Students from European Union countries, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland:

- if you stay in Italy for less than 3 months: there are no formalities to take advantage of health services in the Lombardy region: in case you need a visit or to go to the hospital, show a valid ID, and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC / TEAM) of the State of origin.

 
- if you stay in Italy for more than 3 months: you should register with the National Health Service. If you are moving from European Union countries, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland you can temporarily transfer your health coverage to take advantage of Italian public healthcare like an Italian citizen, including a local general practitioner, by obtaining the S1 Form from your country of origin. Portable document S1 is issued by the competent authority in your country of origin and entitles you to transfer your health coverage in Italy for the period of your stay: start and expiry date are indicated on the form.

So our first tip is: if you are entitled to public health coverage in the EU, before coming to Milano for a long stay, remember to ask your local authorities to issue you the Europuen Health Insurance Card and the S1 Form. 

We are aware that often happens that students can't get an S1 form from their local authorities - according to the local policies or some other reason. In this case, you can can use EHIC during your stay as mentioned above, but as a temporary travel coverage it is not accepted to register as permanent resident in Milano.

EHIC is accepted as proof of healthcare coverage only for the registration as temporary resident with the EHIC.

1. Go to the application platform.

    

2. When you open the platform, click on “PROSEGUI” on the bottom right. Select “Iscrizione al Servizio Sanitario Regionale - Studenti Extracomunitari” if it’s your first time enrolling. If you wish to renew your subscription, select “Rinnovo al Servizio Sanitario Regionale - Students Extracomunitari” (the last option).

    

3. Once you selected the relevant option for you, click on “APRI RICHIESTA”.

    

4. In this page, you’ll be asked if you already have a permit of stay/residence permit card.

    

5. If you do or you are a citizen from the EU and Schengen area, go ahead and select “Sì, sono in possesso del Permesso di Soggiorno per Motivi di Studio o cittadino UE”.

    

6. If you are still waiting for your residence permit card, select the other option “No, non sono ancora in possesso del Permesso di Soggiorno per Motivi di Studio”.

    

7. Fill in the your personal information

   Nome: your name

   Cognome: your last name

   Codice fiscale: tax code

   Sesso: sex

   Luogo di nascita: place of birth, the country in which you were born

   Data di nascita: date of birth

   Nazionalità: nationality

   Domicilio / residenza estera: your domicile abroad

   Via di Domicilio / Residenza: street name

   Civico: street number

   Email and confirmation of your email

8. Place your Italian phone number in “Cellulare” and click on “INVIAMI SMS CODICE DI CONFERMA”. You’ll receive a message on your phone with a code that you’re going to put in the following field: “Inserisci Codice di Conferma ricevuto via SMS”.

    

9. In the following part of the form, you'll be asked to upload these documents (make a good pdf scan of each, front and back if applicable):

   If you have your permit of stay /residence permit card already, please upload a scan of it. If not, you’ll be asked to upload a scan of your passport personal data page and visa

   A scan of your Tax Code certificate or Tax Code card 

   Certificate of enrolment into your university

   The receipt of payment of your contribution 

   Self-certification of your domicile in Milano

    

10. By clicking on “CLICCA QUI PER CONSULTARE L’ELENCO MEDICI DAL SITO ATS MILANO” you’ll be able to see which doctors are available in your area. Choose three preferred doctors and place their name and last name in “Inserisci Nome e Cognome del Medico”.

Accept the privacy policy and click on “INVIA PRATICA” to submit your application.

TIP: The One Stop Shop is happy to help and see this process together or any questions you might have. Book an appointment here or a follow up via e-mail welcomestudents@yesmilano.it

You can join one of our workshops about the topic

This is the step-by-step procedure for voluntary enrolment in public health service:

1. Get a ticket in advance by signing up on the Ufficio Postale app, go to an ufficio postale and check in with the qr code at the machine at the entrance. Your call number will be put on the waiting list.

2. In the Ufficio postale you will find blank payment slips (usually at the info desk or at the tables inside the waiting area)

3. Fill in the  "Bollettino Postale" payment form. The contribution must be paid on the postal account 379222, in the name of (a favore di:) "P.T. REGIONE LOMBARDIA", reason for the payment (causale): “iscrizione al SSN anno…[write the year of coverage e. g. 2022] 
   (See our .pdf SLIDES attached to this article for an example of how to fill in the postal payment slip.)

4. Write also your personal data and go to the counter to pay, in cash or bank cards. You will get half of the payment slip, stamped by the post office, as a receipt of payment.

You can go to this link https://www.ats-milano.it/portale/Cerca-medico-o-pediatra and see available general practitioners (look for MMG doctors) (green dot) in your area.

You may also ask neighbours classmates and friends to suggest the name of a general practictioner in the area

When doctors have reached their maximum patients capacity, the dot is red

For the purpose of enrolling in the NHS, the Scelta e Revoca office will ask you for a choice of three GPs in case your first choice is unavailable. 

