Get Your Austrian E-Card: A Simple Guide

Austria is considered to have one of the best health insurance systems in the world. Health insurance is mandatory in Austria for those meeting certain criteria, and since 2005, e-cards have been issued to verify coverage. The e-card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system and also serves as a European Health Insurance Card, entitling the owner to free treatment at all state healthcare facilities throughout the EU. This article will explain how to get an e-card in Austria.

Registering with Austrian social insurance

To register with Austrian social insurance, you must be in paid employment or be self-employed. Dependants of those in paid employment or self-employed individuals are also covered by social insurance. As soon as you take up an occupation, you are automatically covered by insurance.

If you are an Austrian citizen, you need to show your ID and proof of citizenship (original documents) to register with Austrian social insurance. If you are a non-Austrian citizen, you must bring your travel documents, such as your passport or ID. Additionally, you need to submit a photo that meets passport photo requirements and is not older than six months. You can book an appointment for your e-card photo online. There are six offices in Vienna's 8th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 20th, and 22nd districts, and you can go to any office, regardless of your home district.

If you are a non-Austrian citizen and do not have a valid travel document, such as a passport or ID, you can still receive medical treatment in Austria with your social insurance number and ID. However, you will be informed that you need to submit a photo. A transition period of 150 days, regulated by law, will begin from the first request by the social insurance institution or your doctor. During this time, you can continue to receive medical treatment with your social insurance number and ID. After the transition period, you will need to obtain a temporary electronic replacement voucher for doctors' visits, which can be issued by your responsible health insurance institution upon application.

If you already have an e-card without a photo, it will be blocked, and you will need to submit a new photo to obtain an updated e-card. If your address is outside of Austria, contact your social insurance institution to ensure your e-card can be delivered abroad.

Booking an appointment for your e-card photo

To book an appointment for your e-card photo, you need to submit a photo in person at the registration office. People who are not Austrian citizens can book an appointment for their e-card photo online. On the website, choose Vienna and then select the office where you want to have your appointment. You can choose any office, regardless of your home district. There are six offices in districts 8, 10, 15, 16, 20 and 22.

When booking an appointment, you should be prepared to provide the following documents:

• A photo that meets passport photo requirements and is no older than six months.
• Your Austrian social insurance number (if you don't know this, ask your social insurance institution).
• If you are not an Austrian citizen, bring your travel document, such as your passport or ID.

If you need to change your appointment, you can cancel it on the same website and book a new one.

Please note that since 1 January 2020, all e-cards must be issued with a photo. If you already have an e-card without a photo, you will be informed that you need to submit a photo when you next visit a doctor or contact your social insurance institution. A transition period of 150 days will then begin, during which you can access medical treatment with your social insurance number and ID. After this period, you will need to apply for a temporary electronic replacement voucher for doctors' visits.

What to bring to your appointment

To get an e-card in Austria, you must book an appointment at a registration office. The e-card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system and is issued with a photo. Here is a list of what to bring to your appointment:

• A photo that complies with passport photo requirements and is no older than six months.
• Your Austrian social insurance number. If you don't know your social insurance number, ask your social insurance institution.
• A valid form of identification, such as a passport or ID. If you are not an Austrian citizen, you must bring your travel documents.
• If you already have an e-card, bring it with you.

If you are from a country with a social insurance agreement with Austria, you may also need to bring an A3 form for short stays (no longer than three months) and an A4 form for stays as a primary resident.

Healthcare access without an e-card

Austria has a very good and accessible healthcare system, which is mainly public but also offers private insurance. Every citizen and resident in Austria must be insured, as required by law. The public system is funded by the state health insurance fund, the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, into which employees pay monthly contributions.

If you are a non-Austrian citizen, you can access healthcare without an e-card by presenting your travel documents (passport or ID) and your social insurance number. If you do not know your social insurance number, you can contact your social insurance institution. You will be informed that you need to submit a photo, and a 150-day transition period will begin, during which you can access medical treatment with your social insurance number and ID. After this period, you will need a temporary electronic replacement voucher for doctors' visits, which can be issued by your health insurance institution.

If you are a UK national, you can access healthcare in Austria by paying for state health insurance through your employer, using a UK-issued Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for temporary stays, or registering a UK-issued S1 form with the state insurance fund. If you are a student, you can apply for a Student GHIC or use a Student EHIC.

If you are a family member of someone working in Austria and are not employed, you can be co-insured with them. They will need to contact their insurance provider and present a marriage/partnership certificate or birth certificate. You can then apply for your e-card.

If you are a student from an EU/EEA country, you can use the European Health Insurance Card to access healthcare in Austria for stays of up to six months.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

While the EHIC is not a substitute for medical insurance, it will cover the cost of necessary treatments and allow cardholders to continue their stay in Austria until their planned return. This is especially relevant for those staying in the country for an extended period (more than six months), as they are considered residents and must pay contributions to a local insurance institution.

To obtain an EHIC, individuals must meet certain criteria. For example, students must have valid insurance from the EU/EEA or Switzerland to be eligible for reduced or free treatment. Additionally, scientists or researchers visiting from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland must have a valid national health insurance policy from their home country. Employees sent to Austria by their employers will need an additional E102 form from their health insurance providers in their home country.

It is important to note that since January 1, 2020, all new e-cards, which include the EHIC, must be issued with a photo. Individuals must submit a photo in person at a registration office, following passport photo requirements, and those without Austrian citizenship must also bring their travel documents. If an individual does not have a photo, they can still receive medical treatment by presenting their social insurance number and ID. However, they will be informed that they need to submit a photo, and a 150-day transition period will begin, during which they can still receive treatment. After this transition period, a temporary electronic replacement voucher will be required for doctor's visits.

Frequently asked questions