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Health insurance rules applicable in the case of short-term or long-term stays in another Member State, including how to apply for a European Health Insurance Card

From: Department of Health
Published on: 19 November 2020
Last updated on: 6 October 2025

If you are an EU national planning to live in another EU country, be prepared for different social security systems, including health insurance.

What you have to do depends on your personal situation, the length of your stay and the terms of your current health insurance. Make sure you understand your particular case before going abroad.

If you're unsure about your rights and want to check before you get treatment, contact a National Contact Point for healthcare. There's at least one in each EU country, and they can tell you whether you will be entitled to reimbursement, and if there are any reimbursement ceilings.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) lets you get healthcare abroad for free, or at a reduced cost, if you're:

on holiday
on a short-term stay of no more than 3 months
studying abroad - you'll be covered for the academic year

You can use an EHIC in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Republic of Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

The EEA countries are

Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway

You can apply for an EHIC if you’re living in Ireland and intend to live here for at least 1 year.

You can apply:

online
by post or email

To apply by post, download and complete the application form:

Include copies of the following for all applicants:

a photo ID, like a passport or driving licence
proof that you and anyone over 18 has been living in Ireland for the last 12 months - for example, a household bill or a letter from Revenue or Social Welfare

You also need to include a copy of 1 of the following for all applicants:

proof of your PPS number - for example, a recent payslip, a Public Services Card, a letter from Social Welfare or an Employment Detail Summary (the old P60)
a letter from the Department of Social Protection if you get any social insurance payments, such as illness benefit, disability allowance or the state pension

Please do not send original documents in the post with your application form.

Send your completed application form and documents to us by post or email.

Post: EHIC Applications, PO Box 11745, Dublin 11

Email: PCRS.Applications@hse.ie

Your card will be posted to you within 10 working days of applying.

For further information on the EHIC, please see the HSE site.