School Lunch Discounts in Rome: Pay Less (or Nothing) with a Low ISEE
If your family has a low ISEE income rating, your child's school lunch in Rome can cost as little as €0 instead of the standard €3.40. All you need is your ISEE for minors and a SPID login.
In a nutshell
If your child eats at the canteen of a state kindergarten (scuola dell'infanzia) or primary school (scuola primaria) in Rome, you could be paying far less than the standard rate — or nothing at all — depending on your family's ISEE (Italy's means-tested income-and-wealth indicator, used to qualify for subsidised public services). Rates set by Roma Capitale range from €0 to €3.40 per meal. All you need is an ISEE calculated specifically for minors and an online application via SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services).
At a glance
| Cost | Free to apply (ISEE via a CAF office is also free). Meal rate: €0 to €3.40 depending on ISEE. |
| Timeline | Online application: 15 minutes. Reduced rate activated: within the following month. Valid for 12 months. |
| Where in Rome | Online at comune.roma.it using SPID, or in person at your local Municipio (district office) |
| Documents you need | SPID or CIE (Italian electronic ID card), ISEE for minors (2026), tax ID codes (Codice Fiscale — Italian tax ID) for the child and parents |
Rome's meal-rate bands
The canteen rates for state kindergartens and primary schools are updated each year by a resolution of Roma Capitale's city council (Giunta Capitolina). For the 2025/26 school year, the indicative figures are:
| ISEE band | Rate per meal |
|---|---|
| Up to €5,500 | Free (€0.00) |
| €5,501 – €8,000 | €0.52 |
| €8,001 – €11,000 | €1.02 |
| €11,001 – €14,000 | €1.53 |
| €14,001 – €17,000 | €2.04 |
| €17,001 – €22,000 | €2.55 |
| €22,001 – €30,000 | €3.06 |
| Above €30,000 or no ISEE | €3.40 (full rate) |
Over 180 school canteen days a year, moving from the full rate to a mid-range band saves you more than €300. If your ISEE is below €5,500, the saving tops €600.
Additional discounts apply if more than one of your children uses the canteen at the same time: 20% off for the second child and 30% off for the third.
Who gets a completely free lunch
Some families qualify for a fully free canteen regardless of their ISEE:
- Children with a certified disability under Legge 104/1992 art. 3 comma 3
- Families followed by Social Services (with a social worker's report)
- Children of 100% civil invalids
- Beneficiaries of an active Assegno di Inclusione (ADI) (Italy's means-tested social-inclusion allowance)
- Children in foster care or residential care
- Single-parent families with an ISEE up to €11,000
If any of these apply to you, attach the relevant documents to your application — disability certificate under Legge 104, Social Services report, or proof of single-parent status.
The subsidy covers state kindergartens and primary schools that participate in the Roma Capitale canteen service. It does not apply to private or paritarie (publicly recognised but privately run) schools, which manage their own catering independently.
How to apply, step by step
Step 1 — Get your ISEE for minors. Go to a CAF (free assistance office for tax forms and benefits) or Patronato (free union-run office helping with social-security and benefits paperwork) — it costs you nothing. Allow around 10–15 days. Important: for school benefits you need the ISEE for minors (ISEE minorenni), not the standard ISEE. Using the wrong type invalidates the calculation.
Step 2 — Enrol your child in the canteen (if you haven't already done so at school registration). For state kindergartens and primary schools this is done with a paper form at the school's administrative office (segreteria scolastica).
Step 3 — Submit the discount application online. Go to Roma Capitale — Mensa scolastica tariffe agevolate, log in with SPID, and fill in the form with your child's details, the school they attend, and the ISEE amount and protocol number. Attach the ISEE PDF and submit.
Step 4 — Wait for confirmation. Roma Capitale replies within 7–15 days by email. The reduced rate kicks in from the month after approval.
Step 5 — Use the canteen card. The school issues an electronic canteen card. Meals are paid in advance via the PaghiAMo app from Roma Capitale or via PagoPA. Charges are deducted at your assigned rate.
The discount lasts 12 months. You need to renew it each year with a new ISEE. If you miss the renewal deadline, you automatically revert to the full rate until you submit a new application — there's no back-dating.
Special diets
Independently of your ISEE, you can request a free personalised menu for your child in the case of:
- Food allergies or intolerances (coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, peanuts, eggs, tree nuts) — a paediatrician's certificate is required
- Ethical or religious reasons (vegetarian, vegan, no pork) — a self-declaration is sufficient
Where there is a risk of anaphylaxis, the school must also have an emergency plan in place, including the appropriate medication.
Where to get help in Rome
CAF and Patronato offices (free) can help with both the ISEE and the application itself:
- 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
The school's administrative office (segreteria scolastica) can confirm your child's canteen enrolment and point you toward the application process.
Rome's 15 Municipi (district councils) each have a Socio-Educational Directorate (Direzione Socio-Educativa) that oversees canteen services in their area.
Roma Capitale call centre: 06 0606 (Mon–Sun, 7:30–19:30).
Department of Educational and School Services (central office): Via Capitan Bavastro 94, 00154 Roma — department page.
Mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the ISEE and paying the full rate. If your income is low, you could wipe out most or all of the canteen cost. A CAF does the ISEE for free in 10–15 days — it's worth it.
- Using the standard ISEE instead of the ISEE for minors. School benefits always require the ISEE minorenni. Submit the wrong one and your application will be rejected or your rate calculated incorrectly.
- Not renewing every year. The subsidy is valid for 12 months only. Miss the renewal and you're automatically back on the full rate — and it won't be applied retroactively when you eventually re-apply.
Special cases
Child at a private or paritaria school: Roma Capitale's subsidy doesn't apply. Check directly with the school whether it offers its own reduced rates.
ISEE not ready yet: You pay the full rate until you submit your ISEE. The reduced rate applies from the following month — it is not backdated.
ISEE band changes during the year: You can update your ISEE at any time — for example after losing a job or having a new baby, using the ISEE corrente (current-year ISEE). The new rate comes into effect the month after you submit the updated application.
Multiple children at different schools: You can file a single application covering both. The cumulative sibling discount (−20% second child, −30% third) is applied automatically.
Foreign parents: Full entitlement to the discount. You need a valid permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens) or the receipt of a pending renewal. Asylum seekers are also entitled.
Unpaid meals: Roma Capitale can recover overdue amounts through the Agenzia Entrate Riscossione (Italy's tax-collection arm). If you're struggling, contact your Municipio immediately and ask for an instalment plan (rateizzazione).
Official sources
- Roma Capitale — School canteen and reduced rates
- Roma Capitale — School catering
- Roma Capitale — Department of Educational and School Services
- INPS — ISEE
- Regione Lazio — Right to education
Legal references: Legge 142/1990, DPCM 159/2013, DLgs 65/2017, LR Lazio 29/1992, Roma Capitale School Catering Regulations (Assemblea Capitolina resolution), annual Giunta Capitolina rate resolution, Legge 104/1992, DLgs 286/1998 art. 41.