Tessera Sanitaria For Foreigners – What Expats Should Know Before Arriving
Expats: make your Italian stay easier. Discover how to get the Tessera Sanitaria, enroll in the SSN, and access public healthcare without stress.
It allows you to get assistance at the local health center, at the pharmacy, in the hospital or for a check-up. It also allows you to access the services and facilities of the National Healthcare System (SSN). The Health Card is free of charge and available to all citizens.
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Tessera Sanitaria For Foreigners Requirements
My experience getting my Tessera Sanitaria might be different than yours because I am an Italian citizen and the process is a little bit different. Foreigners who wish to apply for a health card must first register with the National Health Service (SSN). The first question you will need to ask is are you entitled to the health card. The requirements are:
You must hold a residence permit and you need to be legally employed or self-employed.
Of course you will need to be living in Italy legally.
Dependents of family members who meet these requirements are also entitled.
Health Insurance Card For Italians
I’m writing this section for people who grew up in the US, but like me obtained their Italian citizenship later in life. When we moved to Italy, after having our tax identification card (Codice Fiscale), we followed this process:
You can’t start the process while you are in temporary housing, like an Airbnb, so you will need to find your ‘permanent’ residence, enter into a lease agreement for your apartment in Italy and register your residence with the Office of Change of Residence and Habitation (Ufficio Cambi di Residenza e Abitazione) in the municipality of your new home.
Registering With Local Health Services
Once you are a registered resident, either a citizen or non-citizen, you will then need to register with the local health services (Azienda Sanitaria Locale – ASL). This is required to be done in person and it is also when you will learn if your residence registration was done correctly.
I mention this because our residential registration was not done correctly and it held up this process. We needed to return to the municipal offices multiple times and eventually got it cleaned up.
Required To Register For Health Services In Italy?
To register, you are required to:
Go to the relevant ASL office in your zone.
Bring your identity document (i.e. passport)
Bring your tax code number or card (Codice Fiscale)
Bring the residence permit you received when you registered your apartment.
Now, you will need to select a doctor as your primary care physician (medico di base). If you didn’t already have one in mind from a suggestion by a friend or relative, you will need to choose one from the list of doctors posted on the wall.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information available on the doctors apart from their name, address, phone numbers and office hours. I chose my doctor based on the office location because at this point I was prioritizing convenience, but I also knew that I could change this as more information became available.
Getting A Temporary Italian Health Card
Once all this is done, you will receive a paper copy of your health card and can use it immediately. You will eventually receive your physical card mailed to your address in a couple weeks. At this point you are in the system.
If You Move In Italy, How Do I Get A New Health Card
If you decide to relocate to another apartment, municipality or city in Italy, you will need to return to the municipality and repeat the process for registering your address and continue again from there.
How Can Citizens of Non-EU Countries Get A Tessera Sanitaria In Italy?
Foreigners who regularly stay in Italy for a period of more than three months and who are not entitled to compulsory registration are required to insure themselves against the risk of illness, accident and maternity, by taking out a private insurance policy with voluntary registration with the health system (SSN) through the payment of an annual flat-rate contribution.
The right to voluntarily register with the SSN is for:
Students and au pairs even for periods of less than three months
Those who hold a residence permit for elective residence and do not carry out any work activity
Religious personnel (not compulsory to register)
Diplomatic and consular staff of foreign representations operating in Italy
Foreign employees of international organizations operating in Italy
Foreigners participating in volunteer programs
Parents over 65 with entry into Italy for family reunification after 5 November 2008
The amount you pay for the annual flat-rate contribution is calculated based on your income, but the amount cannot be less than 387.34€. If you are a student, the flat-rate contribution of 149.77€ is provided only if the student has no income other than scholarships or financial subsidies provided by Italian public bodies. The flat-rate contribution, for students and au pairs, is not valid if these people have dependent family members. In this case, the amount of the contribution is as if you were a regular employee.
Latest Updates For The Tessera Sanitaria For Foreigners
There have been some recent fee changes to be aware of. For example, voluntary registration for students, au-pairs and dependents requires an annual fee (starting at €700 in 2024) and gives you a Tessera Sanitaria that doubles as your EU health-insurance card.
UK residents (post-Brexit) should travel with the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which grants the same “medically necessary” coverage inside Italian public health facilities as the old EHIC. FYI, it may not cover all health costs and is not a substitute for travel insurance.
| Healthcare Costs In Italy 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Specialist visit or diagnostic test | €15 to €36.15 |
| Non-urgent emergency-room visit | €25 |
| Prescription medicines, class A per pack | €0 to €4 |
| Private Clinics per visit | €50 to €70 |
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Get A Tessera Sanitaria For Foreigners
Here are some of the top questions foreign residents and expats are asking:
- Who Is Eligible For A Tessera Sanitaria In Italy As A Foreigner? – Anyone with a legal residency in Italy, is employed, is a student or is an EU citizen. Tourists and short-term visitors are not eligible.
- What Documents Do I Need To Apply For The Tessera Sanitaria? – You will need your passport, codice fiscale, permesso di soggiorno (if applicable) and proof of residency, employment and insurance.
- Can Non-EU Foreigners Get A Tessera Sanitaria? – Yes, non-EU foreigners can get a Tessera Sanitaria.
- How Long Does It Take To Get The Tessera Sanitaria After Registration? – The physical card can take 2–8 weeks to arrive by mail at your residence, but ASL offices will provide a temporary printed certificate for immediate use.
- Is The Tessera Sanitaria Free, Or Is There A Fee For Foreigners? – A fee is required for all non-EU residents.
- What Medical Services Does The Tessera Sanitaria Cover Under The SSN? – Everything, except dental, is included as part of the SNN, including: Visits to a medico di base, a specialist, emergency care, hospitalization and surgeries, preventative care and prescriptions.
- Can Students, Au-Pairs, Or Retirees Access The Tessera Sanitaria? – Yes, but depending on your specific situation, you may need to pay the annual fee.
- What Happens To My Tessera Sanitaria If I Move To Another City In Italy? – You do not need a new card, but you must update your registration at the local ASL office in your new location.
- Can I Use Tessera Sanitaria Throughout Italy? – Yes, you can use this tessera sanitaria card throughout Italy.
- What Should I Do If My Residence Documentation Changes? – You will need to re-register if: your residency permit is renewed, your residency status changes, your address changes or if your family/dependent status changes.
Health Insurance In Italy Results
Knowing how to get a Tessera Sanitaria in Italy is complicated, even more so if there are problems with your residence registration, but it is an important part of integrating yourself into Italian society. Beyond the guidance above, I would strongly recommend getting assistance from someone who speaks Italian fluently. The reputation for the Italian bureaucracy has been earned and there is quite a bit of it in this process. Doing it without the language barrier would be a huge plus.
If you would like to learn more about Italian healthcare and staying healthy, these are some other articles that you might find interesting as well:
- Health And Wellness In Rome Made Simple
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- These Self-Care Tips For Rome Will Make Travel Amazing.
- Enjoying Early Morning Rome Can Help With Your Insomnia.
- The Best Spots For Running In Rome Are Easy To Find.
- Rome’s Train Station Has Pharmacies To Keep You Healthy.
- Pickleball In Italy Is Waiting For You And Here Is Where.
- Living La Dolce Vita Is Easier Than You Might Think!
- Why Is The Life Expectancy In Italy Higher Than In The US?
- Using Pharmacies In Italy Is Simple With This Guide.
- My Experience With Italian Healthcare Has Been Eye-opening.
- The North Vs South Italy Cultural Differences Are Important.
