Study in Italy – Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Admission → Scholarship → Visa)

Study in Italy – Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Admission → Scholarship → Visa)

STEP 1 — Pre-Enrollment on Universitaly

First you must complete pre-enrollment on the Italian government portal:

👉 Universitaly Portal

What to do

  1. Create an account.

  2. Select:

    • University

    • Program

  3. Upload documents:

    • Passport

    • Bachelor degree

    • Transcript

    • Admission/eligibility letter

    • English certificate (if required)

Result

The university will validate your pre-enrollment and send it to the embassy.

Typical time: 2–3 weeks

STEP 2 — Prepare Scholarship Financial Documents

Prepare documents showing family income and assets.

Required documents in Pakistan

  1. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)

  2. Father/Mother income certificate

  3. Salary slips or income affidavit

  4. Property ownership certificate

  5. Property valuation certificate

  6. Bank statement (6 months)

Issued by:
National Database and Registration Authority

STEP 3 — Translation and Legalization

All financial documents must be legalized for Italy.

Process

1️⃣ Translate documents into Italian

2️⃣ Notarize documents

3️⃣ Attest from
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan

4️⃣ Legalize at
Embassy of Italy in Islamabad

Estimated time: 2–4 weeks

STEP 4 — Apply for Regional Scholarship

Apply online for the Lazio scholarship.

Scholarship authority:
LazioDiSCo

Application website

https://laziodisco.it

Upload:

  • Passport

  • Admission letter

  • Financial documents

  • Translations

  • Legalizations

Deadline usually: July

STEP 5 — Book Student Visa Appointment

Visa applications in Pakistan are handled by

BLS International

Cities:

  • Islamabad

  • Karachi

  • Lahore

Documents required

  • Universitaly pre-enrollment summary

  • Admission letter

  • Passport

  • Accommodation proof

  • Financial proof

  • Insurance

  • Visa form

STEP 6 — Submit Visa Application

At BLS appointment submit:

  • Passport

  • Visa application form

  • Passport photos

  • Admission letter

  • Universitaly summary

  • Financial proof

  • Travel insurance

Visa processing: 3–6 weeks

STEP 7 — Travel to Italy

After visa approval:

Travel to Italy.

STEP 8 — Final Enrollment

At university:

  • Submit original documents

  • Pay small regional tax (~€140–€160)

STEP 9 — Scholarship Verification

After arrival:

Submit documents at the office of
LazioDiSCo

They verify documents and confirm scholarship.

STEP 10 — Receive Scholarship

If selected you receive:

💰 €5,000–€7,000 per year
🏠 Accommodation or housing allowance
🍝 Free university meals

First payment usually December–January.

Typical Timeline for 2026 Intake

Month Process
Feb–Mar Admission letter
Mar–Apr Universitaly pre-enrollment
Apr–Jun Prepare financial documents
Jun–Jul Apply Lazio scholarship
Jul–Aug Visa appointment
Sep Travel to Italy

⚠️ 5 Common Mistakes Pakistani Students Make

  1. Property documents not translated into Italian

  2. Income affidavit missing annual income amount

  3. Documents not legalized by Italian embassy

  4. Incorrect family member declaration

  5. Uploading low-quality scans

 

Below is a complete checklist Pakistani students usually prepare when applying for the LazioDiSCo regional scholarship after admission from the University.

I divided it into 4 groups so it’s easier to prepare.

1️⃣ Personal Documents

These identify the student.

✔ Passport copy
✔ Admission / eligibility letter from the university
✔ Pre-enrollment summary from
Universitaly Portal
✔ Passport-size photo

Usually no translation required for these.

2️⃣ Family Composition Documents

✔ Family Registration Certificate (FRC) issued by
National Database and Registration Authority

Shows:

  • Father

  • Mother

  • Student

  • Dependent siblings

This document must be translated into Italian.

3️⃣ Income Documents (For Year 2024)

If father is salaried:

✔ Salary certificate mentioning annual income for 2024
✔ Salary slips (optional but recommended)
✔ Tax deduction certificate / tax return
✔ Bank balance certificate (balance on 31 Dec 2024)

Only key pages usually need translation.

