Study in Italy from Senegal

Application to the university (its own platform, quota of places for non-Europeans), language level check (B2 in Italian for programs taught in Italian, B2 in English for programs taught in English), Universitaly pre-enrollment validated by the institution, then visa. Admission to a laurea: secondary school leaving diploma after at least 12 years of schooling. ITS Academy: direct application, without Universitaly. Language courses: specific visa.^[1][2][3]

Sources for filing^[1][4][5][6]

1. 1

   Choose the program and apply to the university^[1][2][3][7]

   When: October 2026 → spring 2027

   Each university sets a quota of places for non-Europeans living abroad and its own dates (Padua: first window for 2027-2028 closed on November 15, 2026; others until July or late September). Documents: passport, bac obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, transcripts, language certificate; for a Master's, degree and Licence (bachelor's) course syllabi.

2. 2

   Get your language level checked^[1][8]

   When: before the pre-enrollment is validated

   Programs in Italian: at least B2 (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, Roma Tre certificate, or the university's own test). Programs in English: B2 in English. In Dakar, only certificates from bodies recognized by the Italian ministry are accepted; the embassy may call you in to check your language level.

   • Italian or English certificate^[1]amount not found

     Centers and fees in Dakar not verified (October 12, 2026).

3. 3

   Submit the pre-enrollment on Universitaly^[1][2][9]

   When: before the university's deadlineDuration: a few days to a few weeks

   Section “Extra-EU citizen: Pre-enrolment application for a study VISA”; only one program at one institution; validation by the university (which does not guarantee the visa).

4. 4

   Get your diplomas authenticated and apostilled in Senegal^{[6][10][11][12]}

   When: as soon as you are admitted

   For the diploma and the transcript, the embassy requires: the original, its Italian translation, a certificate of authenticity “legalized or bearing the apostille by the competent local authorities” and a legalized certified true copy. The Senegalese apostille is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (accession to the convention in force since March 23, 2023; no objection from Italy). The authority that issues the bac's certificate of authenticity is not named by the embassy; cost and processing time of the apostille not found. Originals less than 3 months old.

   • Apostille (Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)^[10]amount not found

     Cost not found (10/12/2026).

5. 5

   Get the Dichiarazione di valore (declaration of value) at the Italian Embassy^{[1][6][8][13]}

   When: after pre-enrollment is validated, before the visa

   Appointment on Prenot@mi, submission in person (or by a representative with a power of attorney). Fees: 32,800 FCFA per declaration of value (free for an enrolled scholarship holder), 15,750 FCFA per legalized document, 8,550 FCFA per translated page. For the visa, the Dakar embassy requires the declaration of value and does not mention CIMEA certificates (which the national circular accepts instead).

   • Declaration of value^[6]32,800 FCFA
   • Legalization of certified copy (per document)^[6]15,750 FCFA
   • Translation (per page)^[6]8,550 FCFA
6. 6

   Gather resources, insurance and housing^[1][8][14]

   When: before the visa appointment

   Financial guarantee of at least €10,179.85 (€783.06 per month), i.e. 6,677,544 FCFA: personal funds, funds from parents or from legal residents in Italy, or a scholarship; bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months, copy of bank card, socio-professional documents (NINEA, employment contract, invoices, pay slips). Insurance valid in the Schengen area, at least €30,000. Lease or hosting declaration (with family status certificate; residence permit and habitability declaration if the host is a foreign national). Round-trip flight reservation. Cash and bank guarantees refused.

7. 7

   Submit the visa application^[4][5][8]

   When: as soon as validated, no later than October 31, 2027

   At BLS or at the embassy visa office: signed form, ICAO photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm, passport valid at least 3 months after the visa, proof of enrollment fee payment or scholarship, admission, declaration of value, financial guarantee, insurance, flight, housing; originals and A4 photocopies in two sets. Fees: 32,800 FCFA (national study visa, €50), plus 10,496 FCFA at BLS.

   • National study visa fee^[5]32,800 FCFA
   • BLS service fee (if filing at BLS)^[5]10,496 FCFA
8. 8

   Decision and travel^[1][5][8]

   When: summer-fall 2027

   Processing time not published by the Dakar embassy; the embassy may request documents or an interview. 365-day multiple-entry visa; do not buy a final ticket before the decision.

9. 9

   Steps on arrival^{[1][15][16][17]}

   When: September-November 2027

   Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) for “study” within 8 working days (postal kit, €116.46 for one year); appointment at the Questura; codice fiscale (tax code); voluntary registration with the national health service (€700 per calendar year) or private insurance; completing the immatricolazione (enrollment).

   • One-year residence permit^[15]€116.46
   • Voluntary SSN (national health service) registration^[16]€700 / year

• National visa application form^[8]

  required

  Completed and signed.

• Color photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm, white background, ICAO format^[8]

  required

• Passport valid at least 3 months after the visa^[8]

  required

  With photocopies of the first two pages and previous visas.

