Permesso di Soggiorno for Medical Treatment

What is the permesso di soggiorno for medical treatment?

The permesso di soggiorno for medical treatment is a residence permit that allows a foreign national to come to or remain in Italy for serious health reasons.

Italian law provides for two main situations:

• Entry from abroad for medical treatment: people who come to Italy with a specific visa to receive medical treatment.
• People already present in Italy: those who are in the country and have a serious illness or health condition requiring urgent treatment.

Who can apply

The following people may obtain a residence permit for medical treatment:

1. People entering Italy for medical treatment. In this case, the applicant must have a medical certificate from the country of residence attesting to the illness; a declaration from an Italian healthcare facility (public or accredited private) indicating the type of treatment, start date, duration, and estimated cost; proof of payment or a deposit of at least 30% of the cost of the treatment, or an authorisation from the regional authority or the Ministry of Health in the case of humanitarian programmes.
2. People already present in Italy with serious health problems and without a regular permesso di soggiorno. They may apply for the permit if their condition is certified by a doctor or a public healthcare facility. The illness must be serious and must require immediate or long-term treatment.

How to apply

From abroad

• Apply for a medical treatment visa at the Italian embassy or consulate.
• Attach medical documentation, financial documents, and any required deposit to cover the expected expenses.
• Once you arrive in Italy, submit the application for a residence permit to the Questura (police station) within 8 days of arrival.

In Italy

• Submit the application directly at the Questura.
• Attach personal documents, medical certification, photographs, and the residence permit application form.
• For renewal, provide new medical documentation showing that the treatment must continue.

Duration and renewal of the permit

The duration of the permit depends on the length of the treatment, but it generally does not exceed one year. The permesso may be renewed if the illness persists, by submitting updated medical documentation.

It is not possible to convert a permesso for medical treatment into a permesso for work purposes.

Important!

People who obtain a residence permit for medical treatment are not automatically enrolled in the National Health Service (SSN). This means that, in most cases, planned treatments must be paid for directly by the patient or through private health insurance. Some urgent or essential services may still be provided by public healthcare facilities, but full access to the SSN, available to holders of permesso di soggiorno for work, family reasons, or international protection, is not granted. For those entering Italy exclusively to receive medical treatment, it is therefore essential to have documentation proving financial coverage for healthcare expenses.