Many of our previous articles have explored the various paths to becoming an Italian citizen, the eligibility requirements, the documents needed to apply, and they have also touched upon the benefits of pursuing Italian citizenship. Drawing from this, this short article will be devoted to analyzing the benefits which are connected to two social spheres in particular: the health care system and higher education.
*If you are wondering whether you are eligible to apply for Italian citizenship by descent and what documents are required to apply, feel free to check one of our latest article, which provides a complete overview of the application processes and the documents needed.
As you may all know, once your application for Italian citizenship has been approved, you can register with the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) and apply for an Italian passport. After your application has been approved you will be considered an Italian to all intents and purposes and thus have access to a number of services to which all Italians are entitled. Besides the right to live, work or study in Italy, as well as in any other EU member state for an unlimited period of time, Italian citizenship will allow you to enjoy affordable and high-quality education and low-cost universal healthcare. But what is higher education in Italy like?
Higher Education
Compared to Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., university fees in Italy and in other EU member states are very affordable. More specifically, the average tuition fees for a state university in Italy are generally between €800 and €2,000 per year, depending on the university and course of study. In some cases, students may even be exempt from paying their tuition fees depending on their academic performance and financial situation. Many universities in Italy have an excellent reputation and rank high on an international scale. The University of Bologna, for instance, is one of the oldest universities in the world. However, there are also private universities such as Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Università Bocconi in Milan or Luiss Guido Carli in Rome which might be considered more prestigious in some specific disciplines and have higher tuition fees, usually ranging from €10,000 to €15,000. As for the cost of living in Italy, it varies depending on the specific city and region but on average students should consider a budget of between €500 and €900 a month.
As an Italian citizen you can also study in another European country; the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Finland and many more all have excellent universities at very affordable prices. However, if you want to study in Italy and have the opportunity to study abroad, many universities participate in the Erasmus Programme, which is a European Union student exchange programme that allows students to study in another European country as part of their degree. For more detailed information about the European Union and the advantages of being part of the EU click on this link
Health care in Italy
Last but not least, another important aspect to consider when applying for Italian citizenship is the low-cost, high-quality universal health care. Unlike the U.S. where healthcare can be very expensive, if you are an Italian citizen you will be assigned to a general practitioner and you will be entitled to receive a tessera sanitaria (“health card”), which will allow you to access medical care on a national level, which is largely free of charge. In other words, treatments are covered by the public system and small payments include tests, surgeries and medical assistance provided by specialists.
In this sense, Italy has a public-based health care system that is supported by tax income, and health expenses are on average much lower compared to other European states. Finally, for those of you who are interested in obtaining Italian citizenship but want to live in another EU member state, it is worth applying for a European Health Insurance Card which is issued by the local health authority in Italy and which will cover medical expenses in EU countries.
It is worth pointing out that according to the World Health Organization Italy has one of the best health care systems in the word, based on its overall quality, general health and life expectancy and equity of access. More specifically, in 2000, a World Health Organization report listed it as the 2nd best system globally after France; life expectancy is the 4th highest among the OECD countries (in 2018 the average was 83.4 years), and 77% approximately of healthcare spending is public.
Whether your dream is to move to Italy with your family and allow your children to study in some of the best universities in Italy and in Europe, or whether it is to rediscover your Italian heritage, family history, or enjoy the country’s lifestyle and learn more about its culture and art, Italian citizenship will definitely open the doors to a lifelong investment. If you need further information about Italian citizenship, the eligibility requirements and the process to apply do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We will be more than happy to help you.
