Marking World Tourism Day, the National Health Service (NHS) of Latvia reminds residents that they can obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) free of charge. During a temporary stay in another European Union Member State, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, the EHIC provides access, when necessary, to state-funded healthcare under the same conditions as those applicable to local residents, the NHS informs.
The EHIC certifies that a person is a resident of an EU Member State, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or the United Kingdom and is covered by the social security system in their home country. Consequently, they are entitled to receive necessary or emergency medical treatment under the same conditions and to the same extent as local residents. Latvian residents most frequently use the EHIC in Germany, Sweden and Spain. To ensure coverage against other risks that may arise during travel or a stay abroad, travellers are also advised to purchase travel insurance, the NHS explains.
There are several ways to apply for an EHIC:
- Visit one of the NHS Customer Service Centres in person (in Riga, Jelgava, Kuldīga, Smiltene or Daugavpils). The EHIC is issued within a few minutes.
- Use the Latvija.lv e-service “Issuance and Cancellation of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)”. When applying remotely, the EHIC can be delivered by post to the address specified in the application.
The NHS also notes that the EHIC will be available in electronic format in the future, following a decision on digitalisation taken at the European Union level. Work on the digitalisation of the EHIC has therefore begun, involving all EU Member States.
There is no age restriction for obtaining the card - it can be issued to both infants and senior citizens, as every person needs their own EHIC. According to statistics compiled by the NHS, more than 175 000 EHICs were issued in Latvia in 2025, while 115 000 cards have already been issued during the first eight months of this year.
It should be noted that the EHIC does not cover patient co-payments charged abroad or repatriation (transportation) costs in the event of serious illness or death. It should also be noted that third-country nationals, including Latvian non-citizens, cannot use the EHIC in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Denmark, except where they are stateless persons, refugees or family members of an EU citizen.
Before travelling, it is also advisable to familiarise yourself with the arrangements for receiving medical treatment in the country you are visiting. This information can be obtained by contacting the relevant country’s national contact point or by consulting the list of contact points for EU Member States online.