Health Insurance — requirements for non-EU students

Health insurance is mandatory to obtain a study visa and to apply for a Residence Permit for stays longer than 90 days. We recommend buying it before leaving for Italy.

01Minimum policy requirements

According to the Italian healthcare system, the policy must meet all of these requirements:

In your name in Western Latin characters.
Issued in English or Italian.
Valid across the entire Schengen Area / Italy.
Must cover the entire duration of your stay (start and end dates).
Minimum coverage: €30,000 for medical expenses (amount expressed/converted to Euros).
Must include: emergency care, urgent hospitalisation, repatriation costs, and repatriation in case of serious illness.

02Three practical options

A. Policy from your home country

International companies with global coverage (Allianz Travel, AXA, World Nomads, Cigna Global). Verify they meet the 7 requirements above. Advantage: already active when you land.

B. Italian online policy

The platform waitaly.net is simple, designed for international students, and produces a compliant document. Indicative cost: €50–150 depending on duration.

C. Enrollment in the SSN (Italian National Health Service)

Only for annual or multi-year Residence Permits. Cost: ~€700/year for non-EU students (figure updated annually). Pay at the post office with form F24. Once enrolled, you get:

Family doctor (free) — your first contact for any non-urgent issue.
Tessera Sanitaria health card linked to your tax code.
Emergency room free of charge.
Specialist visits and tests with small co-pay (€20–60).

For anyone staying more than 6 months, the SSN is almost always the most convenient option.

Where to enroll in SSN — ASL offices & hours

Go to the local ASL/ATS office with: passport + residence permit (or postal receipt) + codice fiscale + university enrolment certificate + F24 payment receipt.

Milan — ATS Milano

Corso Italia 52 · 20122 Milano (MI)

Hours: by appointment — varies per Municipio

Booking: ats-milano.it

Voluntary SSN ~€2,000/year for some student categories; check rate at enrollment.

Florence — ASL Toscana Centro

Presidio D'Annunzio, Via D'Annunzio 29 · 50135 Firenze (FI)

Hours: by appointment (central booking)

Booking: tel 055 545454 opt.2 · email iscrizioni.volontarie@asf.toscana.it

Other branches: Lungarno Santa Rosa 15 (Q1–4), Viale Morgagni 33 (Q5).

Mantua — ATS Val Padana

Via dei Toscani 1 · 46100 Mantova (MN)

Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 08:30–12:30 · Thu 08:30–16:30

Booking: tel 0376 3341

Bring all originals plus a photocopy of each.

Turin — ASL Centro ISI

Via Bazzi 19 (ang. Lungo Dora Savona 24) · 10152 Torino (TO)

Hours: Mon–Fri 08:30–12:00 + 13:00–15:00

Contact: tel 011 240 3625 · centro.isi@aslcittaditorino.it

Centre dedicated to foreign students and migrants — multilingual staff.

03What to bring to the Residence Permit Kit

When you hand in the Residence Permit Kit at the Sportello Amico, include a photocopy of the full policy + the coverage certificate (the page that states name, dates, ceiling, requirements). Keep the original with you.

Common trap. Basic "travel" policies bought last-minute at the airport do not meet the requirements (ceiling too low, duration too short, no repatriation cover). Verify the 7 requirements before buying.

04If you hold an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)

EU/EEA/Swiss students with a valid EHIC have public healthcare coverage in Italy equivalent to the SSN, with no further policy needed for the Residence Permit (where applicable).

Help with SSN and policy

Our orientation team takes you to the ASL for SSN enrollment during the first week. Write to info@accademiaditaliano.it with any doubts about which policy to choose — we reply within one business day.