Visa

Entry/visas
A valid passport is required by all except for EU nationals bearing a valid national ID card. A tourist visa is not required for EU or USA nationals for stays of up to 90 days. For stays longer than this, or if you intend working in Italy, you should contact your local Italian Embassy or Consulate.
http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp

Visa fees:
http://www.esteri.it/visti/costi_eng.asp

For further information on entrance visas for Italy and the Schengen area: http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Ministero/Servizi/Stranieri/ServReteConsolare.htm

Italian study Visa
If you have citizenship of a country within the European Union, you do not need to request an entry visa to come and study in Italy, since EU citizens have the right to circulate freely within the States in the European Union.
Italian entry visa is required for all NON-EU citizens wishing to enter Italy for study, tourism or other reasons under the following options and according to the lenght of stay:

• Under 90 days (three months), we suggest not to apply for a study visa. You can enter Italy as a tourist  with a short-stay (Type C) visa. Students from the following countries must apply for a Tourist Visa: Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Colombia, Macedonia, Georgia, Morocco, Peru, Serbia and Montenegro, Rumania, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.
• Longer than 90 days and up to one year, all students need to get a long-stay (Type D) Italian study visa. In order to apply for a study visa, students must present themselves to the nearest Italian Embassy or Consulate to be interviewed on the reasons and circumstances of the visit. Please note that it is not possible to change the visa status once in Italy. The required documents are:
  -Passport valid at least 4 months over the planned stay in Italy
  -Airline reservation or tickets
  -One passport size photograph
  -Certificate of Residence or equivalent
  -A certificate of enrolment from Accademia di Italiano stating that the student is enrolled, the type of course and that it has been pre-paid in full in advance, the duration, starting date and complete address of the school). The course should contemplate 80 lessons per each month of stay in Italy (please check one of our visa oriented courses)
  -Evidence of the existence of suitable accommodation in Italy for the duration of the stay (AI offers its students an efficient accommodation service)
  -Economic Security equivalent to a minimum of Euro 800.00 per month during the stay (photocopies of a credit card, bank statement or a letter of financial means of support)
  -Proof of an International Health Insurance
• Longer period stay: if students wish to study in Italy for longer periods (at Universities or professional Schools) they must apply for a long-stay visa type D (365 days). It must be renewed in Italy each year with a multi-year certificate for study in Italy (pluriennale).

Study visas may take from 30 to 90 days to be issued depending on the Country.

Once in Italy all foreigners, including EU citizens, will have to obtain a "Permesso di Soggiorno" (Permit of Stay) in order to reside in Italy for more than 3 months. They must present themselves to the local "Questura" (Central Police Station) within 8 days of arrival to request the "Permesso di Soggiorno" indicating details of the accomodation.