Health coverage to apply for a residence permit

To apply for a residence permit in Italy, students must register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN) or have a health insurance (against the risk of illness, accident, maternity) valid in Italy.

Registration with the Italian National Health Service (SSN)

Italy has a public health system called “Servizio Sanitario Nazionale” (SSN), divided into Healthcare Boards (“Aziende Unità Sanitarie Locali - AUSL”).

If you apply for a residence permit for study purposes, you can register with the Italian SSN at a cost of € 149,77 per year.

By registering with the Italian SSN you get the same services guaranteed to Italian citizens.

Read how to register with the Italian SSN in the section dedicated to students of non-EU citizenship.

Health insurance policy

As an alternative to registering with the Italian SSN, you can prove that you have a health insurance policy (against the risk of illness, accident, maternity) valid in Italy.

Health insurance policy must meet the following requirements:

- it must be valid in Italy and cover the risk of illness, accident, maternity;

- it must be made out in your name.

You can purchase a health insurance policy from various private companies. Compare more options to find out which one best meets your needs.

Carefully read the contract and check which expenses can be reimbursed and how (the costs for hospitalization can be very high and the time to get reimbursements can be long).

Attention: the duration of the residence permit for study purposes is a maximum of one year. A shorter duration of the residence permit may be due to several factors, including the duration of health coverage: in no case the issued residence permit can be longer than your health insurance policy or Italian National Health Service (SSN) registration.