Dossena played for the Italy U-20 team from 2000 to 2001, earning four caps. He made his first appearance for the Italy senior side in a friendly against South Africa on 17 October 2007. Dossena won his second international cap when he came on at half-time during Italy's 2–2 draw with Austria on 20 August 2008. He scored an own goal to put Italy 3–0 down against Brazil in a Confederations Cup match on 21 June 2009, as Italy were eliminated in the first round of the competition.