European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The EHIC card is available to persons insured with NFZ (National Health Fund).

Who can obtain an EHIC?

• Employees — employed under a contract of employment, contract of mandate (with ZUS), running a business
• Family members of the insured — spouse, children up to 18 years (or up to 26 if studying)
• Pensioners and recipients of disability benefits
• Unemployed persons registered at PUP (employment office)
• Students registered for insurance by their university
• Farmers insured with KRUS

What does EHIC give you?

• Right to necessary healthcare in EU, EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland
• Treatment on the same terms as citizens of that country
• EHIC does not replace travel insurance — it does not cover medical transport, repatriation, or planned treatment

Card validity

• Tourism: up to 3 years (depends on insurance status)
• Working abroad: for the secondment period (max 2 years)
• Studies: for the academic year
• Pensioners: up to 20 years

Documents depend on the purpose of travel and your insurance status.

Tourism / temporary stay

• EHIC application form (available on the NFZ website or IKP)
• Proof of insurance — in most cases NFZ verifies automatically via the eWUŚ system

Working abroad (secondment)

• EHIC application form
• A1 form — certificate of applicable legislation (issued by ZUS)
• Employer's certificate of secondment

Studying abroad

• EHIC application form
• Certificate from foreign university confirming admission or enrolment
• Student ID or certificate from Polish university (if exchange)

For children

• Application filled in by parent/legal guardian
• Birth certificate (if child has no PESEL or is not in the system)
• Certificate of continuing education (for children aged 18–26)

You can submit the EHIC application in several ways.

Online — IKP (Patient Internet Account)

1. Log in at pacjent.gov.pl via Login.gov.pl
2. Go to the 'EKUZ' section
3. Fill in the application — select the purpose and period of travel
4. Submit the application
5. The card will be sent by post or available as a temporary certificate

Online — ePodanie on the NFZ website

1. Go to e-podanie.nfz.gov.pl
2. Fill in the application form
3. Attach required documents (scans)
4. Submit the application

In person — at an NFZ branch

1. Go to the regional NFZ branch or delegation
2. Bring your ID card and completed application
3. Submit the application — in many branches the card is issued on the spot

By post

Send the completed application with a copy of your identity document to the regional NFZ branch.

After processing the application, NFZ issues the EHIC card.

Timeline

• Online application: card sent by post within 7 business days
• In person: card issued on the spot at many NFZ branches
• If there are gaps — NFZ will contact you to provide additional information

What does the card contain?

• First name and surname
• PESEL (identification number)
• Date of birth
• Card number and expiry date
• Institution code (NFZ)

Provisional certificate

If you cannot receive the card before departure, you can obtain a Provisional Replacement Certificate for the EHIC — it has the same legal force as the card and is issued immediately.

How to use the EHIC abroad?

• Show the EHIC card at a public health facility in an EU/EEA country
• You are entitled to treatment on the same terms as citizens of that country
• In some countries a co-payment is required (e.g. a visit fee) — this is normal and is not reimbursed
• Keep all receipts — they may be needed for settlement with NFZ after returning

If you are seconded to work abroad, in addition to the EHIC card you need form A1 confirming that you are subject to the Polish social insurance system.

A1 form

• Confirms that you pay ZUS contributions in Poland, not in the country of secondment
• Required for secondment of max 24 months
• Issued by ZUS on application from the employer or self-employed person

How to obtain?

1. Employer submits application US-1 (for employee) or US-2 (for self-employed) to ZUS
2. ZUS verifies the secondment conditions
3. A1 form is issued within 7–30 days
4. The worker receives a copy of the form

Online application

The employer can submit the application via PUE ZUS — faster and more convenient than paper.

If you are going to study or do a placement abroad, you need to document your student status.

Documents

• Certificate from foreign university — confirming admission to studies or placement
• Certificate from Polish university — if going on exchange (Erasmus+, bilateral)
• Student ID — Polish, valid for the current academic year

EHIC validity for students

• Card issued for the academic year (usually until 30 September)
• Possibility of renewal for the next year after presenting a new certificate

Insurance

• Students up to age 26 can be insured as family members (through a parent)
• Students not registered by a parent can be registered by the university
• Check insurance status on IKP (pacjent.gov.pl) before applying