What is an E-Card? When and How Does It Arrive?
- The E-Card is your physical access card to the Austrian healthcare system.
- This card is used for all health services such as doctor’s examinations, hospitals and pharmacies.
- For first-time applicants, the card is usually sent to your address by post within 1-3 weeks.
- The first card is free of charge. In the following years, a renewal fee is automatically deducted from your salary in November each year to ensure that you continue to benefit from health care and is separately stated in your payslip. For 2026, this fee is 14.65 euros.
- The card contains your social insurance number(Versicherungsnummer) and, if applicable, your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card).
When should you close your SSI registration in Turkey?
You must end your social security registration in Turkey before you start your social security registration in Austria.
- Correct timing: Whenever your employment contract in Austria starts, your social security registration in Turkey must be closed the day before.
Example: If your employment starts on August 1, your Social Security exit notice should be July 31. - Who does it? The SSI exit process is carried out by your last employer in Turkey.
- Why is it important? Being actively insured in two countries at the same time can lead to legal problems and the rejection of your health insurance in Austria.
How to Obtain Documents Indicating the Suspension of Insurance Registration in Turkey?
In Austria, it is important to document the closure of your insurance registration in Turkey. The authorities may request these documents.
Documents you need to get:
- Health Provision and Activation System (SPAS) Certificate of Eligibility: Indicates whether you benefit from health services in Turkey.
- Social Security Registration Inquiry: Shows whether you have an active record in the SSI.
How to get the documents?
- Log in to the E-Government website.
- In the search bar, type “Health Provision and Activation System Certificate of Eligibility” and “Social Security Record Inquiry”.
- Select the relevant services to view and download your documents.
Mandatory German translation
- In order to submit these documents to the Austrian authorities, a sworn and notarized German translation is mandatory.
- Official transactions are not accepted without translation.
How does social insurance registration start in Austria?
When you start working in Austria with a Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte, your employer automatically enrolls you in the social insurance system (ÖGK).
- The employer notifies the Social Insurance Institution (SII).
- You will be assigned a Versicherungsnummer (insurance number).
- You can use this number to access basic health services (e.g. emergencies) even without an E-Card.
Situation for family members (spouse, children):
Insurance for family members is not automatic. Family members can be insured through the employed person, but a separate application must be made to the insurance institution to which they are affiliated .
Insurance for family members is not automatic. Family members can be insured through the employed person, but a separate application must be made to the insurance institution to which they are affiliated .
The documents requested are usually the following:
- MultilingualBirth Registration Sample (Formula A)
- Multilingual Marriage Registration Sample (Formula B)
- Residence Registration (Meldezettel)
- Session Card (e.g. Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte Plus)
When applying to the insurance institution with these documents, social insurance is registered for family members.
Note In some cases, additional documents may be requested or there may be differences in the process; however, the list above covers the basic and commonly requested documents.
What Should You Do If You Didn’t Receive an E-Card?
Common reasons why you did not receive the E-Card:
- Incorrect or incomplete address registration (Meldezettel)
- Missing photo record (mandatory for ages 14 and over)
- Insurance record not yet reflected in the system
- Mail delay or delivery problems
What you need to do
- Make sure that your employer is registered for insurance.
- Check whether your residential address (Meldezettel) is up to date.
- Verify that your photo record for the E-Card has been uploaded to the system (e.g. via www.chipkarte.at or your local ÖGK)
- If the card has still not arrived after the above checks, contact your local ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) regional office.
How to Determine the Application Location?
- Regardless of your region of residence, you can make a transaction at any ÖGK office in Austria.
- The address used as the basis for sending cards is usually your residential address.
- If you have not yet registered your residence, the address provided by your employer can be used temporarily, but the residential address takes precedence in official proceedings.
Contact information for all states can be found at www.gesundheitskasse.at.
No E-Card without Photo Registration!
- Since 2020, it has been mandatory for everyone over the age of 14 to have a biometric photo registered in the E-Card system.
- Cards will not be issued to those without a photo record.
- Documents required for photo registration;
- Passport
- Session card
- Documents showing family ties, if any (such as birth or marriage records)
- You can register your photo at the following locations:
- Authorized ODS offices
- Registrierungsstelle (registration offices)
- Prior appointment may be required for registration (valid for some offices)
The time required by the consulate for the finalization of the application varies between 3 and 6 months. This process may vary in some files.
What to do when seeking health care in Turkey?
- The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) on the back of the E-Card is only valid in European countries. Turkey is not covered by EHIC.
- Short-term travelers to Turkey must request an Urlaubskrankenschein (certificate of treatment abroad) from the ÖGK.
- With this document, limited health services can be obtained from SSI-contracted hospitals in Turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions What Should Healthcare Providers Do?
- What happens if I do not receive an SSI exit certificate?
Your Austrian registration may appear problematic, the E-Card may be delayed or your application may be rejected. - Can I go to the hospital without an E-Card?
Yes, in the Austrian health system, you can be examined for a fee even if you are insured, if you have not yet received your E-Card. In this case, the refund period is usually 1 month. However, this period is not definite and may vary depending on the practices of the hospital or health institution. In some cases, the refund period may be shorter or longer. - It is therefore important that you contact the health care provider where you received treatment to get precise information about the refund period after you have been examined. You can also contact the ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) for information about the process.
- Do I need a separate application for my family members?
Yes, spouses and children can be insured through the employed person; however, a separate application must be made to the relevant insurance institution.
E-Card is Not Just a Card, but the Key to Life
Don’t assume that the Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte application process is complete. For your life in Austria to be sustainable, you need to be fully integrated into the health system.
If you are starting a new life in Austria with the Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte, registering for health insurance on time and receiving your E-Card is critical for your quality of life.
- Make your SSI exit in Turkey on time.
- Check your insurance record in Austria.
- If you don’t receive an E-Card, don’t wait, take action.
- Note that when traveling to Turkey you must use Urlaubskrankenschein , not EHIC .
Remember: The E-Card is your digital key to the Austrian healthcare system and the guarantee of your quality of life. With the right and timely procedures, you can get this key without any hassle!
