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What is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?

The EHIC is a document certifying that the holder is entitled to state-provided emergency medical care during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The necessary healthcare for the cardholder must be provided under the same conditions and at the same price (in some countries free of charge) as for insured persons in that country.

For more information on the healthcare required for EHIC holders in different countries, see the European Commission website.

In which countries is the EHIC valid?

List of European countries in which the EHIC applies:

  • European Union (EU) Member States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Germany, Croatia.
  • Member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA): Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway.
  • Other countries: Switzerland, the United Kingdom.

How to order/change the EHIC?

For persons insured with compulsory health insurance (CHI) in the Republic of Lithuania, the EHIC is issued or replaced free of charge at the territorial health insurance fund (THIF). Therefore, to obtain a card, you need to contact the nearest health insurance fund.

There are several ways to apply for the EHIC:

  • in person at the THIF;
  • by logging in through the E-Government Gateway to NHIF information system and completing the electronic EHIC application  form;
  • by sending a completed and signed paper application form published on the health insurance funds website.

Applications can be printed and sent to the THIF after completion.

If a Lithuanian citizen covered by CHI left for the EU without a card and urgently needed to apply to the medical institution of that country for the necessary medical assistance, he or she can independently, through the E-Government Gateway, form a certificate provisionally replacing the EHIC. The certificate can be downloaded to your mobile phone or computer. The certificate is available (electronically) for yourself and your minor family members.

How long is the EHIC valid?

For persons covered by CHI in the Republic of Lithuania, the validity of the EHIC is from 2 months to 18 years and depends on the category of the person's compulsory health insurance, which is established by the Law on Health Insurance.

What health care costs are not covered by the EHIC?

The EHIC does not cover:

  • costs of private health care or services that are not part of the public health care system;
  • repatriation costs to Lithuania (transportation costs: if you have to return to your home country due to an accident or illness);
  • planned health care. The EHIC does not guarantee free health care if you go abroad specifically for treatment (including going abroad to give birth). Each country has a different health care system.

Important! The EHIC does not replace private travel insurance.

Can a student studying in Lithuania, receiving a scholarship and holding a temporary residence permit apply for the EHIC?

The card is issued only to persons covered by CHI in Lithuania. Foreign citizens studying in Lithuania and holding a temporary residence permit are not covered by CHI, therefore they are not entitled to receive the EHIC.

Such persons must have private health insurance. Private insurance is not the equivalent to CHI.

Useful links

Do You have any questions? You can submit them to the health insurance funds by e-mail [email protected] or by general phone number +370 5 232 2222.

What is document S1?

Document S1 (replacing the previously issued certificates E106, E109, E120, E121) confirms the right of the person insured by the social insurance in one EU Member State to receive healthcare services in the Member State of residence.

Whom document S1 is issued to?

Document S1 is required when the person and (or) his/her family members live in a country of the European Union (EU) other than the one where they work in and are covered by social insurance. This document is also available to family members of migrant workers who have remained in their home country but have acquired the right to healthcare in the EU Member State where their insured family member currently works (if they do not have the right to healthcare under the legislation of the country of residence).

Document S1 is also used by retired people living in another EU Member State.

For more details about document S1 click here. 

Information for people insured in Lithuania

Who has the right to receive document S1 issued by the Lithuanian territorial health insurance fund? 

Insured persons of the Republic of Lithuania residing in another EU Member Satate who have declared their departure from the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on Declaration of Residence have the right to receive document S1:

  • Persons working in the Republic of Lithuania who, in accordance with the procedure established by Article 17 of the Law on Health Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania, pay the compulsory health insurance contributions themselves or persons for whom compulsory health insurance contributions are paid (with the exception of persons specified in points 8, 10, 11 of Article 17 of of the Law on Health Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania);
  • Persons receiving a state social insurance pension established by the legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania or pensions established by the laws of several EU Member States, if the work experience obtained in Lithuania is the biggest and if they are not entitled to the pension under the legal acts of the EU Member State, where they reside;
  • the family members of persons listed above, if they are not entitled to the healthcare under the legislation of the EU Member State of their residence.

