Education and schools in Italy for foreign children

How Italy's education system works

The Italian education system is divided into several levels. First, preschool (scuola dell'infanzia) for children ages 3-6. Then primary school (scuola primaria) - 5 years. Then lower secondary (scuola secondaria di primo grado) - 3 years. And upper secondary (scuola secondaria di secondo grado) - 5 years.

Compulsory education lasts from ages 6 to 16. Public schools operate in Italian. The academic year begins in September and ends in June.

Children of foreigners with residence permits have the right to study in public schools equally with citizens. This is established by law.

Public schools: what you need to know

Education in public schools is free. Parents pay only for textbooks and meals. Textbooks in primary school are partially subsidized by the state.

All classes are conducted in Italian. If a child does not know the language, the school is obliged to organize additional classes. In practice, this depends on the specific school and city.

For enrollment you need: birth certificate with apostille and translation, documents on previous education (also translated), residence permit of parent or child, vaccination certificate.

Quality of public schools varies significantly. In northern regions - Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna - the level is higher than in the south.

International schools in Italy

For families where children do not speak Italian or plan to return to their home country, international schools are the optimal choice. Classes are taught in English following British or American curricula.

Largest international schools:

• The British School of Milan - British curriculum, GCSE and A-Levels, from €14,000/year
• American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR) - American curriculum, diploma recognized in the USA, from €18,000/year
• St. George British International School (Rome) - British curriculum, primary and lower secondary school, from €12,000/year
• International School of Milan - IB (International Baccalaureate) program, from €16,000/year
• Sir James Henderson School (Milan) - British curriculum, from €13,500/year

Most international schools are located in Milan, Rome, Florence, and Bologna.

Cost of education: table by school types

Prices depend on the city and specific school. North is more expensive than south. International schools are the most expensive.

Additional expenses at international schools: uniform €300-600, textbooks €400-800, extracurricular activities €500-1,500/year

Private Italian Schools

Private Catholic schools make up a large portion of the paid sector. Many of them have existed for hundreds of years. Education quality is high, classes are smaller than in state schools.

Instruction is conducted in Italian. This is a drawback for children without language knowledge. However, the child integrates into the local environment faster.

Average cost: €5,000-12,000/year depending on city and school. More expensive in Milan and Rome. In the south, you can find options from €4,000/year.

The same documents required for state school are needed for enrollment. Plus an interview and sometimes - testing.

Kindergartens and Preschool Education

State kindergartens (scuola dell'infanzia) accept children from 3 to 6 years old. Education is free, but meals are paid separately - approximately €80-150/month.

Nurseries (asilo nido) for children under 3 years old are paid even in the state sector. Cost: €200-600/month depending on family income and city. More expensive in Milan and Rome.

Private kindergartens: €600-1,200/month. International: €800-1,500/month. Places in state nurseries are limited - registration must be done in advance.

Universities in Italy: Top Universities

Italy is the birthplace of European university education. Bologna University was founded in 1088 - the oldest in the world. Italian degrees are recognized throughout Europe.

Leading universities:

• Universita Bocconi (Milan) - one of the best in the world for business, economics, and management. Ranks in the TOP-20 global business schools according to Financial Times
• Politecnico di Milano - best technical university in Italy, ranks in TOP-150 global ratings (QS) for engineering specialties
• Universita La Sapienza (Rome) - one of Europe's largest universities, over 100,000 students, strong humanities and medical faculties
• Universita di Bologna - historic center, wide range of specialties, active participation in Erasmus
• Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa) - elite university for the most talented students, equivalent to French ENS

University Education Costs

Italian state universities are among the most affordable in Europe. Fees are calculated based on family income (ISEE system). Students with low income can study almost free.

Foreign students pay the same as EU citizens in most public universities. The ISEE system is applied to income declared in Italy.

Erasmus Program and international exchange

Italy is one of the leaders in the Erasmus program in Europe. Thousands of foreign students come to study at Italian universities on exchange annually. And the same number of Italian students go abroad.

For students from non-EU countries, Erasmus is available through the Erasmus+ program if their university has signed an agreement with an Italian university. The scholarship covers part of the expenses - typically €300-500/month.

Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Milan accept the most exchange students. Competition for places is high.

Documents and conditions for children of foreigners

A child of a foreigner with a valid residence permit has the right to study in any public school in Italy. This is guaranteed by law - Decreto Legislativo 286/1998.

What is needed for school enrollment:

• Birth certificate with apostille and notarized Italian translation
• Education documents (school certificate or transcript) - also translated and certified
• Residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) or document of its application
• Vaccination certificate according to Italian schedule (or medical exemption)
• Child's photograph

School cannot refuse admission due to lack of Italian language knowledge. However, in practice we recommend securing a basic level beforehand - it will be easier for the child.

Recognition of foreign certificates: school documents are recognized through the dichiarazione di valore procedure - submitted to the Italian consulate in the country where the document was issued. For Russian certificates this is possible, but requires time - 1-3 months.

Best cities for families with children

City choice affects school quality, availability of international programs, and overall quality of life.

Milan - best choice for families wanting international school and business environment. Largest selection of English-language schools. Expensive. Good healthcare. Many expats.

Rome - historical center, several strong international schools (AOSR, St. George). Transport worse than Milan. But cheaper and warmer.

Bologna - university city, very comfortable for living. Fewer international schools, but excellent public ones. Good transportation accessibility.

Florence - many international programs, active expat community. Good option for families with school-age and university-age children.

Verona, Treviso, Padua - smaller northern cities. Quieter, cheaper, strong public schools. Fewer international schools.

Comparison with other EU countries

Conditions for relocating with children: Investor Residence Permit

For children to study legally in Italy, families need a residence permit. One of the most convenient options for affluent families is the Investor Visa for Italy.

The program allows obtaining a residence permit through investments in Italian assets. Main investment thresholds: €250,000 in startups, €500,000 in established companies, €1,000,000 in charitable foundations, €2,000,000 in government bonds. Residence permit is issued for 2 years with renewal rights.

Children are included in the residence permit application together with the spouse. After receiving documents, the child can immediately enroll in a public or international school.

For more details about the program conditions, see the page Investor Residence Permit in Italy.

Tax aspects for families with children

If you relocate to Italy as a tax resident, it is important to know about the benefits system. Families with children are entitled to tax deductions (detrazioni fiscali) for each child up to age 21.

The flat tax regime for new residents allows paying a fixed tax of €200,000/year on foreign income regardless of amount. This is particularly advantageous for affluent families relocating from abroad.

Private and international school tuition is not fully deductible from the tax base, but partial deductions are provided under Italian tax code.

We recommend consulting with a tax advisor (commercialista) before relocating—especially if you have assets and income in multiple countries.

Practical tips when relocating with children

What to do before relocating. Start learning Italian with your child in advance—even basic level A1-A2 will greatly facilitate the first months. Duolingo and Babbel apps are suitable for children from age 8.

Clarify vaccination schedule. Italian requirements may differ from Russian or Kazakhstani standards. Some vaccines may need to be repeated or administered additionally.

Have documents translated in advance. Notarized translation of birth certificates and school documents will take 2-4 weeks. It is better to do this before departure.

Contact the school before relocating. Most international schools conduct online interviews. Places in popular schools are booked a year in advance—especially in Milan.

Useful resource: Italian Ministry of Education (miur.gov.it) - official information on enrollment of foreign children.