The Italian government has instituted a new biometrics requirement for all national visas, including the D visa, which all study abroad students must apply for if they are to stay in the country for longer than 90 days. This requirement is currently in effect, as of January 11, 2025.
This results in significant changes to the way that students apply for their visas. Students now need to schedule an appointment to appear in person at the Consulate in their jurisdiction for biometrics and submission of their visa application. As such, batch processing is no longer an option with these new regulations. We acknowledge and deeply empathize with students who would face significant financial and logistical barriers with this change.
Arcadia Abroad has joined efforts led by NAFSA, FORUM, and AACUPI to advocate for our students, and we hope to find a solution that will allow for batch processing in time for our fall 2025 cohorts. While we wait for an update, our team is preparing guidance for the multiple submission options at play, and will release the appropriate information in early March.
At this time, Arcadia Abroad advises students to apply for their Italy program as early as possible. We also strongly encourage students to have a backup option outside of Italy in case of visa delays. Please know that we are here to advise and support your students through this entire process! Advisors and students with specific questions or concerns are welcome to contact us at auabroad@arcadia.edu.