Contd from previous post…

By now you should have all the documents on hand, neat and clean. Take a good look at them because that’s the last time you will ever see them in that state ever.

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HRD Verification

Your original degree certificate/ PDC and Transcript have to be HRD verified. This has to be done in the city where you received your degree from. I studied in VTU, so it was Belgaum for me. Beware that HRD from any other city is not valid. A simple Google search will show you the list of offices which issue this seal in your city. You may need your University letter and passport copy (original and a photocopy). It usually takes a few hours and has to be done in person. If you have contacts, you may do it by post, but I wouldn’t recommend it because it took me around 2–3 weeks.

Cost: ₹6,500 (approx. in Bengaluru)

Reference Links:

• HRD Verification process by Ministry of External Affairs

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Apostille

Next step is the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and apostille stamp. This can be done through any agency, but I sent mine through VFS (documents are sent to Delhi). They require your university letter, passport copy, and original. It typically takes around a week to get back.

Cost: ₹4,500–₹5,000 (via agency)

Reference Links:

• Ministry of External Affairs Apostille Information

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Translation

Now the two documents (degree and transcript) need to be translated into Italian. The Italian version is required to obtain the DOV (Declarazione di Valore, next step). I suggest you only go through the translators mentioned on the VFS website to avoid any complications with the DOV request. I did mine through the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce. They were very helpful and efficient, sending me the translated documents within 3 days.

Cost: ₹4,800 for both documents (degree and transcript)

Reference Links:

• Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce

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DOV (Declarazione di Valore)

This has to be done through VFS as well. You will need a cover letter where you state the reason for your request and mention the attached documents. Here’s a list of what you need:

• Cover letter
• Apostilled degree and its translated version (2 copies)
• Apostilled transcript and its translated version (2 copies)
• Passport and 2 copies

Once you have these documents ready, drop them off at the VFS office. The earlier, the better. Documents submitted in July or later can take up to a month to be processed. After submitting, you will receive a receipt, which will be necessary for attending your pre-enrollment interview (since you won’t have the originals). However, you MUST have copies of everything.

Cost: ₹140 (VFS processing fee)

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Pre-Enrollment Interview

You need to book an appointment for this on the VFS website. Make sure you know which consulate you fall under (for me, it was the Mumbai consulate). Try to reach this step before the monsoons hit because I went in early, and those who went in July or later struggled with city flooding and transport issues.

For those of you planning to explore Mumbai, consider staying an extra day. My appointment took the entire day! The interview itself was only 5 minutes, but the wait was exhausting. Carry water and maybe a snack because VFS does not provide any waiting area or facilities. Whether it’s monsoon or summer, it’s not pleasant.

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The Interview

Based on advice from seniors, I was well-prepared for my interview. I knew my course details, had a map of Italy, and even had a plan for after my studies (Always say you will return to your home country). However, I was lucky as the Italian lady interviewing me only asked about a trip I had taken to Egypt. Indian interviewers, I heard, can ask more technical questions, so be prepared!

At the end of the interview, you will be given a date after which you can drop your documents for your visa. I dropped mine a week earlier than the official date to avoid the rush.

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Visa Dropping

The list of documents required for the visa is available on the VFS website. Please stick to it. There’s no need to submit unnecessary documents like ITR returns, property documents, or your entire life story unless asked. Also, there’s no need to opt for the premium facility—it doesn’t offer any real advantage. Just set aside one full day to handle the visa dropping process. For me, it took the whole day, and I had to take an hour off from work to get it done. So plan ahead!

Cost: ₹3,200 (Visa application fee)

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Total Estimated Expenses

Here’s an updated estimate of the total expenses involved in the documentation and visa application process:

• HRD Verification: ₹6,500
• Apostille: ₹4,500–₹5,000
• Translation: ₹4,800
• DOV Fee: ₹140
• Pre-Enrollment Interview and Visa Processing Fee: ₹3,200
• Flight Tickets: ₹15,000–₹25,000 (round trip to Mumbai)

Total Expenses: ₹50,000–₹70,000 (including flight tickets, document processing, and visa fees)

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Conclusion

So, to sum up, the entire documentation and visa process will cost you around ₹50,000 to ₹70,000. Be prepared to spend this amount before the scholarship kicks in. But once it does, a good portion of your living expenses will be covered by the DSU or other forms of financial support.

Some students opt for agencies to handle the documentation process, but I would suggest doing it yourself as it could save you a lot of money. Agencies charge anywhere between ₹1,00,000–₹2,50,000 for this, so be smart about how you spend.

Good luck with your application process! I hope this post was helpful in clearing up the steps for obtaining the necessary documents, attending the pre-enrollment interview, and applying for your visa.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out!