The Italian National Health Service (SSN, Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) provides all residents with largely free healthcare, including general practitioner/pediatrician’s visits and emergency care. It provides pharmaceutical drugs, specialist visits, medical diagnostics for free or with a relatively small contribution to expenses, the so-called ticket.
All workers and self-employed people have the right to enroll in the SSN.
EU workers legally residing in Italy have the right to access the National Healthcare System, and to be assisted by a family doctor or pediatrician.
If you plan to stay for less than 6 months
For shorter stays, people from the EU/EEA countries can take advantage of health services in the Lombardy region, for visits or to go to the hospital, by showing a valid ID, and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC / TEAM) of the State of origin.
European citizens working in Italy have the right to register in the National Healthcare System.
To enroll you have to go to any Scelta e Revoca counter along with:
- EU ID/Passport (copy and original)
- Copy of your Tax code
- Proof of Residence in an Italian Municipality (self declaration)
Additionally, depending on the type of worker you are, you will need to bring:
Subordinate workers, including seasonal employment:
- employment contract and/or payroll, or UNILAV form (confirming the employment relationship with an Italian employer and its duration, and details about social security INPS and IRPEF payments)
Self-employed worker:
- certification of registration with the Chamber of Commerce or a Professional Association
- certification of opening a VAT number or INPS position, or the previous year's income tax return (Mod. Unico) is necessary.
Unemployed EU worker
- former employment contract and/or payroll, or UNILAV form (confirming the terminated employment relationship and its duration)
- self-declaration of registration at the Employment Center where the individual is domiciled (D.I.D.). Learn more about DID
holders of S1 form (previously E106, E109, E120, E121)
- the S1 form
For each family member of an employed or self-employed worker:
- Dependent family members' ID or Passport
- Dependent family members' tax code
- Proof of residence in an Italian Municipality (self declaration)
- Self-certification of a dependent family member for tax purposes;
- translated marriage certificate not older than 6 months (if you have your spouse to support)
- birth certificate indicating paternity and maternity (if you have children to support).
- residence permit card or nulla osta or entry visa for family reunification purposes (only for non-EU family members)
Citizens from non-EU countries are enrolled in the National Health System if they possess a residence permit for the following reasons:
- Subordinate or autonomous work
- Waiting for employment (for persons who lost their job and enrolled as available to work)
- Family reasons (visa for family reunification or cohesion);
- Dependents (children and spouse) of the foreign citizens in irregular immigration situation are entitled to enroll in the regional health service with the regularly staying head of the family, pending regularization of their status.
- Non-EU family member of an EU worker/Italian citizen*
- Medical care only for pregnant women
- Waiting for adoption/Fostering/Physical and mental recovery of the minor
- Application for Political/International Humanitarian Asylum Political asylum
- Humanitarian reasons
- Subsidiary/International protection
- Holders of CE or UE permit for long-term residents (formerly Residence Card or “Carta di Soggiorno”)
Necessary documents:
- Passport
- Valid residence permit or receipt of the application for a residence permit issued by the relevant authorities (Police Headquarters, Prefecture, or Post Office)
- Tax code (certificate or card)
- Proof of residence in an Italian Municipality (self declaration)
Additionally, depending on the type of worker you are, you will need to bring:
Subordinate workers, including seasonal employment:
- employment contract and/or payroll, or UNILAV form (confirming the employment relationship with an Italian employer and its duration, and details about social security INPS and IRPEF payments)
Self-employed worker:
- certification of registration with the Chamber of Commerce or a Professional Association
- certification of opening a VAT number or INPS position, or the previous year's income tax return (Mod. Unico) is necessary.
If you’ve got dependent family members (spouse, children) coming with you , you'll need for each one of them also:
- Family members' passport
- Family members' tax code
- Residence permit for family reunification OR nulla osta issued by the Prefecture's Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l’immigrazione) OR family reunification entry visa issued by the Italian Embassies/Consulates in the country of origin and postal kit receipt for application for a residence permit or letter of summons to the Police Headquarters
- If you have a dependent spouse, a translated and legalized marriage certificate/civil union (not older than 6 months); certificate/certificate of registration of de facto unions;
- If you have dependent children, their birth certificates with indication of paternity and maternity, translated and legalized.
Your Healthcare registration expiration date will be the same as your residence permit.
To keep your enrollment during the renewal phase of your residence permit, you must present the postal kit receipt for renewing your residence permit or the letter of summons to the Police Headquarters to the Scelta e Revoca office.
Once you have obtained your residence permit, you must present it to the same office.
- Visit the Scelta e Revoca counter and submit the necessary documents (see above). We recommend booking an appointment via Zero Coda’s website.
- Pick a family doctor and/or pediatrician (for children under 14) from the provided list by the Local Health Authority (ASL). We recommend selecting a shortlist of 3 doctors, as your first choice may be full of patience.
- Upon registration, you'll receive a certificate that proves your enrollment into the National Healthcare System
- After registration, you will receive at home a health card, which is essential for accessing National Health Service (SSN) services.
N.B. The certificate you were issued at the Scelta e Revoca counter will serve as your health card until you receive it along with your tax code.
- Click on “Cosa vuoi prenotare” and select “Scelta/Revoca/Cambio del medico”
- Click on “Dove” and write Milano
- Now you can choose the most convenient date for you. You can filter the results either by proximity or by earliest availability
- Write e-mail and ITALIAN phone number
You will receive an email confirming your booking.