The essentials

  • The card is free — never pay a third-party site claiming to charge for it ;
  • It covers unplanned medically necessary care during temporary stays, not relocation ;
  • UK citizens use the GHIC since 2021 ; the card is recognised across the EU under the same conditions as the EHIC ;
  • If you settle in France permanently, you need to register with Ameli/PUMa — your EHIC/GHIC will not work for routine care once you are a French resident.

What is the EHIC and what does it cover?

The EHIC is issued by the social security institution of your home country and proves to a foreign hospital, GP or pharmacy that you are entitled to state-provided healthcare. When you present it during a temporary stay in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you receive treatment under the local public healthcare system on the same terms as a local resident.

In France specifically, this means the doctor or hospital can bill the local CPAM directly, and you only pay the patient share (30% on a GP visit, 20% on hospital care, plus the daily hospital flat fee). Without an EHIC or GHIC, you would have to pay everything upfront and seek reimbursement later — a much slower and more bureaucratic process.

The card covers:

  • Unplanned medically necessary care during a temporary stay ;
  • Treatment for ongoing conditions such as diabetes or asthma (e.g. dialysis, oxygen therapy — pre-arrangement may be needed) ;
  • Routine maternity care if the pregnancy was not the reason for travel ;
  • Emergency care, including hospitalisation following an accident.

It does not cover:

  • Travel specifically to receive medical treatment (planned medical tourism) ;
  • Private clinics — the EHIC only works in publicly contracted facilities ;
  • Repatriation to your home country if you fall seriously ill abroad ;
  • The patient share (the 20-30% France charges on top of the social security reimbursement) ;
  • Long-term care after you become a resident — you must register with the local health system.

For these gaps, a separate travel insurance policy is recommended on top of the EHIC/GHIC, especially for trips outside the EU.

Who is eligible?

You can hold an EHIC if you are insured by, or covered by, the public social security system of an EU member state, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland. Each member of your family needs their own card — there is no family card. Children under 16 are added through their parent's institution but receive a separate physical or digital card.

Non-EU nationals legally residing in an EU country and covered by its public health system can typically apply for an EHIC, but the card is not accepted in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland for non-EU holders.

The UK GHIC since Brexit

After Brexit, UK residents are no longer entitled to the EHIC. They use the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead, introduced in January 2021. The GHIC works like the old EHIC for visits to EU member states, including France — same coverage, same conditions.

Two important UK-specific points:

  • UK citizens covered by the Withdrawal Agreement (resident in an EU country before 31 December 2020) keep access to a continued EHIC under their host-country social security ;
  • UK retirees who hold an S1 form (state pension recipients) get an EHIC issued by their host country, not by the UK.

The GHIC does not cover Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway except for a small subset of UK nationals (e.g. those with prior coverage rights). For these countries, separate travel insurance is essential.

How to apply

The EHIC and GHIC are always free. Avoid third-party websites charging an "administrative fee" — they're at best middlemen, at worst scams. Apply directly via your country's social security website.

  • France: order through your Ameli personal account on ameli.fr ; the digital version (carte européenne d'assurance maladie or CEAM) is available immediately, the physical card arrives in 10–15 days ;
  • UK: apply for the GHIC at nhs.uk ; processing typically takes up to 15 working days ;
  • Other EU/EEA countries: each has its own portal — find yours via the European Commission directory.

Cards typically remain valid for 2 to 5 years, depending on the issuing country. You can renew up to six months before expiry. France issues digital cards via the Ameli mobile app since 2023 — the QR code shown in-app is officially recognised by health professionals across the EU.

If you move to France permanently

Once you settle in France for more than three months and become a stable resident, your foreign EHIC/GHIC stops being the right tool. You need to register with the French social security system through PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie) and apply for a Carte Vitale. Once registered, France issues your own EHIC for trips elsewhere in Europe.

Trying to use a UK GHIC or US insurance for routine French care once you live here is a common mistake. The GHIC is only for short visits, not for ongoing residence. Settle the paperwork early — the application process can take 3 to 6 months.

For pensioners moving from the UK or another EU country, the S1 form is the better route: your home country pays for your French healthcare, and you don't need GHIC at all. See our retiring in France guide for the full process.