Non european union citizens:

Under three months stay: it is not necessary to apply for a study visa. You can come to Italy as a tourist.

But if you come from Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Rumania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina,Georgia, Marocco, China, Colombia, Peru, Taiwan and Thailand
YOU NEED TO APPLY for a Tourist Visa.

Over three months stay: YOU NEED TO PRESENT PERSONALLY to the Embassy or Consulate in your town or country to apply for a study visa.

Required documents:

1. a valid passport
2. a certificate of enrolment from ABC school
3. a declaration of available finances
4. a valid health insurance policy

One year stay:if you want to study in Italy for one year you need to apply for a study visa type D according to the lenght of your studies.

The maximum stay is 365 days.

Longer period stay: if you want to study in Italy for longer period you need to apply for a study visa type D of 365 days.

You need to renew it in Italy each year with a multi-year certificate for study in Italy (pluriennale)

Japanese students: required documents

1. a valid passport
2. a certificate of enrolment from the school ABC for a course of minimum 80 hours a month and with the fee of the already paid course.
3. a copy of the Document n. 10252/C20 that says that the school is authorised by the Italian Ministry of Education and a copy of the document of the Chamber of Commerce.