How to tell if the GP can speak English/my language? (Atm, there is no way to tell from the database. However, you can see the birth date and the graduation date on a doctor's file: younger doctors have a better chance to be able to speak English)

You will get an e-mail from the office, confirming that you have been enrolled for the year and the name of your doctor. 

You should get the health card at home via post (make sure your mailbox has your name on it) however you can retrieve a printable temporary copy of your health card of it on this platform using your SPID credentials

Since 'Scelta e Revoca' officers pick up your domicile data (address) from the revenue office tax code database.

Many students, who have got their tax code from the Consular office or through their university, need to update this record.

It is fundamental that you update the address "tax domicile" on tax records and that the address you give on the enrolment form and the address on your tax records are the same.

You can do so by using this form as "change of data and providing the new 'tax domicile' - your address in Milano. Submit the form via e-mail along with a copy of your ID to the nearest Revenue Agency branch ("Ufficio Territoriale") by stating that you need an update of your tax domicle to allow your enrollment in NHS / SSN

For one-to-one support, please take an appointment at the One-Stop-Shop

You can voluntarily enroll in the SSN and benefit from its services, by paying a (relatively inexpensive) fee, or "contribution".

Enrolment in SSN entitles you to have a general practitioner and benefit from public healthcare services (on the Italian territory only).

The voluntary registration (registrazione volontaria) validity period always starts on 1/1 and expires on 31/12 of the current solar year, no matter when you enroll.

For students without dependents, the cost is €149.77 per solar year.

For people who are no longer students, researchers not enrolled as students, and students with dependent family members*, the minimum contribution is 7,50% over the past year's income up to € 20.658,28 and 4% on income between € 20.658,28 and  € 51.645.69. If you had no income in the previous year, the minimum amount applies:€387.34 per solar year.

The contribution must be paid in one single payment.

It is never retroactive nor fractionable (that means: they are not taking charge of any event before the date of enrolment and that you can't enroll for a part of the solar year only).

This is the step-by-step procedure for voluntary enrolment in public health services:

1. Find the ASST office ("Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale" - it is the administrative entity that manages local health services) competent in the area where you reside. Areas of competence are based on the "Municipal" (Municipi are the smaller administrative zones of Milano, often shown with a number). 
   Try to find out in which "Municipio" you live: ask your landlord, a neighbor, or any shop owner nearby... or look up this map. Then you may make an appointment in person at the "Scelta e Revoca" office - the department in charge of assigning and changing General practitioners to citizens and enrolling new users.

   You can access "Scelta e Revoca" offices by taking an appointment online (see below)
    

2. Go to the post office, get and fill in one blank "Bollettino Postale" payment form. The contribution must be paid on the postal account 379222, in the name of (a favore di:) "P.T. REGIONE LOMBARDIA", reason for the payment (causale): “iscrizione al SSN anno…[write the year of coverage]
3. (See our .pdf SLIDES attached to this article for an example of how to fill in the postal payment slip.)
4. Download the application form above (English Language, printouts are also available at the Scelta e Revoca counter) and fill it in with your data: 
   If you are a student on your own, fill it in until LUMP SUM PAYMENT: € 149,77 and skip to date and signature.
   If you wish to register with dependant family members fill in also the second part of the form about family members and income declaration. (If in doubt, ask the Scelta e Revoca staff for instructions)
    
5. On your appointment
   • Students from European Union countries, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland that applies voluntarily:
     • Bring with you: an application form, tax code, valid identity document (both in original plus one photocopy) and a self-certification of residence/domicile, and receipt of payment of the contribution.
        
   • Students from non-European countries already in possession of a residence permit for study:
     • Bring with you: an application form, passport, residence permit, tax code (in original and one photocopy), certificate of enrollment in the course of study, and receipt of payment of the contribution.
        
   • Students from non-European countries in possession of the application receipt for a residence permit for study only (some limitations apply*):
     • you will need to bring: your passport, tax code, entry visa for study reasons, the receipt/attestation of having applied for a residence permit (all in original, plus one photocopy), certificate of enrollment in the course of study (issued by your university /institute), receipt of payment of the contribution
        
     • *Please note: for students without an issued residence permit it is not possible to register any dependents.
        
     • *The voluntary registration is valid for 3 months and can be extended by providing the same documentation (via e-mail) to the Scelta e Revoca office, until obtaining the residence permit for study. 
       Once in possession of the actual residence permit, you may send to the Scelta e Revoca office a scan of the residence permit and the documentation and have it registered: the deadline for your coverage, then, will be set to 31 December of the current year.
        
6. The officer will also assist you in choosing a local general practitioner in your area from a list You can also bring with you a shortlist of some GPs in your area. Please consider that GPs who have reached the maximum number of patients might not be available to choose from.
    
7. As a result of the registration process, the officer will give you a paper document which must be shown as a health card at the time to request any health service.

Skip-the-queue tip for renewals: If you are already registered with SSN, renewals can be done also with some anticipation, provided you indicate on the payment slip the year for which you pay and you provide a certificate of enrollment in a course of study stating that you will be enrolled for the next year.

