The Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes can be issued for three different reasons:
- For non-EU foreign citizens who have entered Italy with a Visa for Medical Treatment Purposes and for their accompanying persons (Law No. 286/98, Article 36). It must be requested from the Immigration Office of the competent Police Headquarters within 8 days of entry into the territory.
- For non-EU foreign citizens who are on the territory for other reasons, even without a residence permit, who are in conditions of severe health issues (Law No. 286/98, Article 19, paragraph 2, letter d-bis as amended by Article 1, paragraph 1, letter g, Decree Law No. 113 of October 4, 2018, converted, with amendments, by Law No. 132 of December 1, 2018).
- For non-EU foreign female citizens on the territory for other reasons as per Law No. 286/98, Article 19, paragraph 2, letter d, which prohibits the expulsion of pregnant women or within six months after childbirth, provided by the state. Therefore, the permit can only be requested from the third month of pregnancy onwards.
The Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes has a variable duration:
- According to the necessary and sufficient duration to cover the entire medical treatment provided by the issuance of the Entry Visa,
- For one year, renewable according to certified necessary treatments for those in serious health conditions,
- For six months before and six months after in the case of pregnancy.
The Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes may be renewed if the requirements and circumstances exist.
Law Decree No. 130 of October 21, 2020, converted with amendments by Law No. 173 of December 18, 2020, allows:
- Employment for the permit obtained under Article 36 of the Consolidated Immigration Act;
- The decree provided for conversion to work for the permit obtained under Article 19 bis of the Consolidated Immigration Act, but the law decree of March 10, 2023, converted into Law No. 50 of May 5, 2023, abolished this possibility.
The initial issuance of the Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes The non-EU foreign citizen must go directly to the competent Police Headquarters (reference: Immigration Office) within 8 days from the date of entry into Italy and request the issuance of the Residence Permit. After verifying the validity of the visa, the Police Headquarters delivers the request form to be filled out.
The following must be attached to the application:
- Completed form 209 (or paper form 209);
- Photocopy of the passport or equivalent valid document (pages containing personal data, photograph, stamps, visas);
- 4 passport-sized photographs;
- (Article 36) Declaration issued by the hospital regarding the type of treatment, start date, and duration, including any expected hospitalization;
- (Article 19, paragraph 2, letter d-bis) Certification from a treating physician regarding the seriousness of the foreign citizen’s condition, the need for treatment, and the inability to leave the territory due to the risk to life;
- (Article 19, paragraph 2, letter d) Medical certificate regarding the estimated date of childbirth;
- Photocopy of the hospitality communication; particularly documentation of availability in Italy of food and accommodation for the accompanying person (if present) for the convalescence period of the person concerned;
- €16.00 revenue stamp.
The application can be submitted, through delegation, by a relative or anyone else with an interest (including the hospital or other care facility where the foreigner is staying).
A similar Residence Permit can also be requested by a non-EU foreign family member who has accompanied the patient seeking medical treatment.
Application Costs The amounts of contributions payable by adult foreigners are as follows:
- Receipt of payment of €30.46 for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit (PSE) to be paid into postal current account No. 67422402 payable to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department with the reason “amount for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit”;
- Contribution payment of €40.00 for the issuance of a Residence Permit for a duration exceeding three months and up to one year.
The Police Headquarters takes the fingerprints and photographic identification of the foreign citizen.
The Police Headquarters provides the foreign citizen with a receipt and indicates the date of appointment to collect the residence permit.
The Residence Permit can be collected, through delegation, by a relative or anyone else with an interest (including the hospital or other care facility where the foreigner is staying).
The Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes allows for employment, both subordinate and autonomous, as specified by Article 1, paragraph 1, letter i), of Decree Law No. 130 of October 21, 2020, converted with amendments by Law No. 173 of December 18, 2020, which amended Article 36, paragraph 3, of Legislative Decree No. 286/98 and subsequent amendments and additions to the Consolidated Immigration Act.
A similar Residence Permit can also be requested by a non-EU foreign family member who has accompanied the patient seeking medical treatment.
The Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes may be renewed if the requirements and circumstances exist.
Renewal of the Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes It is necessary for the non-EU foreign citizen to continue staying in Italy for Medical Treatment Purposes when the residence permit is expiring or has expired. The renewal application must be submitted to the Police Headquarters by the expiry date of the permit in possession and, in special cases, up to 60 days after the expiry of the said permit. It must be requested directly from the Immigration Office of the competent Police Headquarters by completing the appropriate form.
The following must be attached to the application:
- Completed form 210 (or paper form 209);
- Photocopy of the expiring or expired Residence Permit for Medical Treatment Purposes;
- Photocopy of the passport or equivalent valid document (pages containing personal data, photograph, stamps, visas);
- 4 passport-sized photographs;
- (Article 36) Declaration issued by the hospital regarding the need to continue the treatment as urgent and deliverable only in Italy, with attached report;
- (Article 19, paragraph 2, letter d-bis) Declaration from the doctor regarding the seriousness of the situation;
- (Article 19, paragraph 2, letter d) Birth certificate;
- Photocopy of the hospitality communication; particularly documentation of availability in Italy of food and accommodation for the accompanying person (if present) for the convalescence period of the person concerned;
- €16.00 revenue stamp.
The application can be submitted, through delegation, by a relative or anyone else with an interest (including the hospital or other care facility where the foreigner is staying).
A similar Residence Permit can also be requested by a non-EU foreign family member who has accompanied the patient seeking medical treatment.
Application Costs The amounts of contributions payable by adult foreigners are as follows:
- Receipt of payment of €30.46 for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit (PSE) to be paid into postal current account No. 67422402 payable to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department with the reason “amount for the issuance of the electronic Residence Permit”;
- Contribution payment of €40.00 for the issuance of a Residence Permit for a duration exceeding three months and up to one year.
The Police Headquarters takes the fingerprints and photographic identification of the foreign citizen.
The Police Headquarters provides the foreign citizen with a receipt and indicates the date of appointment to collect the residence permit.
The Residence Permit can be collected, through delegation, by a relative or anyone else with an interest (including the hospital or other care facility where the foreigner is staying).
The non-EU citizen who obtains the Permit for Medical Treatment under Article 36 of Legislative Decree No. 286/98, entering with a Visa for Medical Treatment, does not have the right to enroll in the National Health Service; the citizen who obtains the permit for other reasons can access the National Health Service.