Lexi Webster
The e-card is a vital component of Austria's healthcare system, providing access to medical services for citizens and residents. It serves as the personal key to healthcare in Austria, with new cards issued featuring a photo for added security and identification. The e-card is linked to an individual's Austrian social insurance and facilitates receiving treatment in the country. Additionally, the card has a European dimension, with the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) featured on its back, enabling cardholders to access necessary medical care during temporary stays in other EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK. Understanding the e-card system in Austria is essential for ensuring access to healthcare services, both within the country and during temporary travel elsewhere.
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What You'll Learn
How to get an e-card
An e-card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system. It is also a European Health Insurance Card, entitling the owner to free treatment at all state healthcare facilities throughout the EU.
To get an e-card, you must go in person to the registration office responsible for you and bring the following:
- A photo that meets the passport photo requirements.
- Your Austrian social insurance number.
- If you are an Austrian citizen, you must also show your ID and proof of citizenship (original documents).
- If you are a non-Austrian citizen, you must bring your travel documents (e.g. passport or ID).
If there is no photo of you available, and therefore your e-card cannot be produced, medical treatment in Austria is still possible with your social insurance number and ID. You will be informed that you need to submit a photo the next time you visit a doctor or get in contact with your social insurance institution. From the first request by the social insurance institution or your doctor, there is a transition period of 150 days during which medical treatment in Austria is possible with your social insurance number and ID. After this transition period, you will need 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, you must bring it to the registration office, where it will be blocked, and a new e-card with a photo will be sent to you within a few days.
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What to do if you don't have an e-card
The e-card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system. If you don't have an e-card, you can still visit a doctor with your Austrian social insurance number and a photo ID. If you don't know your social insurance number, you can ask your social insurance institution. Please note that this only applies if you don't have an Austrian passport, an Austrian identity card, an Austrian driving licence in a credit-card format, or a document from the register of foreign nationals, and are between 14 and 70 years of age. If your postal address is outside of Austria, contact your social insurance institution to ensure that your e-card can be delivered abroad.
If you don't have a valid e-card, you will need a printout of the e-prescription or the 12-digit e-Rezept ID to redeem an e-prescription at a pharmacy. If you are at the medical practice when the e-prescription is issued, ask your doctor for a printout. Alternatively, if you are not there in person, you can request the 12-digit e-Rezept ID by phone.
To obtain an e-card, you must go in person to the registration office responsible for you and bring a photo that meets passport photo requirements, your current e-card or your Austrian social insurance number, and proof of citizenship or a travel document if you are not an Austrian citizen. If there is no photo of you available, and therefore your e-card cannot be produced, you will be informed that you need to submit a photo the next time you visit a doctor or contact your social insurance institution. During the transition period, medical treatment in Austria is still possible with your social insurance number and ID.
As of December 5, 2023, users with a mobile phone signature must switch to the ID Austria, which allows you to prove your identity online and access digital services. You can complete the official registration process for your ID Austria account at the passport office or online. If you complete the online pre-registration process, you can obtain a fully functional ID Austria account along with your new passport.
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The e-card and EHIC connection
The e-card is a personal pass to Austria's healthcare system. It is issued and sent automatically after registering with the social insurance. Since 2020, new e-cards have been issued with a photo. To obtain an e-card, you must provide a photo that meets the passport photo requirements, your current e-card or Austrian social insurance number, and proof of Austrian citizenship. Non-Austrian citizens must bring their travel documents, such as a passport or ID.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is also mentioned in relation to the e-card. The EHIC is a way for individuals to access state-provided healthcare services when they are travelling or living in a European country. It is unclear whether the e-card is equivalent to the EHIC or if they are two separate cards that serve similar purposes. However, it is possible that the e-card is the Austrian version of the EHIC, providing access to healthcare services within Austria for Austrian citizens and residents.
To clarify the connection between the two cards, more information is needed. It may be useful to refer to the official websites of the Austrian government and the European Commission, which provide guidance on the e-card and EHIC, respectively. By reviewing the eligibility criteria, application processes, and usage guidelines for each card, we can better understand their relationship and how they function within the Austrian and European healthcare systems.
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e-card for non-Austrian citizens
The e-card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system. It is issued and sent to you automatically after registering with social insurance. If you are a non-Austrian citizen, you must bring your travel document (e.g. passport or ID) to the registration office. If there is no photo of you available and therefore your e-card cannot be produced, medical treatment in Austria is possible with your social insurance number and ID. You will be informed that you need to submit a photo the next time you visit a doctor or get in contact with your social insurance institution. From the first request by the social insurance institution or your doctor, a transition period of 150 days starts, during which medical treatment in Austria is possible with your social insurance number and ID. After the transition period, you will need a temporary electronic replacement voucher for doctors' visits, which can be issued by your responsible health insurance institution on application. If your postal address is outside of Austria, please contact your social insurance institution to make sure that your e-card can be delivered abroad.
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e-card for permanent Austrian residents
The e-card is a personal key to Austria's healthcare system. It is issued and sent automatically after registering with the social insurance. Since 2020, new e-cards are only being issued with a photo due to legislative changes. The e-card is valid for necessary medical care during a temporary stay in the UK. The Austrian e-card provides “medically necessary” treatment in state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the UK.
The validity of the card depends on how long you have been insured and paying contributions. A validity of one year means that you have been insured for at least one out of the last five years and at least 180 days in the last year. A five-year card is issued if you have been insured for five out of the past ten years prior to the card being issued and at least 180 days in the last year.
If you are a permanent resident of Austria, your UK EHIC card is no longer valid. It is also not a substitute for adequate travel insurance. If you are a UK pensioner with an S1, there is no difference in S1 coverage for those who moved to Austria after 31 December 2020. The rules changed on 1 January 2024, so S1 coverage in England is now the same.
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Frequently asked questions
The e-card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system. It is issued and sent automatically after registering with the social insurance.
The front side of the card is the e-card, and the back relates to the EHIC (German: EKVK). The Austrian EHIC card provides “medically necessary” treatment during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the UK.
You have to go in person to the registration office responsible for you and bring a photo according to passport photo requirements, your current e-card or your Austrian social insurance number. As an Austrian citizen, you must show your ID and proof of citizenship. Non-Austrian citizens must bring a travel document, such as a passport or ID.
