If you are programming to visit Italy, besides the personal requirements, you have to worry about the formalities regarding entry and stay in this country.

Italy is a Founder Member State Of European Union but as to free travelling with only one visa and without being subject to formalities in crossing the borders, you have to consider the Schengen Treaty. Not all the member states of EU have signed this treaty and not all the Schengen States are member states of EU. At present the Schengen States are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czeck Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France   
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania   
• Luxemberg
• Malta
• Netherland
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden       

On the basis of the Treaty a Common Schengen Visa has been formalized which is issued in the Embassies/Counsulates of the above contries. Besides this, having a stay permit for one of these countries will allow you to visit freely any one of the above.

Request for a Visa

The visa is issued by the Embassy or a Consulate in the country of the applicant or in the country of his/her stable residence. Besides submitting the valid passport and the usual photograph, the applicant must indicate the purpose of the visit (there is a list of 20 alternatives) and show the financial capabilities of sustainment (there are reference charts of minimums, based of the duration of your stay).

Obviously he/she should not be in the Schengen list of undesirables.

Following are the four catagories of visas:

• Type A - Transit on Airports
• Type B - Transit
• Type C - Short Stays (less than 90 days) - Schengen Visa
• Type D - Stays above 90 days

Residence Permit (Foglio di Soggiorno)

Holders of the visa of Type D, have to apply for the request of a Residence Permit within 8 days of their arrival in Italy.

The request has to be presented in the competent Immigration Office of the "Polizia dello Stato".

You can find some information here: http://poliziadistato.it/articolo/10619-English

In alternative, you will have to fill in the form – available in cigarette stalls (Tabaccaio) in the vicinity of Immigration Office (Ufficio Stranieri) where you will also get information for payments. Add the supporting documentation for the reason of longer stay, a copy of your passport, 4 photographs and submit.

Usually the Immigration Offices are crowded. In Milan people start entering the external que as early as 4 o'clock in the morning.

The Residence Permits are granted for:

• 6 months for seasonal jobs
• 12 months for Educational Courses
• 24 months for Professional Activities

Application for renewal has to be presented 60 days before its expiry.

References:
http://wiki.triastelematica.org/index.php/Schengen_Agreement