Tessera Sanitaria for Interns: Health Card and Health Insurance in Italy
Anyone staying in Italy for a long internship or studies needs to understand two things about healthcare: health insurance and Italy’s national health service. People registered with the national health service receive a card called the tessera sanitaria. This guide explains the tessera sanitaria for interns: what it is, how interns can get one and where to go when you are ill.
We cover what the card is, how the Italian health system works, the health cover options for interns, registration, choosing a doctor and what to do in an emergency. Rules can differ depending on your residence permit and region, so check your own situation with the competent offices.
What Is the Tessera Sanitaria?
The tessera sanitaria is the health card issued to people registered with Italy’s national health service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). It shows your name and your tax code, the codice fiscale, so besides healthcare it is also a handy way to prove your tax code in many everyday situations.
The card is used for doctor visits, collecting prescription medicines at pharmacies and procedures at health facilities. Official information is available on the Sistema Tessera Sanitaria portal run by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. If you do not have a tax code yet, read how to get a codice fiscale first, as the health card depends on it.
Carry the card in your wallet and keep a copy on your phone.
Where Is the Tessera Sanitaria Used?
- GP visits: it confirms your identity and registration for consultations and prescriptions.
- Pharmacies: used when collecting prescription medicines and recording some expenses.
- Specialists and tests: required for procedures your GP refers you to.
- Proving your tax code: because the codice fiscale is printed on it, it is accepted in many everyday transactions.
- Some online services: it can be part of identity checks for digital health services.
If you lose the card, you can request a new one through your local health authority or the relevant official channels. Its validity may be linked to your residence permit, so update your health registration when you renew the permit.
How the Italian Health System Works
Healthcare in Italy is planned nationally but managed by the regions. Each region has local health authorities, usually called ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) or a regional equivalent. You register with the national health service through the local health authority where you live.
Registered people choose a general practitioner (medico di base), who is the entry point to the system: they examine you, write prescriptions and refer you to specialists or tests when needed. Some services involve a co-payment (ticket). General information on the health system is available from the Italian Ministry of Health, Ministero della Salute.
Tessera Sanitaria for Interns: Why It Matters
In practice, the card has two main benefits for interns. First, if you are registered with the national health service, you can access a GP, prescription medicines and specialist referrals through the public system, which can mean more comprehensive and regular care than private insurance on a long internship.
Second, because it shows your codice fiscale, it makes everyday life easier: when getting a phone line, for some purchases or official procedures, you can show this card instead of a separate tax code document. For internships of six months or longer, we recommend comparing national health service registration with your private insurance in terms of cost and coverage. For shorter internships, staying with private insurance can be more practical, as registration takes time.
Health Cover Options for Interns
For non-EU interns in Italy, health cover usually comes from one of two routes:
| Option | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Private health insurance | The policy obtained for the visa, valid in Italy | Check coverage, the emergency line and partner facilities |
| National health service registration | Where eligible, registration with the local health authority and a tessera sanitaria | Conditions depend on the permit type; an annual contribution may apply |
For study and training stays, national health service registration is often voluntary rather than mandatory and may require a contribution. In that case, you can also stay with valid private insurance for the whole stay. Ask your local health authority and your programme which option suits you after arrival.
EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card issued by their own country for short stays; different rules may apply to long stays.
How to Register with the National Health Service
- Prepare your documents: usually your passport, residence permit or application receipt, codice fiscale and address.
- Contact the local health authority: visit or book an appointment at the ASL office where you live.
- Pay any contribution: voluntary registrations may require an annual payment.
- Choose your GP: you select a doctor from the list for your area when registering.
- Wait for your card: the tessera sanitaria is usually posted to your address; meanwhile you can use the registration document from the ASL.
Before you go, check the local health authority’s website for appointments, opening hours and required documents, as practice varies by region. Registration is linked to your residence permit; we explain the permit process in our guide on the permesso di soggiorno for interns.