4️⃣ Property / Asset Documents

If family owns property:

✔ Property ownership document
✔ Property valuation certificate

If family owns no property:

✔ No-property affidavit

Many students combine this with income declaration.

5️⃣ Optional Supporting Documents

Sometimes uploaded but not always required:

✔ Utility bill (to confirm address)
✔ Father’s CNIC copy
✔ Bank statement page showing closing balance

6️⃣ Translation & Legalization Documents

All financial documents must be:

1️⃣ Translated into Italian
2️⃣ Notarized
3️⃣ Attested by
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan
4️⃣ Legalized by the
Embassy of Italy in Islamabad

Typical Final Document Set (Most Students Upload)

  1. Passport

  2. Admission letter

  3. Universitaly pre-enrollment summary

  4. FRC

  5. Salary certificate

  6. Tax certificate

  7. Bank balance certificate

  8. Property document OR no-property affidavit

  9. Italian translations

  10. MOFA attestation

  11. Italian embassy legalization

Usually 10–12 documents total.

Important Tip (Many Students Miss This)

All income and asset data must refer to the 2024 calendar year (Jan–Dec 2024) for the 2026/27 scholarship.

How to Prepare “Document Set”?

For the LazioDiSCo 2026 application, you should keep your documents separate as individual “sets,” but each set must be a single merged PDF containing all its relevant pages.

Here is exactly how to organize your “Final File” for the best results:

1. The “Document Set” Rule

Do not merge your Bank Certificate with your Tax Certificate. The portal (and the CAF office in Italy) will expect you to upload them into specific categories. You should create the following three distinct PDF files:

  • PDF 1: Income Documents

    • Page 1: Original Salary/Tax Certificate (Front).

    • Page 2: Back of Certificate (with MOFA Apostille).

    • Page 3: Italian Translation.

  • PDF 2: Property Documents

    • Page 1: Original “No Property” Affidavit (Front).

    • Page 2: Back of Affidavit (with MOFA Apostille).

    • Page 3: Italian Translation.

  • PDF 3: Family Documents (FRC)

    • Page 1: Original NADRA FRC.

    • Page 2: Back of FRC (with MOFA Apostille).

    • Page 3: Italian Translation.

  • PDF 4: Bank Documents

    • Page 1: Original Bank Maintenance Certificate.

    • Page 2: Back of Certificate (with MOFA Apostille).

    • Page 3: Italian Translation.

2. Why “Front + Back” is Essential

The CAF officer needs to see the Apostille to verify the document’s legal validity. If you only scan the front, they will assume the document is not legalized and will reject your application.

Pro Tip: Always name your files clearly in English and Italian, for example: Income_Certificate_TRADOTTO.pdf. This makes the CAF officer’s job easier, which is always in your favor.

3. Portal Upload vs. CAF Email

There are often two stages for the “Final File”:

  1. LazioDiSCo Portal: You may be asked to upload “provisional” documents or just your passport initially.

  2. CAF Submission: Later, you will either email or upload these PDFs to an official CAF (Tax Assistance Center) in Italy to generate your ISEE Parificato. The CAF is the one that strictly requires the “Front + Back + Translation” merged format for each document.

 

Knowing when to submit to the CAF?

Knowing when to submit to the CAF is the most critical part of the timeline because if you miss this window, your application is disqualified, even if you’ve already started your classes in Italy.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, here is your roadmap:

1. The Key Dates (Mark your calendar)

  • July 22, 2026 (Approx): The deadline to submit your Online Application on the LazioDiSCo portal. At this stage, you don’t need the CAF yet. You just fill in the form using your passport and “declare” your intent to submit documents.

  • September – November 2026: This is your window for CAF Submission. Once you arrive in Italy (usually in September/October), you must send your “Final File” (the PDFs we discussed) to one of the authorized CAF offices.