Send the usual documentation and the new payment receipt through the online application form or (if you belong to a category that has to apply in-person) your Scelta e Revoca office by e-mail and remember to write to the officers that you are renewing the enrolment for the subsequent year. 

we asked EU countries health services about their policies on EHIC and  S1 Read some of their feedback

Those, both EU and non-EU citizens, who are enrolled in an academic year for a research doctorate, and don't have dependent family members, are entitled to voluntary enrollment by paying the flat-rate contribution as students (see above).

Those researchers, both EU and non-EU, who are holders of research grants, postdoctoral scholarships and have signed with a University or research institution registered with M.I.U.R. a contract of self-employment, subordinate or research training scholarship (contratto di lavoro  autonomo / subordinato, borsa di addestramento di ricerca), even if they pay INPS contributions, are entitled to voluntary registration, paying the contribution, calculated on income received (7.50% up to € 20,658.27 + 4% on the remaining € 30,987.41 up to a maximum of € 51,646). 

Refer via e-mail to any Ufficio Scelta e Revoca for the calculation of the right amount or ask the One-Stop-Shop

If the holder of a residence permit for "job search" is "unemployed", the Ministry of Heath has indicated that the person must be registered with the SSN voluntarily by paying a contribution proportional to the income of the previous year (see above) and, in the case of income equal to zero, the contribution will be € 387.34.

Voluntary registration, regardless of when it is activated, lasts until 31/12 of the current year.

Source: ASST Milano

If you got the S1 Form you can register for free at the Italian NHS in person:

1. Find the ASST office ("Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale" - it is the administrative entity that manages local health services) competent in the area where you reside. Areas of competence are based on the "Municipi" (Milano's administrative zones, often indicated with a number). Try to find out in which "Municipio" you live: ask your landlord, a neighbor, or any shop owner nearby... or look it up on this map.
    
2. Find the location and timetable of the "Ufficio Estero" (this is the office that handles international procedures) of your local ASST office.  

   Ufficio Estero for residents in zone 3 or 4

   Ufficio Estero for residents in zones: 5-6-7

   Ufficio Estero for residents in zone 9

   Alternatively, you can look up and go to the "Scelta e Revoca" counters (these are the counters in charge of assigning a general practitioner to citizens) at your local ASST location. Uffici scelta e revoca in all zones.

3. Take an in-person appointment by writing to their e-mail. 
   Or use the online form https://saltacoda.asst-fbf-sacco.it/booking/calendar.php
    
4. Go to Ufficio Estero / Scelta e Revoca counter with a valid ID and Tax code in original - plus one photocopy of both - along with the S1 form and a self-certification of domicile/residence (in which you will self-assess your address in Milano - you can download a template attached to this article).
    
5. The office will retain the first sheet of the S1 and the photocopies and enroll you in the SSN. They will also assist you in choosing a local general practitioner from a list. They will issue you with a form called "Allegato 1" ("Annex 1") which must be shown as a health card at the time to request any health service.

Enrolment in the SSN is valid for one year from the date of application. Should you stay longer, you can follow this same procedure to renew the enrolment until the expiration date stated on the S1 form. 

Please note: if you need planned health treatment, e.g. for chronic disease, you need to ask your local authority for S2 form - Authorisation to obtain planned treatment abroad.

The voluntary membership is valid all over the Italian territory only. 

If you travel or have a course in another EU country, you should get additional coverage, e.g. good travel insurance. 

Please also note:

Students from non-European countries with a bilateral agreement with Italy:

In general, bilateral social security agreements guarantee only urgent services for temporary stays except for pensioners and posted workers. Therefore it is advisable to register voluntarily with the methods specified above.

The voluntary registration with the SSN always expires on 31/12 of the current year, it is never retroactive nor fractionable and entitles the general practitioner and health services only on the Italian territory. 

For technical reasons, first-time applications must be done after the 1st of January of the year in which you want to enroll.

The voluntary registration with the SSN does not entitle you to:

a. Issue of the European Health Insurance Card (TEAM) 
b. Issuing of legal certificates required by bilateral agreements in force
c. Issue of the certificate according to art. 15 of Presidential Decree 618/80
d. Issue of portable document S2 (high specialization care abroad)

To book an appointment for Scelta e Revoca office:

Go on the Zerocoda booking platform 

in Cosa vuoi prenotare? Choose Scelta / Revoca / Cambio del medico

in Dove? choose Milano and click on the magnifying glass icon 

A list of the available appointments will appear ( a map will show the location of the offices)

Choose the day and place, the time slot, fill in the form with your e-mail and Italian mobile number.

The main Scelta e Revoca Office are:

Via A. Doria, 52

Piazzale Accursio, 7 

Via Rugabella 4/6

Via Serlio, 8

P.zza Bande Nere, 3

Usually, if you or your family did not pay contributions in Italy, you can have access to the voluntary membership for students (see above)

-

-