Choosing a GP (Medico di Base)
Your GP is the first person to contact about health issues. When choosing, consider how close the practice is to your home or workplace, its opening hours and, if possible, whether the doctor speaks English. For an intern working shifts, convenient surgery hours are especially important.
GPs usually see patients at set times and some work by appointment. For non-urgent problems when your GP is closed, there is an out-of-hours medical service (guardia medica or a regional equivalent).
If You Stay with Private Insurance
If you will not register with the national health service, learn how your private insurance works in advance. Find out the policy’s emergency line, partner clinics and hospitals, and whether costs are paid directly or reimbursed after you pay. Keep invoices and medical reports for any reimbursement claim.
Make sure the insurance you presented for the visa covers the entire internship, and extend it if your internship is extended. For visa insurance requirements, see our Italy internship visa guide.
What to Do in an Emergency
In a medical emergency, call 112, the emergency number valid across Europe. Hospital emergency departments (pronto soccorso) treat everyone in emergencies. Patients are triaged by urgency, so waits for non-urgent cases can be long.
Being prepared makes a real difference. Save your insurance emergency number, your programme’s 24/7 support line and the address of the nearest hospital on your phone. If you have allergies or a chronic condition, carry a short note describing it in Italian and English.
Overcoming the Language Barrier
Some healthcare staff in Italy speak English, but communication is often in Italian, especially in smaller towns and public facilities. Before seeing a doctor, write down your symptoms, how long they have lasted and any medicines you take in simple Italian sentences. Translation apps help too.
A few basic phrases save time: Ho la febbre (I have a fever), Mi fa male qui (it hurts here), Sono allergico a… (I am allergic to…). A short language course before your internship helps at work and in daily life; see our Italy language course options.
Pharmacies and Medicines
Pharmacies (farmacia) are easy to spot by their green cross. Many medicines are prescription-only; if you take a regular medicine, bring enough with you along with a document showing its active ingredient. Pharmacies work on a rota at night and on holidays, and the duty pharmacy list is usually posted on pharmacy doors. Pharmacists can be a first point of contact for minor issues and advise on over-the-counter medicines.
Health Tips for Hospitality and Kitchen Interns
Hospitality and kitchen internships are physically demanding. Long hours standing, hot kitchens, heavy trays and shift work mean you need to look after yourself. Wear comfortable non-slip work shoes, drink enough water and eat regularly between shifts. Small cuts and burns are common in kitchens, so find out on day one where first aid supplies and safety procedures are.
If an accident happens at work, tell your supervisor first and follow the host’s procedures. Ask your programme from the start whether your internship agreement includes accident insurance and how to report incidents. Seasonal resort internships can be tiring, so use days off to rest too. Read what to expect in our guide to a hotel internship in Italy.
Health Checklist for Interns
- My health insurance covers the whole internship.
- I have saved my insurance emergency number.
- I have my codice fiscale or have planned the application.
- I have looked into national health service registration.
- I know the nearest hospital, pharmacy and out-of-hours service.
- I have brought enough of my regular medicine with documentation.
- I have saved my programme’s emergency support line.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the health card issued to people registered with Italy’s national health service. It shows your codice fiscale and is used for services such as GP visits and pharmacies.
Where eligible, yes. For study and training stays, registration with the national health service is often voluntary and may require a contribution. Ask your local health authority about the conditions.
A private policy valid in Italy, like the one obtained for the visa, can provide health cover for the internship. Check its coverage and conditions in advance.
Call 112, the emergency number valid across Europe. Hospital emergency departments (pronto soccorso) treat everyone in emergencies.
You choose from the GPs in your area when registering with the national health service. Consider the practice location and opening hours.
Go to Italy with Confidence
Being prepared for health cover and official procedures lets you focus on your internship. Cardelest guides candidates in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts from finding an internship in Italy to their first steps after arrival, with 24/7 support during the internship. Explore our Italy Internship Program or contact us for a free initial assessment.
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