Foreign Citizens

The rules governing healthcare for foreign nationals in Italy vary, depending on whether they are citizens of the European Union or not.

Consult the list of EU countries.

Switzerland and the United Kingdom are not member states, but when it comes to healthcare, they follow the same regulations as the EU states.
Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland belong to the European Economic Area; when it comes to healthcare, they follow the same regulations as the EU states.

Based on the reason for the issuance of the residence permit, it is possible to have:

a compulsory registration (for example, persons with a residence permit for dependent or self-employment work, application for asylum, political asylum/refugee status, humanitarian and subsidiary protection, pending adoption, foster care, application for citizenship, awaiting employment, pregnancy, etc.) or a voluntary registration (for example, persons with a study residence permit, diplomatic personnel, religious personnel, etc.).

Compulsory registration

During the issuance or renewal phase of the residence permit, a compulsory registration is carried out, by submitting the documentation certifying the request, valid until the residence permit is issued.

For registration with the National Health Service and the choice of a general practitioner (i.e. a family doctor) and/or a pediatrician, it is necessary to contact the CUP desks in the AslTo3 area or send an email to: scelta.revoca@aslto3.piemonte.it, providing the following documents:

• Personal identification document;
• Residence permit and/or documentation proving the request for issuance/renewal of the residence permit;
• Tax code (codice fiscale) issued by the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle entrate), and/or indicated on the residence permit and/or on the documentation issued by the unique immigration desk (sportello unico per l’immigrazione).

NB: For persons over 65 years of age with a residence permit for family reunification, only voluntary registration is required, except for those who have proof of regular residence in Italy prior to November 5, 2008, or those reuniting with a child who holds Italian citizenship. Healthcare coverage is extended to dependent family members residing legally.

Voluntary registration

Voluntary registration is treated in detail below under the heading “Citizens requesting voluntary registration.”

Basic healthcare is guaranteed to non-EU citizens without a residence permit, i.e., foreign nationals temporarily present (STP – Stranieri Temporaneamente Presenti). Specifically, the following are ensured:

• Outpatient and urgent hospital or essential care, even if they are continuous, for illness and injury, in accordance with the principle of continuity of care;
• Care during pregnancy and maternity;
• Safeguarding the health of minors;
• Vaccinations required by national regulations and within the area of public health prevention measures authorized by the Region;
• International vaccinations;
• Prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases;

Foreign nationals without a residence permit

A special card with a regional code marked STP is issued by the relevant ISI Centers to foreign nationals without a residence permit, which (the card) must be presented in order to access the healthcare services, to which they are entitled. The card is valid for six months throughout the national territory and it is renewable, during the stay of the foreigner in Italy.

At the ISI desk, healthcare personnel (Doctor and Nurse) provide basic healthcare assistance (similar to that of a general practitioner). They can prescribe both medication using the National Health Service (SSN) prescription forms, and diagnostic and specialist tests that the patient can carry out at the local health authority (ASL) facilities.

At the ISI desk, the foreign national is also received by an Intercultural Mediator, a key professional figure who facilitates better communication between the patient and the doctor, not only in terms of linguistic understanding, but especially on bridging different cultural perspectives and approaches to health and illness.

EU citizens residing for more than 3 months and not eligible for SSN registration

EU citizens who have been residing for more than 3 months, and are not eligible for registration with the National Health Service (SSN) are guaranteed basic healthcare assistance, similar to the non-EU citizens without a residence permit, through the issuance of a card with an ENI (Europeo Non Iscrivibile – European Not Registrable) code at the ISI desks.

The use of healthcare services does not involve any reporting to the judicial police by the healthcare providers.

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