IMAT 2026 applicants, especially non-EU candidates residing abroad, should pay close attention to the latest updates regarding pre-enrolment and the study visa procedure for the academic year 2026/2027.
The official procedures for the entry, residence, enrolment, and recognition of qualifications of international students for higher education courses in Italy have now been published for the academic years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028. These procedures involve the Ministry of University and Research, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, and other relevant Italian authorities.
For international medical applicants, this update is particularly important because pre-enrolment through Universitaly is one of the key steps for students who need a study visa to enter Italy and enrol in an Italian university. This includes many IMAT candidates applying to English-taught Medicine and Surgery courses in Italy.
Pre-Enrolment for A.Y. 2026/2027 Is Now Open on Universitaly
The main update is that the pre-enrolment application for international students for the academic year 2026/2027 is now available through Universitaly.
According to the official procedures, the pre-enrolment application for candidates applying to Italian higher education institutions must be submitted exclusively through Universitaly, which is described as the only free and official access portal of the Italian Ministry of University and Research for this procedure.
This means that international students should avoid unofficial platforms, paid intermediaries, or third-party services claiming to handle the official pre-enrolment process. The correct official channel is Universitaly.
Universitaly also explains that students who want to apply for study programmes in Italy must complete the online “Pre-enrolment” application after creating an account on the portal. Students are required to upload their qualifications and the documents requested for access to the chosen study programme. This is the only procedure available to obtain the university’s Letter of eligibility for enrolment, which is needed for the visa application.
Who Is This Update Mainly For?
This update mainly concerns non-EU students residing outside Italy who need a study visa to enter Italy for university enrolment.
For IMAT candidates, this category usually includes applicants who are not EU citizens and who are applying from outside Italy. These students must complete the university admission process, follow the IMAT-related procedures, and also complete the visa-related pre-enrolment process through Universitaly.
It is important to understand that pre-enrolment is not the same thing as IMAT registration. IMAT registration is related to sitting the admission test, while Universitaly pre-enrolment is related to the student’s immigration and visa pathway. Both procedures may be necessary, depending on the applicant’s citizenship and residence status.
A Major New Rule: Universities Can Validate Only Reserved Seats + 20%
One of the most important changes in the new procedures concerns the number of pre-enrolment applications that universities can validate.
Starting from the academic year 2026/2027, once a foreign student completes the pre-enrolment application, Italian higher education institutions can validate only a limited number of pre-enrolment applications. This number cannot exceed the number of places reserved by each university for international students, increased by 20%.
In simple terms, this means that if a university has a certain number of reserved places for international students, it cannot validate unlimited pre-enrolment applications. It can validate only the reserved places plus an additional 20%.
For example, if a university has 20 reserved seats for non-EU/international students in a specific programme, the maximum number of pre-enrolment applications it may validate would generally be 24, unless exceptional conditions apply.
This is very important for IMAT candidates because Medicine and Surgery courses usually have limited seats. Students should not assume that submitting a pre-enrolment application automatically means it will be validated.
Universitaly Will Alert Universities When the Limit Is Reached
The new procedures also introduce a monitoring system on Universitaly.
Once the maximum number of validations has been reached, a monitoring support tool on the Universitaly portal will send an alert to the institution and suspend the possibility for the university to proceed with further validations of pre-enrolment applications.
This means that students should treat pre-enrolment seriously and should not leave the procedure until the last moment. Even though each university may have its own deadlines, the new validation limit may make timing more important than in previous years.
If a study visa is denied, Universitaly may allow the university to validate another pre-enrolment application, but this is possible only until the number of visas issued by the diplomatic-consular offices equals the number of reserved places for that university.
Only Validated Pre-Enrolment Applications Can Proceed to the Study Visa Stage
Another essential point is that only candidates whose pre-enrolment applications have been validated can proceed with the study visa request.
The official procedures state that only candidates with validated pre-enrolment applications may submit a request for a study/university enrolment visa at the competent Italian diplomatic-consular mission in their country of residence.
This means that submitting the Universitaly application is not enough. The application must be checked and validated by the chosen Italian university before the student can properly move forward with the visa process.
Universitaly also explains that after a positive evaluation, the institution can issue the Letter of eligibility for enrolment, and the university validates the application online with the details required by the competent Embassy or Consulate.
