Before starting, a very important question is: If education in Italy is free, there are no fees, and scholarships are available, then why is a bank statement mandatory, and why do they ask for it? The answer is simple: yes, if the scholarship is free and you do not have any fees, you will still have to show your bank statements and tax returns.

Visa and Scholarship

Now, what is the reason for this? I have explained this in previous blogs as well, but I will try to explain it simply. You have two things in Italy: one is your visa, and the other is your scholarship. You get the scholarship, you get admission, but if you do not get the visa, then what is the use? The most important thing is your visa. If you want a visa, then you will definitely need the bank statement. If you do not have the bank statement, and you have also got a scholarship, it is of no use.

You submit the documents for the scholarship. After that, you go through the visa process. In the visa process, the most important document is your bank statement. If your bank statement is not correct, many visas are rejected because of it. If the bank statement is not sufficient or you have not attached it, then consider your visa as rejected. The Consulate or Embassy requires that your sponsor should have this much money in his/her bank account. This was until last year: 6100 Euros, depending on your country. Convert it into your currency and see how much money you need to have, but to be on the safe side, it is necessary to have a little more money than what they have quoted so that your chances of getting a visa increase.

Tax Returns

Another question is whether tax returns are mandatory. You will have to show tax returns in every situation, and tax returns are made by the tax filer. Being a tax filer means he or she must be paying taxes. In Pakistan, there is a limit: if your income is less than that limit, then you do not pay tax. Many students say that they do not know whether their parent is a taxpayer or not from their spouse’s letters.

Now, see, as far as I know, according to my knowledge, government employees are taxpayers. You can ask your parents or your spouse whether they are taxpayers or not. From where will these tax returns be made? You have to be a filer in the FBR. The tax is levied for the whole year according to your income. After that, you get your tax returns every year. If you do not get them in due course, then you need to file a tax return for the visa.

Filing Tax Returns

Whether you are an employee of FBR or an advocate, you tell them that you need to file tax returns. If you have not filed, then if you have already filed, you can simply go to their website and download the tax returns from there. Alternatively, you can consult any advocate or any DC office. People charge Rs. 2-4000-5000 for filing tax returns. They will print your tax returns and give them to you or provide a PDF file which you can download, print, and attach to the visa file.

Sponsorship by a Non-filer

My spouse is a business owner, but he is not a filer. This is a good question. If they have a job, their salary slip has to be attached to the visa file. If they have a business, then all the details related to the business are required: the letterhead and details of the business, how much goods are coming and how much are going out. Their business should be registered.

There was a case last year that I closely observed. Someone I knew was a client; you can call him his elder brother. He owned a bike repair shop and also sold bike accessories, but it was not registered. There is no limit in FBR; if your income is less than that limit, you will not be taxed. People are afraid that if they register, they will have to pay tax.

If they are registered with FBR and have made their tax returns for the last two years, then they can submit the visa file. It means that nothing is difficult. I remember another question: people asked that my pension is not registered in FBR. Let me get it registered today; now in 2024, I will file the visa. If any work is not difficult, this work can be done.

Tax-Free Areas

There are many areas in Pakistan that are tax-free. How can you get tax returns made there? The person sponsoring you must also be a taxpayer. One of my sponsors was from a tax-free area, Gilgit Baltistan. If you know it is tax-free, then it is not mandatory for your spouse to be a taxpayer or registered in FBR. All you have to do is go to the DC office of your area or the Tehsildar office. You can ask there.

In my case, I got it done from the DC office. Simply, you tell the DC office that this is your sponsor. If he is a government employee, you need an income certificate for the last year. They check their income and generate an income certificate based on their assets, etc.

Filer Requirements

For a filer, the tax returns that you need for a visa are not submitted. You go to the Inland Revenue Department and tell them that you want a certificate for the visa. They give you a certificate stating that this person has requested this document and that the area is tax-free, along with a notification.

When I went to get the document made, they gave me a certificate stating that I had come, and this area is tax-free; hence, there are no tax returns here.

Sponsoring Family Members

If you are married, your spouse can sponsor you, and vice versa. So what documents are required? If the wife has a good job, then attach the job documents. If the husband has a business, attach all the business documents along with the Family Registration Certificate (FRC). The FRC is very important; it shows your marital status.

If your parents cannot sponsor you, then you can self-sponsor. You can become self-sponsored, which means that if you have a job, then you are eligible. This is a basic thing.

Additional Documentation

If you want to explain it broadly, all the details are there. You will have to attach all the documents. If it is your job, attach the job letter; if it is a business, attach the business receipts along with the bank statements.

You can have two sponsors and attach two bank statements. If your spouse is living abroad, like your father or brother in Dubai, Qatar, Oman, or anywhere in Saudi, they can sponsor you. What documents are required?

You will need their bank statement, salary slips, job contract, and all these documents attached. Germany

Conclusion

Now, about the scholarship, if you have shown 30-40 lakh for a visa, we are there for a visa. But now what to do for the scholarship? There is a solution for this, too. You have to be very rich for a visa and very poor for a scholarship.

We will make a detailed blog on this and explain that in the next blog. I hope you liked this blog. If something still remains unclear, I apologize. We will meet again in the next blog. Till then, I will give you permission. Italy