In Italy, the recognition procedure for a qualification obtained in EU Member States, in a country of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or of the Swiss Confederation is different according to the citizenship of the applicant: citizens from the European Union, from the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and from the Swiss Confederation and non-EU citizens.
Right of establishment
If you are a citizen from the European Union, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or the Swiss Confederation, you have obtained your health professional qualification in an EU Member State or in a country of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or in the Swiss Confederation and you wish to pursue your profession in Italy on a permanent basis, you can apply for the recognition of your qualification under the provision called “right of establishment”.
< link -> See section “right of establishment for EU citizens”>
·Right to free provision of services
You can also provide your professional services on a temporary and occasional basis without permanently establishing in Italy and without enrolling in the relevant Italian Association/Order, Register or professional College; nevertheless, you will abide by the same legal provisions, in terms of obligations and disciplinary sanctions, as your Italian counterparts.
< link -> “See section “free provision of services – EU citizens”>
if you want to know which professionals are entitled to this right and how they can apply.
NON-EU citizens
Qualification recognition
If you are a non-EU citizen, you have obtained your professional qualification in a Member State or in a country of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or in the Swiss Confederation and you wish to be authorised to pursue your profession in Italy, you will apply for the recognition of your qualification.
See the information section Forms and services – Recognition of foreigners’ EU qualifications or look for the specific page on the interactive form)
The recognition decree issued for NON-EU citizens has a two-year validity. It expires if the professional does not enrol in the relevant professional Association during the two years, as provided by art. 50, paragraph 8 bis, of Italian decree DPR 31 August 1999, no. 394.
See section “renewal of recognition decree for NON-EU citizens” if you want to know how you can get your recognition decree renewed.
Can I have my documents back?
See the dedicated section: Document return
You can provide your professional services on a temporary and occasional basis without permanently establishing in Italy and without enrolling in the relevant Italian Association/Order, Register or professional College; nevertheless, you will abide by the same legal provisions, in terms of obligations and disciplinary sanctions, as your Italian counterparts.
You can exercise this right if you are a citizen of the EU, of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and of the Swiss Confederation and you have obtained one of the following professional qualifications in a Member State or in a country of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or in the Swiss Confederation:
In order to be entitled to this right, if you belong to one of the above, you will each time give prior notice to the Italian Ministry of Health of the following data concerning the pursuit of the profession:
Moreover, you will provide the documents listed in the relevant information section concerning the free provision of services <interactive form (link)>
Substitute declaration in lieu of Affidavit (link)
Data di ultimo aggiornamento 30 july 2021
