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Assistance to citizens abroad (including information on Health Care)

If you find yourself in a difficult situation while abroad, the relevant consular office can, at your request and under certain circumstances, intervene on your behalf.

To learn more about the kind of assistance the Diplomatic-Consular Network can provide abroad, you can consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation by clicking here (the link will open in a new tab).

Health care for Italian citizens resident in Ontario, Manitoba and The North-West Territories

No health care agreement exists between Italy and Canada.

Italian citizens who move to Canada will not be covered by the Italian health care system, either in Italy or abroad, once they are cancelled from the municipal rolls and registered in the Registry of Italians Living Abroad (A.I.R.E.). For further information please consult the webpage of the Ministero della Salute (Italian Ministry of Health).

In accordance with the Decree of the Italian Ministry of Health dated February 1, 1996, Italian citizens who are emigrants (i.e. born in Italy), as well as pensioners receiving an Italian pension, are covered by the Italian public health care system for hospital emergency treatment only, while temporarily visiting Italy, up to a maximum of 90 days per year and limited to the difference between the portion reimbursed by the Canadian public health care system and the amount billed by the Italian health care provider.

Those eligible wishing to obtain coverage may self-certify their status as an immigrant who has maintained Italian citizenship or as a pensioner in receipt of an Italian pension, by filling out a form (specimen will open in a new tab) and submitting it to the designated ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale), together with a copy of their valid photo ID.

Please note that in case of hospitalization in Italy, the public health care plans of Ontario, Manitoba and NW Territories will partially cover out-of-province medical expenses as follows:

Ontario residents

If you reside in Ontario you are covered by the “Ontario Health Insurance Plan” (OHIP). For further information please consult OHIP’S webpage or phone Service Ontario at 1-866-532-3161.

You are strongly advised to purchase additional and sufficient private health insurance coverage before leaving Canada.

Manitoba residents

If you reside in Manitoba you are covered by Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors, the government-run health insurance program.
For further related information please consult the webpage of “Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors” or phone 1-800-392-1207.

You are strongly advised to purchase additional and sufficient private health insurance coverage before leaving Canada.

NW Territories residents

If you reside in the NW Territories you are covered by “NWT Health Care Plan”. For further related information please consult the relevant webpage.

You are strongly advised to purchase additional and sufficient private health insurance coverage before leaving Canada.

Italian citizens visiting Canada (i.e. Ontario, Manitoba and NW Territories)

Italian citizens visiting Canada are not entitled to coverage under Canadian public health care system. As a result, in case of accident or illness, any medical or hospitalization costs incurred, which could amount to thousands of dollars per day, must be paid out of pocket.

It is therefore strongly recommended that Italian citizens visiting Canada make arrangements to have adequate private medical insurance coverage prior to departure.

Italian citizens not resident in Canada travelling for specific reasons of work or study in Ontario, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories

Citizens travelling for work, study (only if you are a scholarship holder or intern or if you participate in a public call and pass a selection), to non-EU countries where there are no bilateral health agreements, are entitled to health care in indirect form, together with accompanying family members (Presidential Decree No. 618 of July 31, 1980).

To obtain assistance, it is necessary to be enrolled in the Italian National Health Service (SSN) and belong to one of the categories provided for in Presidential Decree 618/80.

Indirect assistance consists of advancing expenses and submitting the application for reimbursement to the Italian diplomatic-consular representation abroad, within three months from the date of the last expense for each health event.

For information on how to submit claims for reimbursement, it is recommended to read carefully the website of the relevant Italian Ministry of Health by clicking on this link (a new tab will open).