The e‑card is your personal key to Austria's healthcare system. Since 1/1/2020 new e‑cards are only being issued with a photo due to legislative changes.
1. Do I have to do something?
Your e‑card is issued and sent to you automatically after registering with the social insurance if there is a photo of you available from
- an Austrian passport,
- an Austrian identity card,
- an ID Austria,
- an Austrian driving licence in a credit-card format,
- a document of the register of foreign nationals
- a photo registration for your e‑card within the last 7 years
or if a legal exception applies to you.
If NO photo is available and NO exception applies it is not possible to issue a new e‑card!
You can visit a doctor with your Austrian social insurance number and a photo ID even if you do not yet have an e‑card. If you don´t know your social insurance number ask your social insurance institution.
Therefore you have to bring a photo if you
- don´t have an Austrian passport, an Austrian identity card, an Austrian driving licence in a credit-card format or a document of the register of foreign nationals
- are older than 14 and younger than 70 years of age
- you do not qualify for care level 4, 5, 6 or 7
- and you haven't already registered a photo for your e‑card within the last 7 years.
If the postal adress stated in your registration is outside of Austria, please contact your social insurance institution to make sure that your e‑card can be delivered abroad.
ATTENTION: If you do not have a valid e‑card you need a printout of the e‑prescription or the 12-digit e‑Rezept ID to redeem an e‑prescription (e‑Rezept) at the pharmacy. 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.
2. When should I submit a photo?
Submit a passport photo to the registration office which is responsible for you as soon as possible.
At the latest when you are requested to do so by your doctor or social insurance institution.
3. What do I have to bring along?
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).
4. What happens if I don´t bring a photo?
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.
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 transition 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.