Keeping your Carte Vitale up to date
Your Carte Vitale contains information used by the French health service to check your rights and process reimbursements. It has no expiry date, but if you use the physical card, you should update it at least once a year and after a change in your circumstances.
If you have moved home, had a child or had another change that affects your health insurance record, tell your health insurance fund first. Updating your details online does not automatically update the chip on your physical card.
Updating the physical card
You can update your card at a machine in most pharmacies, or at a multi-service terminal in some hospitals and CPAM offices. It usually takes about a minute.
Using the Carte Vitale app
There is also a digital version of the Carte Vitale for your smartphone. When you open the app while connected to the internet, its information updates automatically. When you use it with a health professional, your current rights are checked digitally. This means you do not need to take the app to a pharmacy to update it.
The app is free. People aged 16 and over can download and activate it, and eligible dependants can be included. It is protected by your phone’s security settings and a password or biometric check. As not all health professionals can accept it yet, keep your physical card with you as well.
Download and information links
Beware of Carte Vitale scams
Be cautious of messages asking you to pay to update or renew your Carte Vitale, or to download the app through a link in an email or text. Use the official Ameli website or the official Apple App Store and Google Play links above.
Carte Vitale Text Scam…IGNORE, IGNORE, IGNORE
Carte Vitale Scams
How to get your carte Vitale
I need card vitale
hi, i need advice please.I have a carte vitale and carte de sejour and i am retiring soon so how do i keep my carte vitale valid as i will have no employer or claiming french benifits. Ihave private medical insurance but not sure if my carte vitale will run out and i wish to remain in franc to live.
Hello Andrew
We are not experts so check this out with your local CPAM, but as far as I know, once you have it, you have it! It doesnt run out, it doesnt have a ‘sell by’ date. The only way you can lose it is if they send you a ‘proof of life’ check and you don’t answer. Otherwise it does not run out when you stop working etc. If you do hear any different, please let us know.
How do I update my carte vitale when I haven’t used it for years
Start off by taking it into your local chemist to run through the machine and update. They will tell you if it’s still valid.
We lived in South Africa since 2018 and have now returned to live in France. Apparently my card was stopped and cannot be reinstated? What should I do ? I still have a carte sejour valid until April 2034
Hi Mike
Unfortunately we cannot advise on this kind of thing as we are not experts, but we suggest you contact one of our amazing advertisers who help with administrative and medical things ins France: https://anglophone-direct.com/listing-category/personal-admin-business-support/
Bonne chance
I have a carte Vitale but have now moved back to U.K. Can I still use it if I visit France and how do I change my address?
You could add a warning to never respond to any text messages or emails pertaining to be from the securité sociale telling you to update your card and asking for your credit card or bank details or any other information as it is a SPAM! (A friend of mine got caught)
That warning did go out recently on our Facebook group and in a separate article David, but good idea and will add to this page too.
Here is the separate warning. https://anglophone-direct.com/carte-vitale-texto-ignore-ignoreignore/
My c.v. finishes 30th Nov each year for the 100% reimbursement. I’m now told there is a new law that I’m no longer entitled to 100% only for me diabetic medication, yet UK pensions say yes I am entitled. Who’s right??
Updating the card is one thing but getting it replaced once your dog has destroyed it is another. Our infirmiere said it is fast and easy online procedure and would take a few days. Been waiting 3 weeks so far. We got the required photograph downloaded and the forms completed and then sat back to wait, went on vacation, came back and still nothing. Problem is that once you start the procedure for a new card the old one is cancelled so you have to go back to the old way with bits of brown paper and forms to send off. Didn’t know that beforehand. Where is the logic? Oh oops, forgot – logic? short supply. By the way the dog didn’t destroy it, don’t have a dog, just cracked in half and delaminated.
Hello I have been stuck in U.K. receiving medical treatment for over six months the last time I was at my house in France was 21 July 2022.
How do I get back to France and renew my Carte Vitale ( I have Carte de Jour) .
Is my passport still valid to travel to France or do I go down the Visa route. Thank you
have tried all known ways to update carte vitale having been in spain for 2 yrs
now told not possible without carte de sejour despite having lived and worked in france for yrs and still have 2 registered companies
If you are not able to walk into a Pharmacy in France – simply Log On to the EMELI/CPAM Website and renew your Carte Vitale On Line
Hello,
Simply walk into any Pharmacy in France – present your Carte Vitale and request ‘Renouvellement’ – it takes less than 30 seconds.
Our cartes vitales expired while we were stuck in the US during the EU border shutdown. We are now back in France after two years. Can we still renew our cartes, or will we have to start over again (reapply)?
Hello can anyone please tell me How to update carte vitale?
Voila
https://anglophone-direct.com/updating-your-carte-vitale/