In Italy you might find yourself in need of medical care and/or hospitalization. This is why, when applying for the study visa before leaving your country, you have to provide evidence of your capability to cover all possible expenses related to medical assistance.

You may choose one of the following possibilities:

• obtain a consular statement confirming that you are entitled to medical care in consequence of an agreement between Italy and your home country;

• subscribe a private health insurance policy in your home country, and obtain from the competent Italian Consulate a statement of its validity for Italy; such a consular statement must also describe the length and types of services covered; besides, it must confirm that the contract does not imply any limitations of or exceptions to the tariffs fixed for urgent hospitalization during the whole time period it may be necessary;

• subscribe a health insurance policy with an Italian body or company such as the Istituto Nazionale delle Assicurazioni (INA), which, thanks to an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Health, offers a special insurance policy to cover medical assistance; in case of an insurance policy stipulated with Italian bodies other than INA, it must be supported by a statement issued by the insurance company concerned confirming that the contract does not imply any limitations of or exceptions to the tariffs fixed for urgent hospitalization during the whole time period it may be necessary.