European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Verified 22 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Wondering what the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is for? It makes it easier to take care of your medical care in Europe during temporary stays (examples: holidays, professional stay). It certifies your rights to the French Health Insurance. You can apply for your card before a stay in Europe (with some exceptions) and ask for it free of charge from the Health Insurance, regardless of your nationality. We explain the rules to know.
Warning
If you go live in another european country, you must use the Form S1, and not the European Health Insurance Card, to register for medical care in your new country of residence.
The EHIC guarantees healthcare coverage in the country of stay under the same conditions (terms, rates) as a social insured person in that country.
This could be, for example, an appointment with a doctor, a dentist, a hospital.
The European Commission website explains how to use EHIC in different countries.
Presenting the EHIC (or your provisional certificate) avoids special procedures in the country of stay.
Thus, you benefit from the coverage of your medical care according to the rules and formalities that apply in the country of stay:
- Either you do not have to advance medical expenses
- Either you have to make the advance of the medical expenses and you are reimbursed on the spot by the social security agency of your place of stay.
Warning
Health systems vary greatly from one European country to another. Some services may be free in France, but paid in other countries. Before leaving, find out about the health care system of the country you are visiting.
Covered care
The EHIC covers medically necessary care. Presenting the EHIC saves you from having to return to your country of habitual residence earlier than planned to receive the necessary treatment.
This card also covers:
- Chronic or pre-existing diseases
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth.
Warning
The purpose of your stay should not be to receive care. He must not therefore it is a question of scheduled care.
Care not covered
Private care is not covered. You can only submit the EHIC for health care provided by providers in the public system.
If you receive care outside the public system, you can request reimbursement once you return to France, under the tariff in force in France. Some mutual societies cover health expenses incurred abroad.
The EHIC does not allow covering the costs of medical treatment that you have scheduled in one of the countries of the (EEE) or in Switzerland.
This card does not cover rescue and repatriation services. If you wish to be repatriated free of charge in the event of a critical illness or accident in another country of the UE, you must take out a separate insurance.
Example :
You are French. You go to Italy to ski. During your holidays, you injure your knee. You are being rescued by Italian rescue services. Back in France, you receive a very high bill for your rescue. You must pay the full bill, as search and rescue costs are not covered by the EHIC.
Payment methods
You benefit from the support according to the rules applicable in the country of stay.
If the benefit is free of charge for insured persons in the country, it will also be for you. You won't have any money to advance. You may have to pay the co-payment (part of the costs remaining at your expense).
If the benefit is fee-paying, you will have to advance the costs. You can request a refund:
- Either on the spot, with the competent health insurance institution of the country of stay. Care is provided according to the social legislation and the formalities in the country concerned.
- Either back in France. You must keep the invoices and proof of care and present them to your health insurance organization, along with the form cerfa no. 12267. You have the choice between being reimbursed on the basis of the French Social Security rates or the rates of the country of stay.
FYI
If you have not requested reimbursement of your medical expenses during your stay, you can therefore present the invoices and proof of payment to your affiliation fund upon your return to France.
How to claim the payment depends on your social security scheme (general or agricultural):
General scheme
If you have a Ameli account, you can claim reimbursement for this care online:
Get reimbursed for care provided abroad from the Ameli account
Agricultural scheme
If you are at the MSA, you must contact your caisse for a refund.
The list of countries allowing the use of the EHIC depends on your nationality:
You are European (UE/EEE/Switzerland/United Kingdom)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used:
- In the States of l'/(UE/EEE)
- In Switzerland
- In the United Kingdom.
You are not European (excluding UE/EEE/Switzerland/United Kingdom)
You can use the EHIC in the states ofexcept Denmark) and the United Kingdom.
You can't not use the EHIC for your stays:
- In Denmark
- In Iceland
- In Norway
- In Liechtenstein
- In Switzerland.
Example :
You are of Mauritian nationality. You reside in France and are insured under a health insurance scheme in France. If you are going on holiday to Denmark, you will not be able to use the EHIC.
The map is free of charge, individual and nominative.
The application must be made for each family member, including children under 16 years of age.
