Healthcare in Italy for International Students

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HomeMade

From the EHIC to the tessera sanitaria, SSN enrolment to finding a GP — everything you need to know about accessing medical care as a foreign student in Italy.

Italy's national health service — the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) — is one of the most comprehensive in Europe, providing access to GPs, specialists, hospitals, diagnostic services and prescription medicines to all those legitimately enrolled. For international students, navigating entry into this system depends on one key variable: where you are from and what documents you hold on arrival.
EU and EEA Students: Start with the EHIC
If you are an EU or EEA citizen, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — known in Italian as the Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia (TEAM) — provides immediate access to state-provided healthcare from the moment you arrive. You do not need to register with the SSN to use it: simply present the card each time you visit a public health facility, and you will receive treatment under the same conditions as Italian nationals insured by the national system.
The EHIC covers medically necessary care in public facilities but does not cover private treatment, repatriation, personal liability or travel-related expenses. For this reason, it is strongly advisable to hold supplementary travel insurance alongside the EHIC — especially for longer stays — to cover scenarios the national system does not.
For stays exceeding 90 days, EU students may also choose to register formally with the SSN through the local ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale). This entitles them to a tessera sanitaria and the choice of a local GP (medico di base), which is particularly useful for managing ongoing or chronic conditions, obtaining prescriptions and accessing specialist referrals. Registration requires the codice fiscale, proof of residence and a valid identity document. The tessera sanitaria is then issued with the same validity period as the underlying enrolment.
Non-EU Students: Voluntary SSN Enrolment
For students arriving from outside the EU with a permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio (residence permit for study), the SSN operates differently. Non-EU students do not qualify for mandatory free enrolment — this category is reserved for workers, family members and asylum seekers — but are expressly included in the voluntary enrolment category under Article 34 of Italy's Immigration Consolidation Act.
Voluntary SSN enrolment for foreign students with a study permit costs a flat annual contribution of €700, valid for the calendar year from 1 January to 31 December and not divisible into shorter periods. This contribution entitles the student to the full range of SSN services on the same basis as Italian nationals: GP access, specialist referrals, hospitalisation, diagnostics and prescription medicines. Importantly, voluntary enrolment does not entitle the holder to the European TEAM card on the back of the tessera sanitaria — that remains an EU-only benefit.
Enrolment is carried out at the ASL office corresponding to your residence or actual domicile as stated in your permesso di soggiorno. Documents required are: valid permesso di soggiorno (or receipt of application), proof of residence or domicile, codice fiscale, and proof of payment of the €700 contribution (paid via the F24 tax form). The tessera sanitaria is then issued with the same duration as the permesso di soggiorno. When the permit is renewed, the enrolment must also be renewed.
The alternative to voluntary SSN enrolment is taking out a private health insurance policy valid in Italy for the duration of the stay. This is accepted by the Questura as proof of health coverage at the permesso di soggiorno application stage. However, private insurance typically costs more in total than the €700 SSN contribution for a full academic year, and provides narrower and less reliable access to the breadth of care the national system offers.
Choosing a GP
Once enrolled in the SSN — whether via voluntary or mandatory registration — you are entitled to choose a medico di base (general practitioner) from the list maintained by your local ASL. This is a straightforward process done at the ASL enrolment office. Your GP becomes the gateway to the rest of the healthcare system: prescribing medications, issuing referrals to specialists, and certifying illness for academic purposes. Each specialist visit through the SSN involves the payment of a ticket (co-payment), which varies by region and service, though exemptions apply for specific income conditions and medical categories.
Emergency Care: What Everyone Is Entitled To
Regardless of insurance status or permit situation, Italy guarantees certain healthcare rights to all persons on its territory. The Pronto Soccorso (A&E) of any public hospital must provide urgent care to anyone presenting, regardless of documentation. For students who are in the process of regularising their status or whose permit is pending renewal, the SSN can use a provisional tax code to register the enrolment. For those entirely outside the regular system, ASL offices issue a temporary STP (Straniero Temporaneamente Presente) card, valid six months and renewable, which covers urgent and essential treatment in public facilities.
In Practice: The Steps to Take on Arrival
The logical sequence for non-EU students is as follows. First, obtain the codice fiscale (at the Agenzia delle Entrate). Second, apply for the permesso di soggiorno within eight working days of arrival. Third, pay the €700 SSN contribution via F24 and enrol at the local ASL. Fourth, choose a medico di base. EU students should carry their EHIC at all times and, if staying longer than 90 days, consider registering with the ASL and choosing a GP for continuity of care.

Stay Updated
Healthcare access rules, contribution amounts and SSN enrolment procedures are subject to annual review and can vary by region. For the latest information, consult the Get Started section of this publication. Official sources include: the Ministero della Salute at salute.gov.it; the Agenzia delle Entrate at agenziaentrate.gov.it for tessera sanitaria queries; and your host university's International Office or Student Services, which in many cases provides dedicated support for SSN registration and GP selection during orientation.
Information reflects procedures and contribution amounts applicable as of the 2025/2026 academic year. Always verify current requirements with your local ASL before arrival.