Vital Card

Verified 20 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Are you wondering about the Vitale card? Know that it is a personal card, confidential, secure and free. It allows you to be identified with the Health Insurance. This map chip contains the information you need to support your care. You no longer need to mail your care sheet. You get refunded faster. We present you with the information you need to know.

The healthcare professional you consult (doctor, dentist, etc.) uses your Vital Card to establish an electronic care sheet (which replaces paper care sheet).

Your Vitale card allows you to take charge of your consultation.

The information is transmitted directly to your health insurance organization by the healthcare professional.

So you are reimbursed within a week without having to take any steps.

In some cases, the Vitale card may allow you not to advance the costs: this is called the paying third party.

Please note

To benefit from the support of your medical care during a trip or a short stay in Europe, you can request the European Social Security Card (EHIC).

This Vitale card also allows:

How you get your Vital Card may vary depending on your situation. Proof of identity is required.

General case

Obtaining a Vital Card requires having a Social Security number.

Each health insurance organization shall ensure that:

  • Your identity
  • And your rights to cover your health costs.

This vital card attests to your registration and your rights to health insurance.

It is valid everywhere in France.

Please note

From the age of 16, your primary health insurance fund will contact you directly and send you the form " My new Vital Card ”. It is possible to order a Vitale card to your child from the age of 12, from the ameli account only.

French pensioner living abroad

You are retired from the French social security system and live abroad, you have a right to health insurance. As a result, you can see your health expenses covered during your temporary stays in France.

However, if you reside in a non-EU country EEE and Switzerland, certain conditions may be required to reimburse you for your treatment during your stay in France.

Simply register:

  • On the Ameli website
  • Or contact the Center national des retraites français de l'foreigner (CNAREFE).

Ameli Online

Who shall I contact

  • Center national des retraites français de l'foreigner (CNAREFE)

    By mail

    CNAREFE Health Insurance

    77605 Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 3

    By telephone

    + 33 811 701 005

    Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm (French time)

    Online

    https://www.ameli-rfe.fr/

The conditions for receiving the Vital Card may vary according to your scheme (general scheme or agricultural social security (ASM)).

General case

The Vitale card is issued for free by Health Insurance.

Depending on the case, you can order a Vital card:

  • Using your ameli account
  • Or using the ameli Account application
  • Or by post.

This can be your 1re Vitale card, of 1re upon arrival in France or a Vitale card for your child between 12 and 16 years old.

Your first Vital Card

You can order your Vital Card:

  • Online from your ameli account or via the ameli account application
  • By mail.

From the age of 16, the Health Insurance sends a form " My new Vital Card ”. However, it is not necessary to return this form if the Vitale card request was made from Ameli account.

If you ask for the Vitale card via your Ameli account, the deadline for obtaining it is 2 weeks.

If you ask for this card by post, the delay is approximately 3 weeks.

When the Vital Card is sent to you, you will receive a paper copy of the information stored on it.

FYI  

L'certificate of entitlements may be necessary for some everyday life processes. You can download it from your ameli account.

In case of error or inaccuracy on the paper copy, you must report it to your health insurance organization.

Your first Vitale card when you arrive in France

As soon as you have obtained your final social security number, you can  :

  • Order a Vitale card directly online from your Ameli account
  • Or fill in and return the "My new Vital Card" form.

The card will be addressed to you.

If you ask for the Vitale card via your Ameli account, the deadline for obtaining it is 2 weeks.

If you ask for this card by post, the delay is approximately 3 weeks.

When the Vital Card is sent to you, you will receive a paper copy of the information stored on it.

FYI  

L'certificate of entitlements may be necessary for some everyday life processes. You can download it from your ameli account.

In case of error or inaccuracy on the paper copy, you must report it to your health insurance organization.

Your child is between 12 and 16 years old

You can order a Vital card for your child.

Request a Vitale card (general diet)

When the Vital Card is sent to you, you will receive a paper copy of the information stored on it.

FYI  

L'certificate of entitlements may be necessary for some everyday life processes. You can download it from your ameli account.

In case of error or inaccuracy on the paper copy, you must report it to your health insurance organization.

Reminder

If you have not applied for a Vital Card for your child, at the age of 16, your primary cash register will contact you directly and send you the form " My new Vital Card ”.

This form is not useful if you are applying for a Vitale card online from the ameli account.

MSA

If you are an MSA member, connect to your private space:

MSA Private Space

The Hardware Vital Card has several entries. The Vitale card as a mobile application is gradually being rolled out in the territory until the end of 2025.

Hardware Vital Card

The Hardware Vital Card includes the following information:

  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your photo if your Vitale card has been issued since 2007
  • Your mailing or email address
  • Your rights to cover your health costs.

