Municipal Nurseries in Rome: How to Enroll, What It Costs, and When to Apply

In a nutshell

Rome's municipal nurseries are educational services for children aged 3 to 36 months, run directly by Roma Capitale (Rome's city government). Getting a spot requires applying through an annual tender that opens every year between April and May. Attendance is not compulsory, but places are allocated through a public waiting list scored on ISEE (Italy's income-and-wealth indicator used to qualify for means-tested benefits), parental employment status, and distance from home. Spots are limited and waiting lists are common.

At a glance

Cost	Enrollment is free. Monthly fees range from €0 to €480 depending on your ISEE (free below €5,500; maximum for ISEE above €30,000 or no ISEE).
Timeline	Application window: mid-April to mid-May. Final waiting list: July. Admission: September.
Where in Rome	Online at comune.roma.it — nursery enrollment. In-person counters at all 15 Municipi. Department of Educational Services: Via Capitan Bavastro 94, tel. 06 671070362.
Documents	SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services), tax ID for the child and both parents, a valid ISEE certificate for minors, proof of employment for both parents.

Types of nursery in Rome

Rome has three kinds of nursery:

1. Municipal nurseries (around 200 facilities): run directly by Roma Capitale.
2. Accredited private nurseries (around 100 facilities): privately run but under agreement with Roma Capitale, charging the same rates as municipal ones.
3. Private nurseries without agreement: independent facilities with market-rate fees.

Municipal and accredited private nurseries are applied for through the same tender and share the same waiting list. When filling in your application, you can include both types among your preferences.

Who can apply

The child must be between 3 and 36 months old at the time of admission (September), in good health and up to date with mandatory vaccinations (Law 119/2017), and have at least one parent who is either resident in Rome or working in Rome. There are no citizenship restrictions: children of foreign nationals have exactly the same rights as Italian children. An expired residence permit or one pending renewal is not grounds for exclusion — simply attach the renewal receipt.

Children with disabilities (Law 104/1992), children with serious social or health conditions flagged by Social Services, and children in foster care all receive absolute priority.

Once enrolled, a child must attend at least 3 hours a day for 4 days a week. Enrollment is cancelled if unjustified absences exceed 30 consecutive days.

How to apply

Before the window opens (January–March)

The first thing to sort out — well before the application window — is your ISEE certificate for minors. Get it free of charge at a CAF (free assistance offices for tax forms and benefits applications) or Patronato (free union-run office helping with social-security and immigration paperwork). It takes around 10–15 days. Without a valid ISEE you'll be charged the maximum monthly fee (€480), even if your income is low. Don't leave this until the last minute.

In March, visit nurseries that interest you during their Open Days: check opening hours, distance from home, and whether they offer full-time or part-time schedules. A map of all nurseries is available on the Roma Capitale website.

Applying (April–May)

1. Log in to the Roma Capitale portal using SPID when the window opens (the exact date is published on comune.roma.it around March–April).
2. Fill in the online form: the child's details, your household composition, both parents' employment status, and the distance between home and nursery.
3. Rank up to 3 nurseries in order of preference (in some years up to 5). Note: you can generally only choose nurseries within your Municipio of residence, unless there are special circumstances.
4. Attach the ISEE certificate and any documents supporting priority status (disability, single-parent household, foster care).
5. Submit before the deadline (usually mid-May). You'll receive a protocol number by email.

After you've applied

The Municipio checks your data and calculates a score (June). The provisional waiting list is published on the Municipio website at the end of June. You have 10 days to lodge an objection. The final waiting list is released in July. If your ranking secures a spot, the facility contacts you in August–September to arrange admission.

Settling in (a gradual introduction to the nursery) happens over 2–3 weeks in September: in the early days, a parent needs to be present for a few hours. Monthly fees are paid via PagoPA or bank transfer.

If you missed the deadline

You can still apply at any time of year, but you'll be placed at the back of the waiting list. You'll only get a spot if another child withdraws or transfers.

Monthly fees

The monthly fee is based on your ISEE for minors:

ISEE band	Approximate monthly fee
Up to €5,500	Free (€0)
€5,500 – €8,000	€50 – €100
€8,000 – €15,000	€100 – €200
€15,000 – €22,000	€200 – €300
€22,000 – €30,000	€300 – €400
Above €30,000 / no ISEE	€480 (maximum)

These figures are indicative and can change each year by municipal decree. Always check the updated table on the Roma Capitale website.

Additional discounts: second child at the nursery gets a 50% discount; a third child attends free; a part-time schedule (5 hours a day) reduces the fee by 30%.

The fee covers attendance, meals (lunch and afternoon snack), teaching materials, and staff. It does not cover any optional trips and, in some facilities, nappies.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Leaving the ISEE too late. If your ISEE isn't valid when the window opens, you pay the maximum fee. Get it done at a CAF between January and March.
2. Waiting until the last day to submit. The online system gets overloaded. Submit a few days early.
3. Forgetting to declare a disability. If you have a Law 104 certificate, always attach it — it guarantees absolute priority for admission.
4. Paying someone to "secure" a spot. Enrollment is free. Anyone charging you for a guaranteed nursery place is a scam: admission is by public waiting list.
5. Assuming you need Italian citizenship. You don't. Foreign nationals participate on the same terms as Italian families.

Special cases

Child with a disability: absolute priority for admission. Attach the ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale — your local public-health authority) certificate under Law 104/1992 to your application. An additional support educator will be assigned.

Single-parent household: extra points on the waiting list. You'll need documentation of your civil status (court separation order, etc.).

Both parents employed: extra points. You'll need employment contracts and pay slips for the last 3 months.

University student parent: treated the same as an employed parent. Provide proof of enrolment in your course.

Child not resident in Rome but with a parent working in Rome: can apply, but with lower priority than residents. Provide proof of employment in Rome.

Child with food allergies or intolerances: notify the nursery at enrollment with a medical certificate. A personalised menu is provided at no extra charge.

Foreign nationals without an Italian ISEE: if you don't have Italian income documentation, go to a CAF or Patronato for a current ISEE based on an estimated income. Without an ISEE, the maximum fee applies.

Official sources

• Roma Capitale — Nursery enrollment
• Roma Capitale — Department of Educational Services
• INPS — ISEE
• Regione Lazio — Integrated 0–6 system
• MIUR — Nurseries and early childhood

Legal references: DLgs 65/2017, LR Lazio 59/1980, LR Lazio 7/2020, Roma Capitale Regulations for Educational Services 0–3, DPCM 159/2013, Law 104/1992, Law 119/2017.