reception of a non-EU lecturer on sabbatical?

The Faculty Council of reference must approve the application of the lecturer and assign him or her a workstation to use during the stay at the Scuola Normale. 

The Faculty Council must also look into the possibility of providing the lecturer with lodgings (for all or part of the stay) at the guest house reserved for the Faculty.

The Faculty Council must check that the stay is for a specific research project and the availability within the confines of the said project of sufficient funds to cover the expenses for health cover plus the travelling expenses for the return journey to the lecturer's country of residence and those of any family members; pursuant to the relevant regulations, such expenses are to be borne by the Scuola Normale. 

Should the research project not have such funds available or utilisable, the Faculty Council must ask the Director of the Scuola Normale to authorise the use of other SNS funds.

Visiting fellows

• Who is classed as a visiting fellow??

Visiting fellows are lecturers or researchers who on their own initiative put forward a request with the aim of carrying out an academic stay for which the costs are borne by the applicants themselves.

• What is needed for the application to be accepted?

For the application to be accepted, a suitable scientific supervisor must be found from among the lecturers and researchers of the Scuola Normale to  supervise the activities to be carried out, including the possible need of the visiting fellow to access specific laboratories. The supervisor must confirm his or her availability to cover the role for the entire duration of the visiting fellow's stay at the Scuola Normale.

• Which office carries out the immigration procedure for this category of scholar? 

I Visiting fellows sono tenuti a provvedere direttamente alle formalità per il loro regolare ingresso in Italia.

• What is the maximum duration of their stay in Italy?

The maximum duration of the stay of a visiting fellow at the Scuola Normale is 90 days for non-EU citizens, whereas EU citizens may extend their stay for up to 12 months.

International students

• How can international students obtain a visa for studying? 

Non-Italian students who win study places at the Scuola Normale and non-Italian students in temporary mobility at the Scuola Normale may request a study visa via the UniversItaly platform, made available for the purpose by the Ministry of Universities and Research.

• What is the procedure?

The visa applicant inserts on the platform a request for pre-enrolment, which is communicated to the SIN (the Internationalisation Service) of the Scuola Normale, which notifies the relevant structure requesting the examination of the request, together with the documentation enclosed, for subsequent validation. The validation of the request ensures the issuing of the visa, notification of which is sent to the diplomatic or consular representative's office of reference. 

• Who is classed as a visiting student?

A visiting student (Free mover) is defined as a non-Italian student who on his or her own initiative puts forward an application for a study/research stay at the Scuola Normale.

• What is needed for the application to be accepted?

For the application to be accepted, the approval of a scientific tutor is required who is available to monitor the study/research activities of the applicant during his or her stay at the Scuola Normale. 

• Can a visiting student claim expenses incurred relating to his or her stay at the Scuola Normale?

In these cases of spontaneous applications not connected to agreements, mobility programmes or grant conferrals, the Scuola Normale does not grant reimbursements except for the costs of an Italian language course, provided at the expense of the Scuola Normale if the period of the student's stay is  compatible.

Students are allowed the use of the canteen free of charge, although the expenses relating to their stay are borne by the applicants themselves. The only exception to this rule concerns expenses for any participation of these students in educational visits (see Art. 27 – paragraph 2 of the Teaching Regulations [Regolamento Didattico]).

Residence permit

• When is it necessary to apply for an Italian residence permit?

Non-EU citizens need to apply for a residence permit when their stay in Italy exceeds 90 days. 

EU citizens whose stay has exceeded three months need only register at the registry office of their municipality of residence.

• What are the requirements for those intending to stay in Italy for a period of less than 90 days?

Students, researchers or lecturers from abroad hosted at the Scuola Normale for a period of less than 90 days can prove the legality of their presence in Italy with the Schengen stamp placed in their passport at the time of their  arrival, which attests to the date of their entry into Italy, or, in the absence of the stamp, by declaring their presence in Italy at the Questura (the Police Headquarters) of reference (Pisa or Florence). 

• What is the procedure for obtaining a residence permit?

The procedure involves transmitting to the Immigration Office of the Questura (the Police Headquarters) a paper form (available at the post office) duly filled in and including the documents required for justifying the applicant's presence in Italy and for proving the availability of sufficient funds for the duration of the stay, together with the receipt of payment of the issuing tax (tassa di rilascio) for the electronic residence permit and either the receipt of payment of the voluntary contribution to the National Health Service or else a copy of the insurance policy taken out in order to ensure health cover in Italy. 

• What happens after the expiry of the residence permit?

If an application for renewal of the residence permit has NOT been submitted  in the period from 30 days before to 60 days after the expiry date, the subject's presence in Italian territory is considered illegal. 

• In which cases can reimbursement be claimed for the expenses relating to the application for issuing/renewal of the residence permit?

Expenses incurred for the issuing/renewal of the residence permit are reimbursed by the Scuola Normale to non-EU students (resolution of the Board of Directors of 14th March 2007).

Health cover in Italy

• How can a non-Italian citizen obtain health cover in Italy?

Health cover in Italy can be obtained with the acquisition of a health insurance policy valid in Italy and with sufficient cover guarantee, or by enrolling in the National Health Service.

• How can a non-Italian citizen enrol in the National Health Service?

There are two categories of enrolment: obligatory and voluntary enrolment.

Non-Italian lecturers and researchers with dependent or autonomous work contracts with a duration of more than 90 days, and  their families, are in the category of obligatory enrolment; however, research grant holders may be enrolled solely in the voluntary category, as may EU students or lecturers/researchers present at the Scuola Normale without the stipulation of a collaboration contract with them.

• Why must research grant holders be enrolled in the voluntary category?