Law on Health Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania – click here. 

How to get document S1?

The territorial health insurance funds (THIF) issue documents S1. The person insured in the Republic of Lithuania must submit to the THIF: 

  • a filled in application to issue document S1;
  • an identification document;
  • a document confirming the right to reside in an EU Member State if the person is not a citizen of the EU country. 

The documents may be submitted in person upon arrival at the THIF, through an authorized person, sent by post, by electronic communication means (signed with a secure electronic signature).

If there are insufficient data to make a decision on the issuance of document S1, the THIF will contact:

  • The State Social Insurance Fund Board under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, requesting confirmation that the person is subject to the social security legislation of the Republic of Lithuania (A1 document or other document);
  • The authority of the EU Member State of residence regarding the approval of the information on the right of the person insured in the Republic of Lithuania or his/her family members to receive benefits according to the legal acts of the EU meber Satate of residence;
  • An authority of an EU member Satate or the person regarding the provision of additional information.

Contacts of Territorial Health Insurance Funds – click here.
Application to receive document S1 – click here. 

When does document S1 issued by the THIF expiry? 

Document S1 validity may be terminated:

  • by the THIF, if the person has lost the status of insured or he/she is no longer entitled to receive healthcare covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund in the EU country where he/she has registered document S1 (for example, no longer lives in that country or is employed in that or another country);
  • by an institution of an EU country of residence which has found out that the person has been covered by the social insurance under the legislation of that EU country or has lost the right to receive healthcare in that EU country for other reasons.

If the person insured in the Republic of Lithuania is employed in country of residence or another EU country, he/she must inform the Lithuanian THIF that issued the document S1.

How to use document S1 issued by the THIF?

Document S1 issued by the THIF must be submitted immediately to the institution responsible for registration of persons for healthcare in the EU Member State of residence. This could be the territorial health insurance fund, social security institution, or another institution that performs such functions.

After registration of document S1 in an institution of an EU country of residence, the person acquires the right to receive healthcare in that country under the same conditions as persons insured in that country. The cost of the healthcare provided to him/her shall be covered by the institution where document S1 was registered. Meanwhile, these costs shall be reimbursed by the NHIF. 

Information for people insured in other EU Member States

Why is it necessary to have document S1 if the person has decided to move his residence to Lithuania?

After registering document S1 in the THIF, the personal data will be included in the Register of Persons Insured with the Compulsory Health Insurance. Since then, the person will be able to receive healthcare services in healthcare institutions having contacts with THIF under the same conditions as Lithuania residents insured by the compulsory health insurance. After registering document S1 the person does not have to pay the compulsory health insurance contributions as Lithuanian. The costs of provided healthcare services or reimbursable medicines will be covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. Subsequently, for Lithuania, these costs will be reimbursed by the competent institution of the country where the person is covered by the social insurance.

In order to receive the state-guaranteed medical services smoothly, it is important to submit document S1 to the THIF immediately after arriving to Lithuania.

If the insured person of another EU Member State moved to the Republic of Lithuania without having an S1 document, it is possible to apply to the THIF with a request for mediation. 

The THIF will apply to the competent institution of the EU Member State where the person is covered by social insurance for the issuance of document S1.

Contacts of Territorial Health Insurance Funds – click here.
Application for mediation regarding issuance of document S1 – click here. 

Is it possible to visit a medical institution immediately after submitting document S1 to the THIF? Will a special card or other document be issued to prove entitelment to healthcare at the medical institution? 

Upon registration of document S1 in the THIF, the person will be able to immediately receive the healthcare services reimbursed by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund in the same manner as other persons insured with the Compulsory Health Insurance in Lithuania.
Lithuanian medical institutions identify the residents according to the submitted identification document, special cards are not issued.

