INPS Nursery Bonus in Rome: How to Apply and How Much You Get
Up to €3,000 a year reimbursed on nursery fees for children under three. Valid for any licensed nursery, including private ones. Here's how to apply.
In a nutshell
The Bonus Asilo Nido is a monthly reimbursement from INPS (Italy's social-security agency — pensions, unemployment, family benefits) that covers nursery fees for children aged 0 to 36 months. You pay the nursery, upload the receipt to the INPS website, and the reimbursement lands in your bank account. It applies to any licensed nursery — public, subsidised, or private — and is available to foreign parents with a valid residence permit.
At a glance
| Cost | Free (application, ISEE at a CAF, patronato assistance) |
| Timeline | Applications open from January. Reimbursement: 30–60 days after uploading each receipt. |
| Where in Rome | Online at inps.it with SPID/CIE, or at INPS offices or Patronato desks |
| Documents | SPID/CIE, child's Codice Fiscale, IBAN, 2026 minor-ISEE (recommended), nursery details |
Who qualifies and how much you get
The bonus is for any parent whose child is enrolled in a licensed nursery (public or private) and is under 36 months old. The amount depends on your ISEE (income-and-wealth indicator used to qualify for means-tested benefits) calculated specifically for minors:
First child
| ISEE band | Annual amount | Monthly amount (× 11 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €25,000 | €3,000 | €272.73 |
| €25,001 – €40,000 | €2,500 | €227.27 |
| Above €40,000 or no ISEE | €1,500 | €136.37 |
Second child (and beyond) — enhanced bonus
For families with at least one child under 10 and a new child born on or after 1 January 2024 (Law 213/2023):
| ISEE band | Annual amount | Monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €40,000 | €3,600 | €327.27 |
Important: the reimbursement never exceeds the fee you actually paid. If your monthly fee is €150 and the bonus would be €272.73, you receive €150. It is absolutely worth getting your ISEE calculated even if you think your income is middling — the gap between the minimum and maximum bonus is €1,500 a year.
The bonus can be combined with a subsidised rate at a municipal nursery. It cannot be combined with the 19% tax deduction on the same portion of fees that was reimbursed.
How to apply
The fastest route is the INPS website. You'll need SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services), CIE (Italian electronic ID card), or CNS.
Step 1 — Get your 2026 minor-ISEE. Go to a CAF (free assistance office for tax forms and benefits applications) or a Patronato (free union-run office helping with social-security and immigration paperwork) — it's free. Allow around 10–15 days. The ISEE is not strictly mandatory, but without it your bonus drops to €1,500 a year.
Step 2 — Submit the application. Go to the INPS — Bonus Asilo Nido page, log in with SPID, and choose "Presenta domanda" (Submit application). Fill in: the child's details, the nursery's name and VAT number, the expected number of attendance months (maximum 11), and the IBAN where you want the reimbursement sent.
Step 3 — Upload receipts month by month. After paying each month's fees, go back to the INPS website under "Bonus Asilo Nido" → "Allegati" (Attachments) and upload the receipt (PDF or JPG). Payment must be traceable: bank transfer, debit or credit card, POS terminal, or PagoPA (Italy's official public-payment platform). Cash receipts are not accepted.
Step 4 — Receive the reimbursement. The payment arrives in the IBAN you provided within 30–60 days of uploading the receipt.
The application must be renewed every year — it is not automatic. The new call typically opens in mid-January. The fund is capped: the sooner you apply, the better.
Where to get help in Rome
If you don't have SPID or find the online portal difficult, you can go to:
Patronati (free by law):
- ACLI — Via Marcora 18, tel. 06 5840
- INCA CGIL — Corso d'Italia 25, tel. 06 84761
- INAS CISL — Via Po 22, tel. 06 84438
- ITAL UIL — Via Po 162, tel. 06 85684560
All have branches in individual Municipi across the city.
INPS offices in Rome (for those who cannot do everything online):
- Roma Centro — Via Marsala 51
- Roma Aurelio — Via Aurelia 477
- Roma Eur — Viale Beethoven 50
- Roma Nomentano — Via dei Villini 14
- Roma Tiburtina — Via Casal de' Pazzi 15
- Roma Tuscolano — Via Aldo Marini 4
- Roma Trionfale — Largo Trionfale 7
To find the nearest office: inps.it — local offices. Free helpline: 803 164 (free from landlines, Monday–Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 8am–2pm).
Children with serious medical conditions
If your child has a serious chronic condition that prevents attendance at a nursery, an alternative exists: the home-support bonus (bonus per supporto presso la propria abitazione). The amounts are the same as in the table above, but the payment is made in one annual lump sum rather than monthly.
To qualify, you need a letter from the child's paediatrician (pediatra di libera scelta — the free family paediatrician assigned through the local ASL) stating: the serious chronic condition, the impossibility of attending a nursery, and the need for home-based care. The application process is identical to the standard bonus on inps.it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting to "see if you need it." The fund is capped and applications are processed in order of receipt. Apply as soon as the call opens in January, even if the child hasn't started nursery yet. You can always withdraw later.
- Paying fees in cash. INPS does not accept cash payment receipts. Always use a traceable method: bank transfer, card, POS, or PagoPA.
- Forgetting to upload receipts each month. The reimbursement is tied to actually uploading that month's receipt. Miss a month and that month's money is gone.
Special cases
Foreign parents: the same rights apply. You need a valid Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens) or the receipt showing you've applied to renew it. A permit issued for asylum-seeker status is also accepted.
Separated parents: the parent who lives with the child files the application. With joint custody, the parents agree between themselves who applies.
More than one child in nursery at the same time: a separate application for each child.
Changing nursery mid-year: update your application on the INPS website with the new nursery's details. Receipts from both the old and new nursery are valid.
Child absent from nursery due to illness: the bonus is not paid for months of absence. It is tied to actual attendance.
Official sources
- INPS — Bonus Asilo Nido (service page)
- INPS — Bonus Asilo Nido news
- INPS — ISEE
- INPS — Find an office
Legal references: Legge 232/2016 art. 1 c. 355, DPCM 17/02/2017, Legge 178/2020 art. 1 c. 343-344, Legge 213/2023 art. 1 c. 177, Legge 207/2024, Circolare INPS 88/2017, DPCM 159/2013, DLgs 286/1998 art. 41.