Complete Guide: UPO Novara - After Arrival Steps

STEP 1 - University Enrollment & Registration (First Week)

• Confirm your enrollment in the Medical Biotechnologies (LM-9) program
• Collect your student ID card
• Register for your courses and labs
• Get your university email and portal access
• Collect the "yellow kit" (kit giallo) for your residence permit application - the office can provide this

• Enrollment queries: mb.apply@med.unipmn.it
• Teaching staff: master.biotechnology@med.unipmn.it
• Teaching location: Via Solaroli 17, Novara

STEP 2 - Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) - URGENT: Within 8 Days

What is it?

Step-by-Step Process:

• Pick up the "kit giallo" (yellow envelope kit) from UPO's International Student Office or from a Poste Italiane (post office) that handles immigration applications.

• The kit contains a pre-printed form. UPO's international office can help you fill it correctly.

• Take the completed kit to an authorized Poste Italiane branch.
• Pay the fee (around €30-70 including stamp duties and postal fee).
• You will receive a receipt (ricevuta postale) - keep this safe, it is proof of your legal stay while waiting for the permit.

• You will be given an appointment date at the local Questura (Immigration Police Headquarters in Novara).
• At the Questura, you submit biometric data (fingerprints, photo).

• After a few weeks/months, you collect the biometric permit card from the Questura.
• Bring the card to UPO's international office (and keep a copy for yourself).

Documents Needed:

• Valid passport + copies of all pages
• Italian student visa (type D)
• 4 passport-size photos
• Proof of enrollment from UPO
• Proof of accommodation in Novara
• Proof of financial means (bank statement, scholarship letter, or sponsor's declaration)
• Health insurance
• Revenue stamps ("marche da bollo") - buy at any tobacconist (tabaccheria)
• Completed application form

Renewal:

• Renew each academic year. Bring new enrollment certificate, passport, and proof of continued studies.
• During renewal processing, your postal receipt acts as a legal extension of your stay.

Tip: While the permit is being processed, you can use the postal receipt + your expired permit as proof of legal status if asked by your university or landlord.

STEP 3 - Municipality Registration (Residenza Anagrafica)

• Bring your passport, residence permit (or postal receipt), and rental/accommodation contract.
• This gives you an official address in Italy, which is needed for:
  • Getting a codice fiscale (Italian tax code - needed for almost everything)
  • Opening an Italian bank account
  • Accessing healthcare (SSN - Servizio Sanitario Nazionale)
  • EDISU scholarship applications

Codice Fiscale (Tax Code): Get this as soon as possible from the Agenzia delle Entrate or sometimes directly at the Italian consulate before you leave your home country. It's like a national ID number used for everything in Italy.

STEP 4 - EDiSU Piemonte Scholarship (Most Important Financial Support)

What Benefits Are Available:

Scholarship Amount by Student Type:

• Non-resident student (living far, need housing in Piedmont): Highest grant - best for international students who just arrived
• Commuter (within 60 min by public transport): Medium grant
• Resident (already living near university): Smallest grant

How to Apply:

• International students who don't have an Italian SPID (digital identity) or CIE (digital ID card) must request a Temporary Access Code from EDiSU's website (edisu.piemonte.it).
• This code is requested starting in July each year and expires in June of the following year.
• Register in EDiSU's Online Helpdesk to request this code.

• Accommodation request: 22 September at 12:00 noon
• Scholarship application: 12 November at 12:00 noon
• Apply early - slots for university residence are limited and given by competition.

• Income/financial documents from your home country (translated, notarized, with apostille)
• Family composition certificate
• Asset/property certificates
• ISEE Universitario (Italian income equivalence certificate) - EDiSU helps international students with this
• Passport and residence permit
• University enrollment certificate

• After applying, EDiSU publishes ranking lists on your personal page on their portal.
• If you qualify, the scholarship and housing are awarded by ranking (merit + income).

Official Website:

STEP 5 - Healthcare Registration

• Register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN) at the local ASL (Local Health Authority) office in Novara.
• This gives you access to a free/low-cost family doctor (medico di base) and public healthcare.
• EDiSU scholarship recipients may get additional health coverage support.

STEP 6 - Bank Account & SIM Card

• Codice Fiscale is required to open a bank account. Use it to open an account at any Italian bank (BancoPosta, UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, or digital banks like N26/Revolut work well too).
• Get an Italian SIM (TIM, Vodafone, WINDTRE, Iliad) for local calling and data.

Timeline Summary

Useful Contacts

1. The 8-day rule for the residence permit is strict - don't miss it.
2. Apply for EDiSU scholarship as soon as the portal opens (July 25) - the accommodation slots go fast.
3. International students who don't have Italian SPID must request a Temporary Access Code from EDiSU before applying.
4. Gather your income/asset documents from home before you leave - they need to be translated, notarized, and apostilled, which takes time.

Scholarship Process for Indian Students After Arriving in Italy (UPO Novara)

BEFORE YOU LEAVE INDIA - Critical Preparation

Documents to Gather in India (Start 2 Months Early):

What to Do with These Documents in India:

1. Translate all documents into Italian - Use a certified/sworn translator. Many agencies in major Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad) offer this.
2. Get Apostille - Take translated documents to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) India for apostille stamp. This legally validates them for Italy. Book appointments at apostille.mea.gov.in.
3. Get legalization at Italian Embassy/Consulate in India - After apostille, take documents to the Italian Consulate in your nearest city (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata) to get them stamped/legalized.