• Validated Universitaly pre-enrollment and admission^[1][8]

  required

  Plus proof of payment of enrollment fees or award of a scholarship.

• Dichiarazione di valore (declaration of value) from the Italian Embassy in Dakar^[6][8]

  required

  32,800 FCFA; file with the original, translation, apostilled certificate of authenticity and legalized copy of the diploma and transcript.

  Local specifics: Prenot@mi appointment; documents less than 3 months old.

• Apostille of the diploma's certificate of authenticity^[6][10]

  required

  By the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  Local specifics: Cost and processing time not found.

• Translations into Italian^[6]

  required

  Diploma, transcript and certificates; 8,550 FCFA per page at the embassy.

• Financial guarantee ≥ €10,179.85 per year^[8]

  required

  Statements for 3 to 6 months, bank card, NINEA, contract, invoices or pay slips.

  Local specifics: 6,677,544 FCFA at the fixed rate.

• Schengen health insurance ≥ €30,000^[8]

  required

• Lease or hosting declaration^[8]

  required

  With the host's family status certificate; if the host is a foreign national, their residence permit and a habitability declaration.

• Round-trip flight booking^[8]

  required

• Visa fee: 32,800 FCFA (+ 10,496 FCFA at BLS)^[5]

  required

Depending on your profile

• Language certificate (if required)^[1][8]

  Only certificates from bodies recognized by the Italian ministry are accepted.

1. November 15, 2026

   Padua: first application window for 2027-2028 closes^[7]

2. September 30, 2026to be confirmed

   Universitaly pre-enrollment deadline at several universities (open-access programs)^[2]

   same period every year, date set by each university

3. October 31, 2027

   visa application deadline (laurea, laurea magistrale, AFAM)^[1]

What differs from the general rule

• •Declaration of value required by the Dakar embassy for the visa (no mention of CIMEA certificates), issued by the embassy itself: 32,800 FCFA.
• •Senegal has applied the apostille since March 23, 2023 and Italy has not objected: the diploma's certificate of authenticity is apostilled by the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without consular legalization.
• •Two possible counters in Dakar: BLS center (10,496 FCFA service fee) or the embassy visa office.
• •Insurance of at least €30,000 and round-trip flight reservation required by the Dakar embassy.
• •Senegal is on the 2026-2027 list of “particularly poor” countries (DSU scholarships: simplified income assessment), unlike Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon and Congo.

Pitfalls to avoid

study visas issued to Senegalese nationals by Italy

No official figure found: Not found (October 12, 2026).

1. [1]Procedure per l'ingresso, il soggiorno, l'immatricolazione degli studenti internazionali… a.a. 2026/2027 e 2027/2028 (circolare MUR-MAECI-Interno, copie hébergée par l'Université de Ferrare) — Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca / MAECI / Ministero dell'Interno, accessed October 12, 2026
2. [2]Preiscrizione su Universitaly — Università di Pisa, accessed October 12, 2026
3. [3]Manifesto titoli esteri a.a. 2026/2027 — Università di Siena, accessed October 12, 2026
4. [4]Where to Apply — Ambassade d'Italie à Dakar, accessed October 12, 2026
5. [5]How Much Does a Visa Cost and How Do You Pay? — Ambassade d'Italie à Dakar, accessed October 12, 2026
6. [6]Richiesta dichiarazione di valore (janvier 2026) — Ambassade d'Italie à Dakar (site ambdakar.esteri.it), accessed October 12, 2026
7. [7]Università di Padova – page d'accueil (annonce candidatures titre étranger 2027/28) — Università degli Studi di Padova, accessed October 12, 2026
8. [8]Visto per studio – documenti richiesti (août 2026) — Ambassade d'Italie à Dakar, accessed October 12, 2026
9. [9]Foundation Course – Visa — Università di Pisa, accessed October 12, 2026
10. [10]Légalisation de documents du Sénégal — Gouvernement des Pays-Bas (NetherlandsWorldwide), accessed October 12, 2026
11. [11]Statustabelle : Übereinkommen vom 5. Oktober 1961 zur Befreiung ausländischer öffentlicher Urkunden von der Legalisation — Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé (HCCH), accessed October 12, 2026
12. [12]Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents (base des traités, Senegal) — Ministère néerlandais des Affaires étrangères (dépositaire de la Convention Apostille), accessed October 12, 2026
13. [13]Attestati CIMEA — Università degli Studi di Brescia, accessed October 12, 2026
14. [14]Studiare in Italia – Domande frequenti — Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, accessed October 12, 2026
15. [15]Rinnovare il permesso di soggiorno — Università degli Studi di Padova, accessed October 12, 2026
16. [16]Assistenza sanitaria per gli studenti internazionali — Università di Bologna, accessed October 12, 2026
17. [17]Permesso di soggiorno per studenti e dottorandi — Università di Pisa, accessed October 12, 2026
18. [18]Study visa – students enrolling in full Italian university programs — Ambasciata d'Italia a Helsinki, accessed October 12, 2026