1. Pre-departure Information. Part 2:
‣ What to Pack
‣ For those at Home
‣ Health Insurance & Healthcare in Siena
‣ Health: Prescription Medicines
‣ Health: Special Note on Adderall and similar drugs
‣ Communicating with Home
‣ Permit of Stay
Questions? info@sienaitalianstudies.com

2. What to Pack and
What NOT to Pack:
Review your airline’s luggage policies and weight
restrictions.
Don’t Overpack!
Remember you will have more when you leave
Italy!
Do bring:
• Bathing suit
• Good walking shoes/sneakers
• Pocket size English/Italian Dictionary
• One more formal outfit
• A smaller ‘day-pack’ for short trips
• Bring layers for cooler days/evenings. A coat
would be a good idea!
Do NOT bring:
• Expensive jewelry
• Hair dryers, straighteners, etc. – They often
break, even with adaptors.
• Nothing you can’t bear to lose
• A large amount of cash

3. For those at home
Please leave the following information
with family at home:
• Copy of passport
• Credit/Debit card information/ phone
number to call in case of loss or theft
• SIS contact email to contact us in case of
flight schedule change
Alert them that the first days will be very
busy so not to expect frequent contact right
away.
Ask family and friends to ‘Like’ the
Siena Italian Studies Facebook page
www.facebook.com/sienaitalianstudies
We will post updates on that page.

4. Health While Abroad
Health Insurance:
All SIS Program participant must
have health insurance coverage.
Check with your provider for extent
of coverage while overseas and
carry that info with you.
Some students purchase additional
coverage while studying abroad.
For example: HTH Worldwide
Insurance
www.hthworldwide.com

5. Health While Abroad
Doctor Visits while in Siena:
A SIS can arrange for a private
doctor visit upon request. The fee
is between 50 and 100 EUR to be
paid at the time of the visit. In cash!
In an emergency, Siena has an
excellent hospital that students may
visit if necessary.
SIS Staff members will assist
students in the even of a medical
emergency.

6. Prescription Medicine
Prescription medicines can be
brought if they are in original
packaging, clearly labeled with copy
of doctor’s prescription and a note.
Students should pack:
• Prescription medicines for the
duration of stay
• Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses
• Small first aid kit: neosporin,
preferred over the counter
painkiller, anti-diarrhea meds
• Sunblock

7. Adderall and similar
drugs
Adderall (and other similar
drugs used by people to
treat ADHD) is NOT
available in Italy and is
considered a narcotic.
Please see next slide for
special instructions regarding
importing this type of drug.

8. Adderall and similar
drugs
In order to bring the Adderall (or similar meds) into Italy the student must follow the
recommendations of The Italian Customs Agency below:
You need a signed and stamped note from your doctor (on letterhead) stating in
English that:
1. The medicine is not “stupefacente”, in English stupefacient, which means “a
narcotic”
2. The patient is carrying X amount of the medicine (boxes, grams, etc) to last X
amount of months. The note must state that this medicine is necessary for your
health, and that you cannot go without it during your stay in Italy. Also state that
the medicine cannot be found in Italy, which is why you must bring it with you.
3. The Italian Customs Agency says to make sure that the medicine is in its original
packing. They suggest putting it in a suitcase, rather than a carry‐on. This way,
you will avoid going through customs at the first point of entry into the European
Union (Paris, Frankfurt, etc) and can just deal with customs in Italy.

9. Communicating with
Home
We highly encourage getting an Italian
number upon arrival!
Cell Phones
• Purchase a pre-paid cell phone in
Siena. No contract or monthly fee is
necessary – one “recharges” once
money runs out.
• Use your own cell phone with an Italian
SIM card. Ensure your phone uses a
SIM card and is unlocked.
There is no cost to receive calls on an
Italian cell phone.
To call Italy from abroad, you must dial: +39

10. Communicating with
Home
Internet
• SIS provides access to free WiFi in
the school buildings.
• On weekends, students may visit
internet cafes that offer WiFi.
• Some host families have WiFi at
home, but not all. Some students
purchase USB internet modems
while in Italy – this provides mobile
internet access.

11. Permit of Stay
All students who had to obtain a
student visa to enter Italy must
apply for a Permit of Stay.
SIS will assist you with the procedure
as long as you do the following:
1. If you already have your student
visa and your flight itinerary,
please fill out the form here.
You will need scanned copies of
your passport personal data
page, and student visa.
Sample Italy visa
Sample personal data page

12. Permit of Stay
2. Bring originals and copies of these to submit with your application:
✓Copy of entire passport (page per page).
✓All documents the Italian consulate sent you back with your visa.
✓ Visa/admission letter from SIS, stamped by the Italian consulate.
✓4 passport pictures
✓Health Insurance information
✓ Insurance Card
✓ Coverage Policy (preferably in Italian!)
**Make sure to bring all the documents listed above with you to Siena to
avoid problems and or delays with your permit of stay. SIS is NOT
responsible for denied applications!
For questions, please contact us at info@sienaitalianstudies.com