Blocked account for Italy from Tunisia: proof of funds for a student visa

Blocked account for Italy from Tunisia: what the embassy actually asks for

People searching "compte bloqué italie tunisie" (blocked account Italy Tunisia) often expect a German-style system: an account opened with an approved provider, funded in one go, then released month by month. The Italian Embassy in Tunis sheets describe nothing of the kind: they do not ask you to open a blocked account in Italy or with an approved provider.

The embassy does, however, ask for a form of blocking. In its study visa information sheets it requires a bank certificate, called a "blocage declaration", issued by a bank: a minimum sum must be irrevocably blocked there and then transferred to Italy every month during the stay.

So for a Tunisian student the answer has two parts:

• no blocked account to open in Italy or with an approved provider;
• but a bank blocking certificate, plus proof of the financial means of whoever supports the student.

This guide summarises the two sheets published by the embassy (the "Study" visa and the "Study and university enrolment" visa) as we read them on 23 October 2026. The embassy states that these lists are for guidance only and that it may ask for further documents case by case.

Source: Ambassade d'Italie à Tunis – fiche visa « Études et inscription » (EN/FR, PDF) · checked 23 Oct 2026

The amount to prove: €783.06 a month for 13 months

According to the Italian Embassy in Tunis sheets in force on 23 October 2026, the bank certificate must show at least €783.06 per month for 13 months, with a minimum total set at €10,179.85. This sum must initially be irrevocably blocked with the bank for one year, then transferred to Italy at €783.06 per month.

The sheets link this reference amount to the Italian Ministry of the Interior directive of 1 March 2000, cited together with Article 4(3) of Legislative Decree 286/1998 and Ministerial Decree 850/2011. These amounts can be revised, and the embassy sheet does not state which academic year they apply to. For the 2027-2028 intake, the exact amount is therefore to be confirmed with the embassy when you apply.

Two useful points:

• if the course lasts less than 12 months, the amount may be reduced proportionally, according to the sheets;
• the sheets say the monthly transfer is for "university fees" but do not explain how it relates to tuition, housing or your flight, so plan an overall budget larger than the blocked amount alone.

Source: Ambassade d'Italie à Tunis – fiche visa « Études et inscription » (EN/FR, PDF) · checked 23 Oct 2026

How the bank blocking certificate works

The certificate is issued by your bank, not by the embassy. According to the sheets, the bank must certify two things: that the minimum sum is available and blocked, and that an irrevocable monthly transfer to Italy has been set up. The "Study and enrolment" sheet says a template can be downloaded from the embassy website, in the section on enrolling at Italian universities.

Formal requirements stated by the embassy:

• the certificate must be submitted in original;
• it must be signed and stamped by the manager of the bank branch that issued it;
• it must come with a bank identity statement (RIB).

The sheets do not cover foreign exchange rules or each Tunisian bank's internal process for study-related transfers. Timelines, fees and the documents your bank asks for are therefore to be confirmed directly with your branch. Start early, as the bank may ask for several documents before issuing the certificate.

Source: Ambassade d'Italie à Tunis – fiche visa « Études » (EN/FR, PDF) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Proof of means from your sponsor

On top of the blocking certificate, both sheets ask for documents showing the student will have enough means during the stay. Support can come from parents or a third party, an Italian citizen or a foreign national legally resident in Italy, an Italian university or recognised institution, a local authority, or a foreign body the embassy considers reliable.

For the person supporting the student, the embassy gives these examples:

• a property ownership certificate;
• an employment certificate and the last six payslips;
• bank statements for the last six months;
• a CNSS certificate or a pension certificate;
• for a trader or business owner: company certificates, Chamber of Commerce extracts, company bank account statements.

The embassy stresses that this list is not exhaustive. Documents must be originals, signed and stamped by the issuing authority; the embassy reserves the right to accept copies whose signature has been authenticated by the competent local authorities. The "Study and enrolment" sheet also asks for a statement of socio-economic status issued by the relevant Tunisian ministry.

Source: Ambassade d'Italie à Tunis – fiche visa « Études » (EN/FR, PDF) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Italian government scholarship: when blocking is not required

Both sheets set out one clear exception: proof of financial means is not required if the student presents a certificate of an Italian government grant worth at least the required sum, which is €10,179.85 according to the sheets read on 23 October 2026.

In practice this covers Italian government grants, such as the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) scholarships. The exemption depends on the total amount stated on your grant certificate, so check that it reaches the required sum. For a regional right-to-study (DSU) grant or a university scholarship, the sheet does not say that it replaces the blocking certificate, so check with the embassy before relying on it. The timetable of regional grants (application, results, first payment) depends on each body and may not match your visa application, so check it on the body's website.

If your grant covers only part of the amount, the sheet does not explain how to combine the grant with personal funds. This point is to be confirmed with the embassy.

Source: Ambassade d'Italie à Tunis – fiche visa « Études » (EN/FR, PDF) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Other money-related documents in the visa file

Proof of means is only part of the file. Several other documents the embassy asks for have a cost you should plan for:

• insurance covering medical treatment and hospitalisation, which must also be shown when applying for the residence permit in Italy (a foreign policy with a consular certificate, a policy with an Italian insurer, or cover under an agreement between Italy and the country of origin);
• proof of accommodation for at least the start of the stay (a booking, a declaration of hospitality, etc.);
• a return flight or ferry reservation, or proof of your own means of transport;
• for the "Study and enrolment" university visa: the pre-enrolment letter obtained through the Universitaly portal (in two copies), the original secondary school diploma, translated into Italian and apostilled, with a declaration of value or CIMEA certificate, and a language certificate (at least B2 in Italian, or adequate English for a course taught in English).

On passport validity, the English version of both sheets says at least 15 months for a D visa while the French version says 16 months. Plan for the longer period or ask the embassy to confirm.

The embassy also states that pre-enrolment or admission at an Italian university does not automatically entitle you to a visa. After arrival, students have eight days to apply for a residence permit at the relevant Questura (police headquarters).

Source: Ambassade d'Italie à Tunis – fiche visa « Études et inscription » (EN/FR, PDF) · checked 23 Oct 2026

Practical tips before you apply

A few simple habits help you avoid an incomplete file:

• Download the current sheet from the embassy website just before preparing your documents, as amounts and lists can change from year to year.
• Check that the blocking certificate states the monthly amount, the duration and the irrevocable nature of the transfer, and that it carries the branch manager's signature and stamp.
• Gather six full months of sponsor documents; statements that do not match declared income may raise questions.
• Get documents translated and apostilled in good time where required.
• Be wary of intermediaries selling a ready-made "blocked account for Italy" or promising a visa: only the embassy decides, and the certificate comes from your own bank.

Opporiva is a free service: we never submit an application on your behalf and cannot guarantee any outcome. This guide helps you understand the rules; the final decision always rests with the Italian Embassy.

Source: Opporiva editorial team · checked 23 Oct 2026