DOV or CIMEA: which one you need for Italy (2026/27)
Italy accepts either a DOV (declaration of value) or a statement from CIMEA (Italy's centre for qualification recognition) with an Indian qualification; the university decides which.
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- Either: the Ministry of University and Research circular (Part II, Section 3) accepts a CIMEA statement of comparability and verification or a DOV with the qualification, and the university decides which.
- A DOV comes from the Italian office for the state that issued the degree, on a request filed in person; Mumbai states up to 90 days.
- A CIMEA statement is requested online through CIMEA's DiploMe platform.
- ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, helps eligible students by preparing and checking their visa and DOV file before the appointment.
See where you stand first. Check your eligibility in about two minutes, and if you are eligible, our Italy experts take it from there.
Check your eligibilityHow the choice is made and each route runs
The ministry circular lets an Indian qualification be accompanied by either document, so the choice starts with the university, not the student. Once the university has named its document, the DOV (declaration of value, dichiarazione di valore) runs through an Italian office in India and the CIMEA statement through CIMEA online, and both end in the visa file.
- The university's requirement. Each Italian university decides which document it asks for, and the visa checklists want a copy of a DOV or a CIMEA statement only if the university requires one. Some universities make the DOV mandatory; in Mumbai, an official letter from the university saying so lets the student apply for a CIMEA statement or for a DOV in the Consulate's paid category. For eligible students, we find out from the university which document it accepts before either route starts.
- The DOV route. The final degree or school certificate and the transcripts carry HED attestation (the state Higher Education Department's stamp) and the apostille (the Ministry of External Affairs certification). The student signs the DOV form and the data privacy form, and the file goes to the Italian office for the state that issued the degree: in person in Mumbai and Bengaluru, with the originals shown in New Delhi. Mumbai states up to 90 days; New Delhi and Bengaluru state no time. We prepare the whole DOV file and check it against that office's checklist.
- The CIMEA route. CIMEA (Italy's centre for qualification recognition) issues a statement of comparability, which places the qualification against the cycles of the Bologna Process and the levels of the European Qualifications Framework, and a statement of verification, which certifies that an official body actually awarded it. Requests go through CIMEA's online DiploMe platform. ApplyAZ prepares and files the CIMEA request for eligible students.
- Into Universitaly and the visa file. The Universitaly (the Italian pre-enrolment portal) pre-enrolment summary goes with a study DOV request at all three offices; Mumbai and Bengaluru do without it when the university makes the DOV mandatory for pre-enrolment. The visa file then carries a copy of the CIMEA statement or of the DOV already issued, when the university requires one. We handle the Universitaly pre-enrolment and add the document to the visa file.
What each visa checklist says, office by office
All three visa checklists treat the DOV and the CIMEA statement as alternatives, asked for only if the university requires one, and none asks for both. They differ in wording, in how they treat the CV and in where a DOV is filed. Each office name links to its full visa and DOV page.
| Office | What the visa checklist says about DOV and CIMEA | Where a DOV is submitted |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy of Italy, New Delhi | If the university requires it: a copy of a CIMEA statement, a copy of a DOV already issued by an Italian mission, or the applicant's CV. | The checklist names no centre; the original documents are shown at submission. |
| Consulate General of Italy, Mumbai | The same three options, if the university requires it. The DOV checklist adds that a student may choose CIMEA instead of the DOV. | In person at VFS Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad or Kochi, or via Uni-Italia Mumbai, before the visa; or with the visa at VFS Mumbai or Kochi, same jurisdiction only. |
| Consulate General of Italy, Bengaluru | If the university requires it: a copy of a CIMEA statement or of a DOV already issued; a one-page CV is a separate item. | In person through VFS; the checklist names no centre. |
The Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata has no page here yet, because its 2026/27 DOV checklist for India is not published.
Source: each office's 2026/27 study visa checklist and DOV checklist for study (New Delhi: the Embassy's current DOV version). Verified on 28 September 2026.
Want this handled for you? Check your eligibility, then book a one to one consultation with one of our Italy experts.
Check your eligibilityWhat is the difference between a DOV and a CIMEA statement?
A DOV is issued by the Italian diplomatic office for the Indian state that issued the degree, from original documents submitted in person, and describes the qualification and the years of study behind it. A CIMEA statement comes from CIMEA online: comparability places the qualification in the Bologna and European frameworks, and verification confirms an official body awarded it.
The ministry circular accepts either one with the qualification. CIMEA adds that its statements do not ensure formal recognition and do not bind institutions in their own assessment and recognition procedures.
Does every Italian university accept a CIMEA statement instead of a DOV?
Not automatically. The ministry circular allows either document, but each university decides which one it asks for, and some make the DOV mandatory: the Mumbai and Bengaluru DOV checklists both refer to universities where the DOV is a mandatory requirement. CIMEA itself says its statements do not bind institutions in their assessment procedures.
For eligible students, we find out from the university which document it accepts before either route starts, so only the document it names is requested.
Which is faster, a DOV or a CIMEA statement?
The sources do not allow a clean comparison. The Mumbai DOV checklist says processing can take up to 90 days from submission, not counting time for extra documents; New Delhi and Bengaluru state no time, and Bengaluru can extend processing to hold an interview. CIMEA sets its own processing times, and we plan the route around them.
Both routes feed the visa deadline: Bachelor and Master visa applications for 2026/27 are not accepted after 30 Nov 2026, and visa processing itself takes up to 90 days.
Can I apply for both a DOV and a CIMEA statement?
The rules treat them as alternatives. The circular asks for one or the other, the visa checklists list a copy of either one, and the Mumbai Consulate describes the CIMEA statement as a choice made instead of the DOV. None of the checklists asks for both, so we start only the document the university names.
Reality check
What we handle: for eligible students, we find out from each university which document it accepts, then prepare and file the CIMEA request, or prepare the DOV file and form with the student and check them against the office's checklist. We also handle the Universitaly pre-enrolment and the visa file.
What we do not control: the university decides admission and which document it accepts. CIMEA issues its statements on its own timing. The Italian office for the degree's state issues the DOV, and the consulate decides the visa.
What costs students the most:
- Starting the document the university does not accept: a Mumbai DOV alone can take up to 90 days, and Bachelor and Master visa applications for 2026/27 are not accepted after 30 Nov 2026.
- A DOV filed at the wrong office: the DOV follows the state that issued the degree, and Mumbai reserves the right to refuse documents that do not fall under its jurisdiction.
- An incomplete DOV file: Mumbai sends an advance notice of refusal through VFS with 30 days to respond, and rejects the application if the documents do not arrive in time.
Check your eligibility first. If you are eligible, you book a one to one consultation with one of our Italy experts, and from there we take care of everything.
Check your eligibilityFrequently asked questions
Does the student visa always need a DOV or a CIMEA statement?
No. The New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru visa checklists ask for a copy of a CIMEA statement or of a DOV only if the Italian university requires it. New Delhi and Mumbai list the applicant's CV as a third option in the same item; Bengaluru asks for a one-page CV as a separate item.
Who issues the DOV for my degree?
The Italian office for the state that issued the degree or school certificate. The study visa, by contrast, goes to the office for the state where the student lives. A student living in Pune with a degree from Karnataka, for example, gets the DOV from Bengaluru and applies for the visa under Mumbai.
Does a CIMEA statement mean my degree is recognised in Italy?
No. CIMEA says its statements of comparability and verification do not ensure formal recognition and do not bind institutions in their assessment and recognition procedures. The statement describes the qualification's level and confirms it was awarded; the university still makes its own assessment and decides admission.
Does the Consulate in Mumbai issue CIMEA statements?
No. The Mumbai DOV checklist says the Consulate only issues DOVs, once it has all the documents in its checklist. A student who chooses the CIMEA statement instead goes through CIMEA, which takes statement requests online through its DiploMe platform. For eligible students, we prepare and file that request.
Does Universitaly pre-enrolment come before the DOV?
For a study DOV, the checklists expect it to. New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru ask for the pre-enrolment summary downloaded from Universitaly with a study DOV request. Mumbai and Bengaluru make an exception when the university makes the DOV mandatory for pre-enrolment, and Mumbai then wants an official letter from the university stating it.
Can ApplyAZ handle the DOV or the CIMEA statement for me?
Yes, for eligible students. We find out which document the university accepts, then prepare and file the CIMEA request, or prepare the DOV file with you for your signature and in-person submission. CIMEA and the Italian office issue them. Check your eligibility first. If you are eligible, you book a one to one consultation with one of our Italy experts, and from there we take care of everything.
Your next step: check your eligibility first. It takes about two minutes. If you are eligible, you book a one to one consultation with one of our Italy experts, and from there we take care of everything.
Sources
- Ministry of University and Research circular for international students, 2026/27 and 2027/28, Part II, Section 3 (CIMEA statement or declaration of value), published on Universitaly
- CIMEA: statements of comparability and verification of qualifications
- Consulate General of Italy, Mumbai: requisite documents for DOV for study purposes 2026/27, revised June 2026 (PDF)
- Consulate General of Italy, Bengaluru: requisite documents for DOV (study) 2026/27 (PDF)
- Embassy of Italy, New Delhi: requisite documents for the DOV (declaration of value), current version
- Embassy of Italy, New Delhi: Italian study visa checklist 2026/27 and 2027/28 (VFS Global New Delhi)
- Consulate General of Italy, Mumbai: Italian study visa checklist 2026/27 and 2027/28 (VFS Global Mumbai)
- Consulate General of Italy, Bengaluru: requisites for study visa (C and D) 2026/27 and 2027/28 (PDF, VFS Global)
- Verified on 28 September 2026
- Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead. Reviewed by Reeya Sharma.
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