EHIC must be requested At least 20 days before departure.
In case of emergency or late request, a replacement provisional certificate is issued and downloadable immediately to your account. It is valid for 3 months.
The request must be made to your health insurance body.
FYI
No documents are required when you apply.
The process for applying for an EHIC varies depending on the plan you depend on:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General scheme (including self-employed)
There are several ways to make this request:
The app counts Ameli
You can download it from the Cameli Account app for smartphone, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Please note
The EHIC can be used in a dematerialized version from the Ameli Account application.
Your Ameli account
You can request your card from your Ameli account.
Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
FYI
You can also order it from the app Ameli account for smartphone, available on the App Store and Google Play.
By phone
If you don't have an Ameli account and can't travel, you can also apply by phone.
Who shall I contact
To obtain information about your rights and procedures, ask a question about your file, report a change in situation, consult your refunds or obtain a certificate of rights.
By phone
3646
Open Monday to Friday.
Be careful : hours may vary depending on your department.
As a rule, opening hours are at least from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Free service + price call, from a landline or mobile phone.
From Mayotte, call 02 69 61 91 91:
- Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
- Friday from 7:30am to 12pm
From the foreigner +33 1 84 90 36 46 (free service + price of a call).
To facilitate the answers and to identify you, remember to bring your Vitale card before you call.
By video interpretation (you are deaf or hard of hearing)
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can contact a advisor by video-interpretation.
At the counter
The request can also be made on site by going to the window.
FYI
If you have not specified your department, you can do so by clicking on the Menu section at the top left of the page.
At the bottom of the scroll, you can enter your postal code. Thus, the reception points will be indicated in connection with your place of residence.
Agricultural scheme
You can apply online at the MSA website.
MSA offers a instructions for use.
The request can also be made on site by going to the counter.
In France, the EHIC is valid 2 years maximum from the date of its publication.
The validity period of the card cannot, however, exceed the duration of your health insurance rights.
Renewal can be done from the expiry date written on the card.
If the validity period of your EHIC does not cover your entire stay, you can request its renewal 2 months before the end of validity of your card.
FYI
In case of loss or theft, you can report this on your Ameli account (via your computer or via the Ameli account app) or by phone.
Waiting for a new card, a replacement provisional certificate the EHIC, issued for a limited period of validity, may then be used under the same conditions as the EHIC.
The application for renewal is made to the organization that issued the 1er map.
The approach will depend on your diet:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General scheme (including self-employed)
You can request your card directly from your Ameli account (from a computer or from the Ameli account app).
Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
You can also apply by phone.
Who shall I contact
To obtain information about your rights and procedures, ask a question about your file, report a change in situation, consult your refunds or obtain a certificate of rights.
By phone
3646
Open Monday to Friday.
Be careful : hours may vary depending on your department.
As a rule, opening hours are at least from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Free service + price call, from a landline or mobile phone.
From Mayotte, call 02 69 61 91 91:
- Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
- Friday from 7:30am to 12pm
From the foreigner +33 1 84 90 36 46 (free service + price of a call).
To facilitate the answers and to identify you, remember to bring your Vitale card before you call.
By video interpretation (you are deaf or hard of hearing)
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can contact a advisor by video-interpretation.
The request can also be made on site at the counter.
FYI
If you have not specified your department, you can do so by clicking on the Menu section at the top left of the page.
At the bottom of the scroll, you can enter your postal code. Thus, the reception points will be indicated in connection with your place of residence.
Who shall I contact
Agricultural scheme
You can apply on the MSA website.
The request can also be made at the counter on site.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss)
General information on Social Security abroad and assistance with the procedures of individuals
By phone
+33 (0) 1 45 26 33 41
Hotline:
- Monday from 9am to 12.30pm
- Tuesday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
- Wednesday from 9 am to 12.30 pm
- Thursday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
- Friday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
By courier
Access to contact form
By post
Center for European and International Social Security Liaison
44 Armand Carrel Street
93100 Montreuil
Management of care provided outside France
Online service
Online service
Online service
Central Fund of the Agricultural Social Mutual Society (MSA)
Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss)