European Health Insurance Card: What You Need to Know for Travel in 2025

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or legally resident in an EU country, you can use the EHIC / CEAM when traveling in other member states. It allows you to receive medically necessary care under the same conditions as locals — not for long-term planned procedures.

But be careful: the card doesn't replace travel or private insurance — it doesn't cover private costs, repatriation, or non-urgent treatments.

Also, for UK cardholders, the EHIC must be checked, and in many cases replaced by the GHIC.

Validity & renewal: Check when your card expires and renew it in time.

Issuing time: In some countries, the card is mailed within 5 to 7 working days.

Provisional certificate: If you travel within 10 days and haven't gotten your new card yet, some states issue a provisional replacement (e.g. for three months).

Limited scope: EHIC only covers "medically necessary" treatment — definitions depend on each country's health system.

1. Check your current EHIC / CEAM: note the expiry. If it's nearing expiration, start a renewal via your national health portal (for example, 'mon compte ameli' in France). Learn more about European healthcare systems for expats.

2. Apply early — ideally weeks before any trip — to avoid gaps in coverage.

3. If you leave soon: request a provisional certificate if your country offers it. Before traveling, check the new EES border requirements.

4. Keep a digital backup: a scanned copy or photo on your phone helps in emergencies.

5. Buy a supplemental travel/private insurance to cover what EHIC does not: repatriation, private care, etc.

6. When you use it on site: present the card to the local provider, ask for a complete receipt. You may pay upfront or a portion, depending on local rules, then claim reimbursement under your home scheme. For longer stays, see our guide to getting around Europe.

Concrete example: Suppose you live in Germany but travel for a week to France. You show your German EHIC at a French hospital, get treated, pay any local balance, then bring receipts home to Germany for reimbursement under German rates.