What applies to children?
Children up to the age of 13 years and 10 months receive an e‑card without photo - even if a photo would be available. It is regulated by law that e‑cards for persons older than 14 years have to be equipped with a photo.
Therefore all e‑cards without photo will be blocked on the 14th birthday (unless another legal exception applies).
Shortly before the 14th birthday an automatic attempt to issue an e‑card with a photo will be started.
If at that time a photo of the child is available from an Austrian passport, an Austrian identity card, a photo-registration for the e‑card or a document of the register of foreign nationals a new e‑card with this photo will be issued and delivered automatically.
If no photo is available and no legal exception applies, the new e‑card cannot
be produced.
In this case the child will be informed to submit a photo at the next doctor's visit or contact with the social insurance. From the first request by the social insurance institution or the doctor a transition period of 150 days - regulated by law - starts to run. During this transition period medical treatment in Austria is possible with the child's social insurance number and a photo ID. After the transition period the child needs a temporary electronic replacement voucher for doctors’ visits which can be issued by the responsible health insurance institution on application. The contact details of all health insurance institutions can be found here.
ATTENTION: It is not possible to redeem e‑prescriptions (e‑Rezept) at the pharmacy with a blocked e‑card. You need a printout of the e‑prescription or the 12-digit e‑Rezept ID. If the child is present at the medical practice when the e‑prescription is issued ask the doctor for a printout. If the child is not there in person you can ask for the 12-digit e‑Rezept ID by phone.
For the issue of a new e‑card a photo has to be provided. The child has to come in person to the responsible registration office and bring:
- a photo according to the passport photo requirements
her or his current e‑card or Austrian social insurance number
- As an Austrian citizen the child has to show her or his ID and proof of citizenship (original documents).
- As a non-Austrian citizen the child has to provide her or his original travel document (e.g. passport or ID).
The presence of a legal representative is generally not required for the photo registration of minors. An identity witness (usually a parent) only has to be called in if the registration agent has doubts about the child´s identity (e.g. if no official photo ID can be presented).
Using the Foto-Sofort-Check persons from the age of 13 years and 10 months can easily verify whether a photo is currently available. If no photo of the child is available it is best to bring a photo to the responsible registration office before the 14th birthday. This way a new e‑card with a photo can be issued before the old one expires. (It is not possible to submit a photo for children younger than 13 years and 10 months.)
What applies to people who are classified in care levels 4, 5, 6 or 7?
As long as you receive care allowance at levels 4, 5, 6 or 7 you are exempt from the obligation to have a photo on your e‑card. This means:
Right before the expiration date on the back of your current e‑card is reached a new e‑card will be issued and sent to you.
If at that time a photo is available from your passport, identity card, ID Austria, driving licence in a credit-card format, an e‑card photo registration or the register of foreign nationals you will automatically get a new e‑card with this photo.
If there is no photo available a new e‑card without a photo can be issued and sent to you due to the legal exception.
Using the Foto-Sofort-Check you can easily verify if a photo of you is available at the moment.
ATTENTION: As soon as the legal exception no longer applies (e.g. loss of the care level or reduction below level 4) the e‑card without a photo will be blocked immediately!
If a photo of you is available at the time your e‑card is blocked you will automatically receive a new e‑card with a photo.
If there is no photo available a new e‑card cannot be produced. The next time you visit a doctor or you get in contact with your social insurance institution you will be informed that you have to submit a photo. From the first request by the social insurance institution or your doctor a transition period of 150 days - regulated by law - starts to run. During this transition period medical treatment in Austria is possible with your social insurance number and ID.
After the ransition period you need a temporary electronic replacement voucher for doctors' visits which can be issued by your responsible health insurance institution on application. The contact details of all health insurance institutions can be found here.
You must bring a photo so that a new e‑card can be issued.
You have to come in person to the registration office which is responsible for you and bring:
- a photo according to the passport photo requirements
- your current e‑card or your Austrian social insurance number
- As an Austrian citizen you have to show your ID and proof of citizenship (original documents).
- As a non-Austrian citizen you have to bring your travel document (e.g. passport or ID).
ATTENTION: It is not possible to redeem e‑prescriptions (e‑Rezept) at the pharmacy with a blocked e‑card. You need a printout of the e‑prescription or the 12-digit e‑Rezept ID. If you are present at the medical practice when the e‑prescription is issued ask your doctor for a printout. If you are not there in person you can ask for the 12-digit e‑Rezept ID by phone.
What applies to people who turn 70 or have already turned 70 in the year the new e-card is issued?
Usually your new photo e‑card is sent automatically shortly before the expiration date of the European Health Insurance Card on the back side of your e‑card is reached.
If at that time a photo is available from your passport, identity card, ID Austria, driving licence in a credit-card format, the register of foreign nationals or you already registered a photo for your e‑card within the last 7 years it will be automatically transferred to the e‑card.
Using the Foto-Sofort-Check you can easily verify if a photo of you is available at the moment.
If no photo is available an e‑card will be issued without a photo.
If you are exempt from the photo requirement you can voluntarily submit a photo to the relevant registration office. The right time for this is three to four months before the expiration date on the back of the e‑card is reached. You will receive the new e‑card before the old one expires.
You have to come in person to the registration office which is responsible for you and bring:
- a photo according to the passport photo requirements
- your current e‑card or your Austrian social insurance number
- As an Austrian citizen you have to show your ID and proof of citizenship (original documents).
- As a non-Austrian citizen you have to bring your travel document (e.g. passport or ID).