How to Call INPS (Italian Social Security) From Abroad
By the DialVia team ·
Quick answer: From anywhere in the world, standard rate: 06 164 164. INPS also publishes free toll-free numbers for callers in 11 European countries (see the table below). The domestic toll-free 803 164 only works from an Italian landline.
A tiered system, not a single abroad number
INPS, Italy's main social security and pension institute, handles calls from abroad differently depending on where you're calling from. If you're in one of 11 specific European countries, there's a dedicated free number for your country. If you're anywhere else, including outside Europe, you fall back to the same standard-rate mobile number that works worldwide, or INPS's own internet-based WebCall service.
What's actually verified
All numbers below are published directly on INPS's own contact-center page.
| Caller location | Number | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Anywhere in the world (standard rate) | 06 164 164 | Billed at your own carrier's rate |
| Belgium | 080013255 | Free |
| Denmark | 80018297 | Free |
| France | 0800904332 | Free |
| Germany | 08001821138 | Free |
| Great Britain | 0800963706 | Free |
| Ireland | 1800553909 | Free |
| Netherlands | 08000223952 | Free |
| Portugal | 800839766 | Free |
| Spain | 900993926 | Free |
| Sweden | 020795084 | Free |
| Switzerland | 0800559218 | Free |
| Domestic toll-free (Italy only) | 803 164 | Free, Italian landlines only |
Hours
The Italian-language service runs Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 8am-2pm, Italian time. The foreign-language service (for non-Italian speakers) runs Monday-Friday 9am-2pm only, no Saturday hours. This applies to every number above, including the country-specific European lines.
If you're outside those 11 countries
INPS's own page points callers from anywhere else in the world to its WebCall service, an internet-based calling tool available in eight languages, with the same hours as above. It needs a stable internet connection. If you'd rather just dial the standard number directly, 06 164 164 works from any country, you're simply paying your own carrier's rate for it, the same as calling any other Italian number from abroad.
What to have ready
- Your codice fiscale (Italian tax identification number)
- Your INPS PIN or SPID credentials, if you have an online account
- A description of the specific issue (pension, unemployment benefit, maternity leave, disability)
The cheaper way to actually make the call
If you're not in one of the 11 countries with a free line, 06 164 164 is a standard Italian line, and calling it from abroad means paying your own carrier's international rate for the whole call. With DialVia, you call it over Wi-Fi from your browser instead:
- Open DialVia and sign up (about 30 seconds)
- Select Italy as the destination
- Enter 06 164 164
- Hit call
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free number to call INPS from the US, Canada, or Australia? No. INPS's free numbers only cover 11 specific European countries. Everyone else uses the standard-rate 06 164 164 or the WebCall internet service.
Does the 803 164 toll-free number work from abroad? No. It's an Italian landline-only toll-free format. Use 06 164 164 or your country's dedicated number instead.
Can I get INPS assistance in English? Yes, the foreign-language service runs Monday-Friday 9am-2pm Italian time, on every number listed above.
What's WebCall and do I need it? It's INPS's own internet-calling tool for callers outside the 11 listed countries. You don't need it specifically, dialing 06 164 164 directly works the same way any international call does.
Also need another Italian government office's number? See our guide to Italian government offices, covering the Agenzia delle Entrate, INPS, and passport renewal.
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