Pre-Enrolment Validation Does Not Guarantee the Visa
One of the most important messages for students is this: a validated pre-enrolment application does not automatically guarantee the issuance of a study visa.
The final decision on whether to issue a study visa belongs exclusively to the competent Italian Embassy or Consulate. The official procedures clearly state that university validation and the documents produced by the institution do not guarantee a visa appointment and do not automatically guarantee visa approval.
Universitaly confirms the same point: the validation procedure completed by the higher education institution does not create a right to obtain the visa, because the visa decision remains under the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Italian diplomatic-consular mission.
Therefore, students should prepare their visa documents carefully and should not assume that university admission alone is sufficient.
New Study Visa Criteria: Migration Risk Assessment
The new procedures place strong emphasis on the assessment of the student’s real purpose for entering Italy.
Italian diplomatic-consular missions must verify not only whether the student has the required documents, but also whether there is an absence of migration risk. This assessment considers whether the purpose of the student’s travel and stay in Italy is genuinely the attendance of a higher education programme.
The procedures specifically mention that relevant elements include the student’s and family’s socio-economic condition, the type and quality of previous studies, and the coherence of the chosen academic pathway.
For IMAT candidates, this means that the study plan should make sense. A student applying to Medicine and Surgery should be ready to show that their academic background, motivation, and documentation are coherent with the chosen course.
Financial Requirement: €10,179.85 Per Year
A key visa requirement concerns financial means.
For the study visa, international students must demonstrate sufficient economic means for the planned stay. The amount indicated in the 2026/2027 procedures is €10,179.85 per year.
The procedures also clarify that these funds must come from lawful and traceable sources. Preferably, they should be personal funds, or alternatively funds made available by the student’s family unit, up to relatives within the 4th degree.
This is very important. It is not enough to simply show money in a bank account. The Embassy or Consulate may assess the origin of the funds, the account movements, and whether the financial resources are coherent with the student’s or family’s income and overall economic situation.
In other words, the financial documentation should be credible, traceable, and consistent.
Scholarship Eligibility Alone Is Not Enough
Another important clarification concerns scholarships.
The new procedures state that simply being a candidate for a regional scholarship, or merely meeting the eligibility requirements for a scholarship, is not enough to count as financial support for the visa. A scholarship can be considered only if there is an explicit certificate confirming that the scholarship has actually been awarded.
This is extremely relevant for students applying for regional scholarships such as DSU, LazioDisco, ER.GO, EDISU, or similar Italian regional benefits.
Many international students believe that applying for a scholarship is enough for visa purposes. According to the procedures, this is not the case. Unless the scholarship has been officially awarded and certified, it may not be counted as proof of financial means.
Accommodation Requirement: A Simple Residence Application Is Not Enough
Students must also show suitable accommodation in Italy.
The procedures state that students must have appropriate accommodation in the national territory. Importantly, simply applying for a place in a university residence, or being eligible for a residence place, is not considered valid proof of accommodation.
This means that students should prepare stronger accommodation documentation when applying for the visa. Depending on the Embassy or Consulate, this may include a rental contract, confirmed accommodation booking, university housing confirmation, host declaration, or other accepted documents.
Students should always check the exact requirements of the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for their country of residence.
Health Insurance Requirement
Health insurance is also required.
The procedures state that students must have adequate insurance coverage for medical care and hospitalisation. The accepted forms may include a consular declaration confirming the right to healthcare based on an agreement between Italy and the student’s country, a foreign insurance policy valid in Italy, or an insurance policy with an Italian or national insurance provider that clearly confirms the absence of limitations or exceptions for urgent hospitalisation.
Students should make sure that their insurance is valid for Italy and accepted by the relevant authorities.
Fingerprints Are Mandatory for National Study Visas
Another important visa update is that, starting from 11 January 2025, fingerprints are mandatory also for national visas, including type D study visas.
This means that students applying for a long-stay study visa should expect biometric data collection as part of the visa process.
Required Academic Documents for First-Cycle and Single-Cycle Courses
For students applying to Bachelor’s or single-cycle degree programmes, which includes Medicine and Surgery, the procedures list several documents that may be required at the visa stage.
These include the original final secondary school qualification, obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, together with either CIMEA statements of comparability and verification of authenticity, or a Declaration of Value where applicable.
The procedures also mention possible academic eligibility certificates if required in the student’s country of origin, translations into Italian where needed, and any additional documentation required to verify the truthfulness of the foreign qualification.