  • December 10, 2026: This is the hard deadline. Your ISEE Parificato (the certificate the CAF generates) must be finalized and transmitted to LazioDiSCo by this date.

2. How the CAF Process Works

Unlike the online portal, you don’t just “upload” to the CAF. You usually have to follow one of these two paths:

  • Path A (In-Person): You book an appointment with a CAF office in your city (e.g., in Viterbo if you are at Tuscia University). You take your original Apostilled documents and the translations. They scan them and give you the ISEE Parificato certificate.

  • Path B (Email/Portal): Many CAFs affiliated with LazioDiSCo allow international students to send their documents via email or a dedicated portal.

3. How will you know which CAF to use?

Every year, LazioDiSCo publishes an official list of “Convened CAFs” (CAFs that have a contract with them).

  1. Around June/July 2026, download the “Call for Applications” (Bando) from laziodisco.it.

  2. Look for a section or an annex titled “Elenco CAF convenzionati” (List of affiliated CAFs).

  3. Choose a CAF from that list. If you are going to the University of Tuscia, look for a CAF located in Viterbo.

4. What is the “Ticket” system?

If you are confused, LazioDiSCo has a “Ticket” system in your personal area on their website. You can send them a message asking, “Which CAF should I send my Pakistani documents to?” and they will send you the updated link.

Summary Strategy

  • Now – June: Focus on getting salary certificate, No-Property Affidavit, and FRC Apostilled and Translated.

  • July: Submit the online application.

  • September (Arrival in Italy): Immediately contact the CAF to submit your documents. Don’t wait until December!

 

How to book an appointment with a CAF office?

 

Booking an appointment with a CAF (Tax Assistance Center) is a specific step you take after you arrive in Italy or shortly before, as they are the ones who process your Pakistani documents to generate the ISEE Parificato.

For the 2026/2027 cycle, here is how you handle the booking:

1. Wait for the “Convened” List (June 2026)

LazioDiSCo does not work with every CAF. They sign a contract with a specific list of offices each year.

  • Where to find it: In June or July, go to laziodisco.it and look for the “Elenco CAF convenzionati” (List of affiliated CAFs).

  • Viterbo/Tuscia Students: You should specifically look for CAFs located in Viterbo (Province code: VT) for convenience, though any affiliated CAF in the Lazio region can technically help you.

2. How to Book (3 Common Methods)

Once you have the list, you can book using one of these ways:

  • Phone Call (Most Common): The list will provide a phone number. Since you’ll be in Pakistan until late summer, you can call them using an international calling app (like Skype or Rebtel) once the list is out.

    • What to say: “Vorrei un appuntamento per ISEE Parificato per borsa di studio LazioDiSCo.”

  • Online Portals (The “Large” CAFs): Major CAF networks like CGIL, CISL, or UIL have their own websites (e.g., cafcisl.it or cafcgil.it).

    • You select the region (Lazio), the city (Viterbo), and the service (ISEE).

    • Note: Many of these portals now require an Italian phone number or SPID (digital ID), which you will only get after arriving in Italy.

  • Email Submission: In 2025 and 2026, many CAFs started allowing international students to send their “Final File” PDFs via email to avoid long queues. If an email is listed, this is the easiest way.

3. The 2026 Strategy for You

  1. July 2026: Complete the LazioDiSCo online application yourself. You do not need a CAF for this first step.

  2. September 2026: Once you land in Italy and get your Italian SIM card, go to the CAF office in Viterbo in person.

  3. Submission: Hand over your Apostilled originals and the Italian translations. They will give you a “Protocollo” (receipt).

  4. Automatic Sync: The CAF will send your financial score directly to LazioDiSCo’s system. You don’t usually need to upload the final ISEE yourself; it syncs automatically.

⚠️ A Note on the “Visa Appointment”

Don’t confuse the CAF appointment (for the scholarship) with the Visa appointment (for entry).

  • As of February 2026, the “Click Day” for visas in Pakistan has been abolished.

  • You now register on a digital waiting list via the VFS Global or Embassy portal, and they assign you a date automatically.

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