International Mobility for Students and Researchers: New Services from the Regional Welcome Office
Welcome Office Friuli Venezia Giulia is an initiative providing dedicated support to international students and researchers, as well as their family members, across the region. Developed within the framework of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Scientific and Innovation System – SiS FVG, which brings together 22 of the region’s leading scientific organisations, it is managed by Area Science Park with the aim of enhancing the attractiveness of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s scientific and academic ecosystem. The initiative also builds on Area Science Park’s experience as a centre of the pan-European EURAXESS network, which supports researcher mobility and professional development.
Welcome Office FVG was established to integrate and strengthen the services available to the many international students and researchers who choose Friuli Venezia Giulia each year, attracted by the region’s high concentration of leading scientific institutions. Through its information portal and help desks in Trieste and Udine, Welcome Office provides information and assistance throughout the relocation process, from preparing for arrival to settling in and living in the region.
In 2026, these services were further expanded, starting with the new website, which went online in July and was completely redesigned in terms of visual identity, content organisation and available tools. The portal makes it easier to find the information needed to relocate to and live in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Sections covering entry and residence procedures and key aspects of everyday life have been updated and expanded, with information ranging from obtaining a tax identification number and accessing healthcare to Italian language courses and the recognition of foreign driving licences. Illustrations and infographics make complex procedures easier to understand, while video tutorials and the new virtual assistant help users navigate the available content. The portal therefore strengthens pre-arrival information services while complementing the in-person support provided by the help desks.
At the same time, cooperation with local authorities has been strengthened. Since 25 March, Welcome Office FVG has been holding weekly meetings with the Immigration Office of the Trieste Police Headquarters (Questura), open to all partner organisations. These meetings provide a regular opportunity for direct discussion on the issuance of residence permits and the handling of procedures concerning students, researchers and their family members. The ASUGI health districts have also been involved to provide further guidance on procedures for foreign nationals registering with the National Health Service.
Data from the first six months of 2026 illustrate the scale of the services provided. The Trieste and Udine help desks assisted a total of 417 people, including students, PhD candidates, researchers and their family members. A further 23 representatives of public bodies, private organisations and companies involved in international mobility and welcome services also received assistance, bringing the total number of users assisted to 440.
The Trieste help desk, managed by Area Science Park, assisted a total of 132 users: 109 individuals, including 48 students, 43 PhD candidates and researchers, and 18 family members or workers, as well as 23 representatives of public bodies, private organisations and companies involved in international mobility and welcome services. Of the 109 individuals, 81% were already in the region when they requested assistance and, overall, two thirds of users came from non-EU countries.
The Udine help desk, managed by the University of Udine, assisted 285 users, including 252 students and 33 PhD candidates and researchers. Of these, 84% came from EU countries and 16% from non-EU countries. The majority of users received support before arriving in the region.
SiS FVG is an initiative of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Universities and Research, aimed at promoting the Friuli Venezia Giulia Scientific and Innovation System.