Research grant holders must enrol in the voluntary category of the National Health Service because their work contract does not provide for the payment of the IRPEF and/or IRAP additional regional taxes that entitle the subject to   free obligatory enrolment (see "Linee guida sull'assistenza sanitaria a stranieri" (“Guidelines on health assistance for non-Italian citizens”), approved with Resolution No. 1.139 of 9th December 2014 of the Regional Government of Tuscany [Giunta Regionale Toscana]).

• Can research grant holders apply for reimbursement of the expenses for  their health cover in Italy?

If they are non-EU citizens, research grant holders have the right to reimbursement or direct payment of this expense depending on the specifications of the reception agreement (convenzione di accoglienza) stipulated by the Scuola Normale in their favour to permit their entry into Italy.

If they are EU citizens without health cover in their country of provenance (and hence unable to move to Italy), research grant holders must arrange and pay for their cover themselves.

• Can EU students apply for reimbursement of the annual enrolment fee paid to the National Health Service?

EU students without health cover in their country of provenance  have the right to reimbursement of the expenses incurred for the voluntary enrolment in the National Health Service, pursuant to the resolution of the Board of Directors of 10th February 2015.

• Can you register to the National Health Service with an on-line procedure?

During the pandemic, the information desks of the USL Nord Ovest Toscana (the North West Tuscany Local Health Unit) provided the Internationalisation Service of the Scuola Normale with the possibility to enrol its non-Italian students and researchers with an on-line procedure, which is still available. 

Alternatively, you can go to the local District Health Office (Distretto Sanitario) and seek the assistance of the desk clerk.

Italian tax code (CF)

• How can a non-Italian citizen obtain an Italian tax code?

 A tax code may be issued at the request of the interested party at the Embassies that issue the Italian entry visa. 

For holders of visas for scientific research, the tax code is issued by the  Prefecture concomitantly with the issuing of form 209, required for the application for a residence permit.

Alternatively, the tax code can be requested officially through the Servizio Stipendi (the Salaries Office) of the Scuola Normale, on the basis of an agreement stipulated with the Agenzia delle Entrate (AdE) (the Inland Revenue Service), or else by the interested parties themselves at the AdE offices.

Cost cover and reimboursement of expenses

• What types of expense can be reimbursed to non-Italian citizens engaged in study/research activities at the Scuola Normale?

Reimbursement can be obtained for the following types of expense:

- travelling expenses for the journey from and return to their country of provenance for non-Italian students who are winners of study places;

- the cost of issue/renewal of the residence permit for non-Italian students who are winners of study places;

- the cost of enrolment in the National Health Service for EU students who are winners of study places ;

- travelling expenses for the return journey to their country of provenance for researchers with a  visa for scientific research;

- the cost of enrolment in the National Health Service for researchers with a             visa for scientific research and for any family members joining them.

Accommodation in Scuola Normale residences

• What type of non-Italian students can use the lodging facilities in the residences of the Scuola Normale?

Non-Italian students arriving at the Scuola Normale on the basis of mobility agreements stipulating the reciprocal offer of hospitality have the right to free board in the accommodation facilities of the Scuola Normale.

• What about the other types of  non-Italian students?

The other types of  non-Italian students can ask about the availability of lodgings with direct payment at the SPO (Servizio Patrimonio e Ospitalità) (Heritage and Hospitality Service) for the Pisa site and the SGF (Servizio Eventi e Gestione del Polo) ( Events and Management Service of the Polo) for the Florence site.

• Can non-Italian lecturers and researchers also take up lodgings at the Scuola Normale?

Non-Italian lecturers and researchers for whom the Scuola Normale has applied for an Italian entry visa or who are in mobility in accordance with prevailing agreements between the Scuola Normale and Non-Italian institutions can apply for paid board at the guest house (Collegio Puteano) depending on availability and provided the possibility has been specified in the recruitment calls, mobility agreements or letters of invitation.

For lecturers and researchers on exchange visits in accordance with agreements between the Scuola Normale and non-Italian institutions, the Director can, at the proposal of the Faculty Council of appurtenance, authorise the use of paid board at the guest house, to be allotted according to availability.

The  Faculty Councils can also authorise the use of the room reserved at each  academic structure for hosting international lecturers present at the Scuola Normale for a research collaboration during their sabbatical year.

• And what about visiting fellows?

Lecturers/researchers who have on their own initiative requested a study/research stay at the Scuola Normale are not permitted to use the lodgings of the Scuola Normale residences.

Italian language courses

• Which category of students can enrol free of charge in the Italian language courses offered by the Scuola Normale at the Centro Linguistico Interdipartimentale (the Interdepartmental Linguistic Centre) of the University of Pisa (CLI)?

The international students of the Scuola Normale and non-Italian students in temporary mobility whose period of stay is compatible with the course timetable can enrol at the CLI to learn Italian and improve their competence in the language.

The cost of enrolment is borne by the Scuola Normale, providing funding for more than one course of progressive levels per academic year for students who have inserted the study of the Italian language in their study plan.

• Can the other categories of international users enrol in the Italian language courses at the CLI?

Other international users can also enrol, but must pay the costs established by the CLI for users of the Scuola Normale.

• What about certification of attendance of the Italian language courses?

Through the SIN or SGF, the Scuola Normale obtains the results of the final examinations of the courses attended by its students for the subsequent  certification in the internal study plan or the attestation of the activities carried out by the non-Italian students in mobility.

Attendance of the Italian language courses is also recognised for the purposes of the fulfilment of the obligations specified in the stipulation of the Accordo di Integrazione (D.P.R. No. 179 of 14th September 2011) that non-Italian researchers are obliged to sign for the issuing of their Italian residence permit.