It may also contain the following additional information:

  • Statement by the declared attending physician
  • Mention with your agreement of a possible mutual
  • Management of occupational accidents and diseases.
Digital Vital Card

It is planned to create a Vitale card in the form of a mobile application at the end of 2025.

It is gradually being extended throughout the territory.

It will include in particular:

  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your photo
  • Your mailing or email address.

If you find an error in your identity (surname, first names, gender, date or place of birth), you must request correction using this online service:

Request for correction of civil status from INSEE

The Vital card is issued without validity but must be the subject of updates.

However, the end of entitlement to benefits under the sickness insurance scheme makes it impossible to use the life card. You must return this card to the organization that issued it.

You need to update your Vital Card:

  • At least once a year (to remember, you can always choose the same period of the year)

Updating the Vitale card allows for a quick refund, taking into account your updated data.

To update the Vital map, kiosks are available at the following locations:

  • Health insurance bodies
  • In most pharmacies
  • Some health facilities.

The terms and conditions may vary depending on the plan you depend on.

Warning  

This approach is free. If you're asked for money, it's a scam.

General case

You can do this online, by phone or within a CPAM.

Online

You log into your ameli account on the Internet or application.

Then you go to “ my efforts , and enter the online service “ report the loss or theft of a Vital card ”.

Vital Card: Lost, Stolen, or Defective (General Diet)

Please note

You can also report the loss or theft from the ameli account application for smartphone and tablet.

After this procedure has been completed, type the online service " order a Vitale card ”

Please note

It is recommended that you use the ameli account application to order the Vital card.

You will be able to take selfies and photos of your ID from your smartphone.

These 2 items necessary for the manufacture of your new card will be sent instantly. This allows for a better processing time.

While waiting to receive your Vital Card, you can purchase a certificate of entitlements.

The new Vitale card is sent within 2 to 3 weeks.

By telephone

Who shall I contact

  • Health insurance - 3646

    To obtain information about your rights and procedures, ask a question about your file, report a change of situation or consult your refunds.

    By telephone

    3646

    Open from Monday to Friday.

    Caution : schedules vary according to your department.

    As a general rule, opening hours are at least from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

    Free service + call price, from a fixed or mobile phone.

    From Mayotte, dial 02 69 61 91 91:

    • Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
    • Friday from 7:30 am to 12 pm

    From the foreigner: +33 1 84 90 36 46 (toll free + call price).

    To facilitate responses, remember to bring your Vitale card before contacting Health Insurance.

    By email and chat

    Log in to your Ameli account  : click on "My steps" and then "consult my exchange space".

    You can also use ameliBOT. This chatbot can help you send an email. He can put you in touch with your health insurance fund.

    Indeed, if at the end of 2 requests, ameliBOT does not provide you with a satisfactory answer, you can contact a health insurance advisor via the exchange area of the Ameli account.

On the spot

You must submit the declaration of loss, theft or malfunction to your CPAM and receive a new Vital Card within 3 weeks.

Who shall I contact

Please note

While waiting to receive your Vital Card, you can purchase a certificate of entitlements.

MSA

If you are an MSA member, connect to your private space:

MSA Private Space

Fraudulent calls

Telephone solicitations use fraudulently the name of the health insurance.

36 46 is the only number to contact your primary health insurance fund.

Your interlocutor will never ask you for your bank details (bank account number, RIB, bank card number...) on this occasion.

You must not follow up on these calls.

Example :

A message on your answering machine asking you to call back your “Health Insurance”. Its purpose is to make you call a heavily overcharged number and thus to take money from you indirectly. Therefore, you should not call back as this is an attempt to defraud.

Fraudulent emails

These fraudulent emails are presented as originating from Health Insurance: they use the Health Insurance logo and display the link of the Ameli website.

E-mails that Health Insurance may send to you in your personal e-mail (concerning a procedure or a request you have made) always ask to sign in to your account ameli. It is only in this secure space that messages and supporting documents are exchanged with the Health Insurance.

Don't respond to these fraudulent emails and delete them from your mailbox.

If you have already provided your bank details (e.g. credit card numbers), notify your bank promptly to oppose.

The Vitale card app offers a free dematerialized solution, allowing access from your smartphone to the same services than the physical Vitale card.

It can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

The situation differs depending on whether you use or not France Identity :

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You are using France Identity

If you hold the national electronic identity card, you can use the application France identity activate app vital card.

You are not using France Identity

The following three conditions must be met:

  • Have an Ameli account open
  • Be over 16 years old
  • Be attached to a health insurance fund in a department where this app is activated. Ameli list departments for which this app is available. For the other departments, this solution is implemented gradually.

Who can help me?

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