For courses taught in a language other than Italian, non-native speakers may also be asked to demonstrate knowledge of the language of instruction at a level not lower than B2 CEFR, through suitable internationally recognised certificates or equivalent certifications issued by universities, covering all four language skills.
For IMAT candidates applying to English-taught Medicine and Surgery, this point may be relevant depending on the Embassy, university, and specific admission requirements.
Important Deadline: Study Visa Applications by 30 November 2026
For the academic year 2026/2027, study visa applications must be submitted to the competent Italian diplomatic-consular missions no later than 30 November 2026.
However, this is the general national deadline. Universities can set earlier internal deadlines depending on their academic calendar and enrolment procedures. The official procedures clearly state that institutions must publish their own course-specific dates and that those dates may be earlier than the national deadline.
Therefore, students should not rely only on the 30 November 2026 deadline. They must check the website of their chosen university and programme.
For example, Sapienza states that online pre-enrolment on Universitaly is mandatory for non-EU students residing abroad who require a study visa, and that pre-enrolment applications must be finalized and submitted by 30 June 2026 at 23:59 Italian time.
What This Means for IMAT 2026 Candidates
For IMAT 2026 candidates, these updates make the admission process more time-sensitive and more structured.
Students should remember that Medicine and Surgery is usually a restricted-access programme. Therefore, applicants must follow the admission call, register for the test according to the official IMAT procedures, sit the exam, wait for the ranking, and complete all university-specific enrolment steps.
At the same time, non-EU students residing abroad must also handle the Universitaly pre-enrolment and study visa procedure. These two pathways are connected but not identical.
A student may need to prepare documents for Universitaly and the visa before the final enrolment stage. However, actual enrolment in a restricted-access course will still depend on the official admission ranking and the rules of the specific university.
Sapienza, for example, states that for restricted-access courses, the Universitaly application will be validated only if the candidate is among the winners in the official ranking.
Practical Checklist for Students
International students preparing for IMAT 2026 should start organizing the following as early as possible:
First, create or access your Universitaly account and check whether the pre-enrolment application for your chosen university and course is available. Then, carefully select the correct university, course, and diplomatic-consular mission for your country of residence.
Second, prepare your academic documents, including your final diploma or provisional certificate if allowed, transcript, translations if required, Declaration of Value or CIMEA documentation where applicable, and any document requested by the university.
Third, check the financial requirement. Students should be prepared to show at least €10,179.85 per year, with funds that are lawful, traceable, and coherent with the economic situation of the student or family.
Fourth, prepare accommodation documentation. Do not rely only on a residence application or scholarship housing eligibility, because the procedures clarify that this is not enough as proof of suitable accommodation.
Fifth, prepare health insurance valid in Italy for medical care and hospitalisation.
Finally, check the exact requirements of the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for your place of residence. Each diplomatic mission may provide additional practical instructions regarding appointments, documents, and submission methods.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Students should avoid waiting until the last moment to complete pre-enrolment. With the new validation limit of reserved seats plus 20%, timing and complete documentation may become more important.
Students should also avoid assuming that a validated pre-enrolment automatically means the visa will be issued. The final visa decision remains with the Embassy or Consulate.
Another common mistake is relying on scholarship eligibility as proof of financial means. The new procedures clarify that scholarship eligibility alone is not sufficient unless there is an explicit certificate of award.
Students should also avoid submitting unclear financial documents. Since consulates may assess traceability, account movements, and coherence with income and assets, documents should be well organized and credible.
Finally, students should not confuse IMAT registration with Universitaly pre-enrolment. These are different procedures, and non-EU candidates residing abroad may need both.
Final Message for IMAT 2026 Applicants
The opening of pre-enrolment for A.Y. 2026/2027 on Universitaly is an important step for international students who wish to study Medicine and Surgery in Italy.
The new procedures introduce stricter and clearer rules, especially regarding the number of pre-enrolment validations, financial means, accommodation, scholarship documentation, and visa assessment.
For IMAT 2026 candidates, the message is simple: start early, check official sources, prepare your documents carefully, and follow both the IMAT admission procedure and the Universitaly visa-related procedure.
At IMAT Portal, we will continue to monitor official updates from Universitaly, MUR, universities, and Italian diplomatic authorities to help candidates stay informed throughout the IMAT 2026 admission cycle.
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