How can an S1 document holder get free healthcare services in Lithuania?

If the person residing in Lithuania has document S1 issued by the competent institution, he/she should:

  • Submit document S1 as well as identification document to the THIF Population Service Division;
  • If other members of his/her family also have document S1, it is necessary to submit copies of their identification documents and document S1 as well;

Document S1 may be delivered to the THIF by an authorized person or sent by post.

After registering document S1 in the THIF, the personal data will be recorded in the Register of Persons Insured with the Compulsory Health Insurance. Since then the person will be able to receive healthcare services in healthcare institutions having contacts with THIF under the same conditions as Lithuania residents insured by the compulsory health insurance: when applying to a healthcare institution, a person must present an identity document, a person can choose an institution providing primary health care services and a family doctor, the specialized health care or inpatient treatment is provided upon the referral of the family doctor 9 in case of emergency the referral system is not applicable).

After registering document S1 the person does not have to pay the compulsory health insurance contributions in Lithuania. The costs of provided healthcare services or reimbursable medicines will be covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. Subsequently, for Lithuania, these costs will be reimbursed by the competent institution of the country where the person is covered by the social insurance.

Contacts of Territorial Health Insurance Funds – click here.

Is it necessary to translate document S1 into Lithuanian?

Document S1 must be submitted in the original language, no translation into Lithuanian is required.

Contacts of Territorial Health Insurance Funds – click here.

The person works in Denmark. What documents should be submitted in order to receive healthcare services in Lithuania?

A person working in one EU Member State and residing in Lithuania should apply to the competent institution of the country of employment (this may be a health insurance fund, a social insurance institution or another institution) for the document S1. After registering the document S1 in any Lithuanian THIF, a person will be able to use healthcare services covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund on the same conditions as persons who pay the Compulsory Health Insurance contributions in Lithuania.

Useful links 

  • More information about document S1 – click here.
  • Application form to receive document S1 – click here. 
  • Contacts of health insurance funds – click here.
  • Law on Health Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania – click here.
  • Application for mediation regarding issuance of document S1  – click here. 
Do You have any questions? You can submit them to the health insurance funds by e-mail [email protected] or by general phone number +370 5 232 2222.

What is document S2?

Document S2 is a document certifying the person’s right to receive certain scheduled health care services in the Member States of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area, Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom. When the persons submit this document to a foreign medical institution, the healthcare services are provided, and their expenses are paid in accordance with the legal acts of the respective foreign country – as if the persons had social health insurance of that country. 

To whom document S2 is issued?

Document S2 is issued to persons insured by the compulsory health insurance in Lithuania and referred for health care services to the Member States of the EU, European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or the Swiss Confederation in accordance with the procedure established by the Order No V-729 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 16 August 2010.

Who makes decision regarding the patient’s referral for consultations, examinations and/or treatment abroad?

The decision to refer the patient for consultations, examinations and/or treatment abroad is made by the commission established by the NHIF director. The Commission notifies the patient and/or his/her representative as well as the hospital that submitted the request for patient’s referral about the decision in writing within 5 business days.

What is the validity term of document S2?

Document S2 is valid for one calendar year. The patient has to refer to the foreign medical institution indicated in the Commission’s decision within this period.

The validity of the Commission’s decision may be extended for the period not exceeding one year when the Commission receives the conclusion from the university hospital together with recommendation from foreign medical institution to continue the treatment abroad if:

  • the treatment has to be continued in the same foreign medical institution;
  • the respective services cannot be provided in Lithuania on time.

Useful links

  • More information about document S2 and scheduled treatment – click here.
  • Contacts of health insurance funds – click here.
  • Law on Health Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania – click here.
Do You have any questions? You can submit them to the health insurance funds by e-mail [email protected] or by general phone number +370 5 232 2222.
Update date: 2024-05-28