This whole process can take 4-6 weeks, so start immediately after getting your admission letter.

PHASE 1 - Online Application from India (July-November)

Step 1: Get Your Temporary Access Code

• Go to edisu.piemonte.it → Online Desk → "TEMPORARY ACCESS CODE" → Click "REGISTRATION"
• Fill in your name, surname (no special characters), and email
• This code is available from July each year and valid until June 30 of the following year
• Don't wait - request this as soon as July opens

Step 2: Submit Online Application

• Portal opens: July 25 each year
• Log in using your Temporary Access Code
• Select your student type: FIRST YEAR (since you're newly enrolling)
• Fill in your financial data section - choose "foreign consular documentation" option (since your family is in India)
• Upload scanned copies of your apostilled, translated Indian financial documents
• At the end, download the forms, print and sign by hand, scan, and re-upload before submitting

Key Deadlines:

• Accommodation request: September 22 at 12:00 noon
• Scholarship application: November 12 at 12:00 noon
• Do not miss these - no exceptions are made

PHASE 2 - After Arriving in Italy (Most Critical Steps)

Step A: Visit CAF Office (First Week - URGENT)

• Book an appointment in advance (call or go in person to book)
• Major CAF networks in Novara: CAF CISL, CAF CGIL, CAF ACLI
• Bring:
  • All original Indian documents (ITR, bank statements, property docs)
  • Italian translations of all documents
  • Apostilled and legalized copies
  • Your passport
  • Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code)
  • University enrollment certificate

The CAF officer will review your documents and calculate your ISEE Parificato value. This number must be:

• Income (ISPE): below €57,187.53
• ISEE Universitario: below €26,306.25 If your family income is below these limits, you qualify for the full scholarship.

Step B: Submit Hard Copy Documents to EDiSU

• EDiSU operators will review the consular documents
• They cross-check with what you submitted online

Step C: Check Your Ranking on EDiSU Portal

• After the application deadline, EDiSU publishes competition ranking lists on your personal page on the portal
• There are usually 3 ranking rounds - if your name doesn't appear in the first, check the second and third
• Once your name appears with scholarship awarded, proceed to the next step

Step D: Open an Italian Bank Account

• You need: Codice Fiscale + Passport + Residence permit (or postal receipt)
• Options: BancoPosta (Post Office Bank), UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, or digital banks like N26 or Revolut
• Get this done in Week 1-2 after arrival

Step E: Submit Bank Account Details to EDiSU

• Log into your EDiSU personal portal
• Add/confirm your Italian IBAN (bank account number)
• This is required before any payment is released

Step F: Scholarship Payment Schedule

• 1st installment - released after enrollment confirmation and document verification (usually October-November)
• 2nd installment - released mid-year (usually January-February)
• Payment goes directly to your Italian bank account

PHASE 3 - Scholarship Benefits You'll Receive

PHASE 4 - Renewal Each Year

• Re-apply on EDiSU portal each year (same process)
• You must meet the merit requirement: a minimum number of CFU (credits) must be earned by the time you re-apply. Check the EDiSU notice for the exact CFU requirement.
• If you fail to earn enough credits, the scholarship can be withdrawn
• Provide updated financial documents from India for the new year

Complete Timeline for Indian Students

Key Contacts

How to Get Codice Fiscale - Complete Guide for Indian Students

What Is the Codice Fiscale?

• University enrollment
• Opening a bank account
• Getting a SIM card
• Applying for EDiSU scholarship
• Signing a rental contract
• Healthcare registration
• Residence permit application

Important Update (2025-2026)

It is no longer possible to get a Codice Fiscale from the Italian Consulate in India before arriving. As of May 2025, this service is only available inside Italy. You must get it after landing.

3 Ways to Get It in Italy

Method 1: Agenzia delle Entrate (Best & Fastest - Recommended)

• Go to the Agenzia delle Entrate website: agenziaentrate.gov.it
• Translate the page to English
• Click: Tax Assistance → Tax ID/Authorization/Document Delivery and Request
• Select your city (Novara) and book a slot
• You'll receive a confirmation email

• Download the Modello AA4/8 form from the Agenzia delle Entrate website before going
• Fill it with your personal details (name, date of birth, country of birth)
• Print it out and sign by pen - electronic signatures are not accepted

• Take a number at the "Codice Fiscale" counter
• Tell the officer you are a student (this is important - say "studente")
• The officer inputs your details and prints your Codice Fiscale certificate on the spot

Method 2: Through the Questura (Automatic During Permit Process)

Don't wait for this route - go to Agenzia delle Entrate directly in Week 1, because you need the Codice Fiscale urgently for your bank account and scholarship application.

Method 3: Online Calculator (For Reference Only)

How Is the Code Structured?

When to Get It

Arrive in Novara
      ↓
Day 1-2: Agenzia delle Entrate → Get Codice Fiscale
      ↓
Day 2-3: Open Italian bank account (needs Codice Fiscale)
      ↓
Within 8 days: Apply for Permesso di Soggiorno (needs Codice Fiscale)
      ↓
Week 1: Visit CAF for ISEE Parificato (needs Codice Fiscale)
      ↓
Week 1-2: Submit bank IBAN to EDiSU portal (needs bank account)

Agenzia delle Entrate in Novara