The all-important French well being card, the carte vitale, now has a digital model that’s obtainable to (most) foreigners residing in France. Here’s the way it works.
If you reside in France, you’ll probably already concentrate on this important little inexperienced card.
The carte vitale provides proof that you’re registered inside the French well being system, and you’ll need to current it while you pay for any type of medical remedy (physician’s appointments, hospital visits, prescriptions, physio remedies, and so on) to ensure that the federal government to reimburse your well being prices.
If you do not have already got a carte vitale – this is find out how to get one.
But now there’s a new, digital model of the carte vitale which might be saved on a smartphone.
In addition to doing all of the issues {that a} regular carte vitale does, it has some helpful additional options, corresponding to permitting you to designate a ‘trusted individual’ who can choose up prescriptions for you. If your telephone is misplaced or stolen, then as quickly as you activate the digital card in your new telephone, the previous one can be deleted.
It’s necessary to notice that that is in addition to, not as a substitute of, the bodily card and in addition that it’s elective. People who do not personal a smartphone, or who simply want to keep away from apps, can keep on with the bodily card.
If you do need to get the digital model, this is find out how to do it.
In order to make use of it, it’s essential to have a web based Ameli account, in addition to a smartphone that’s not less than model 9 for an Android or 16 for an iPhone.
Ameli – How to create your French social safety account
Who
The digital carte vitale was rolled out step by step, area by area, however is now obtainable in all components of France.
When it involves foreigners in France, it’s open to some, however not all, non-French residents.
In order to make use of it, you’ll need to have one of many following paperwork
- A French ID card (for French residents solely)
- A French passport
- A carte de séjour issued by France
- A Belgian ID card
- A Spanish ID card
- A Portuguese ID card
The addition of the carte de séjour choice implies that most non-EU nationals residing in France will be capable of use it.
However for EU nationals, to this point solely Belgian, Spanish or Portuguese ID playing cards are accepted, though there are plans to increase this.
How
First of all it’s essential to obtain the Carte Vitale app – it appears like this

Then it’s essential to register for an account with the app, which in the intervening time is simply obtainable in French.
Open up the app and observe the directions – the primary of which is to enter your social safety quantity, which is the lengthy quantity that may be discovered on the entrance of your carte vitale.
Next you’ll need to confirm your e-mail deal with – the app sends a six-digit code by e-mail, which you’ll need to enter. If the e-mail does not arrive, be sure to verify your spam or junk folders.
Next the app will ask if you wish to use France Identité – this may solely be utilized by individuals who have the French nationwide ID card given to French residents. If you wouldn’t have French citizenship, you reply ‘no’ to this query.
The subsequent display asks you to pick the kind of ID you’ll be utilizing, which, for many foreigners in Franc,e would be the French titre de séjour.
Have your carte de séjour prepared, as a result of the following stage features a video.
Video
The app makes use of a video course of to confirm ID. In the early days of the launch, the video part was very sluggish to load, though it appears to be getting quicker now, presumably as fewer persons are utilizing it.
The first stage is to video the entrance of your carte de séjour – place it flat on a desk or different work floor and use the digicam in your telephone to movie it – the video will instruct you to place it inside the define of a rectangle on the display. Once you are in the correct place the outlines will change from yellow to inexperienced, and the video will instruct you to carry it in that place for a couple of seconds.
You then repeat this course of with the again of the cardboard.
Finally you are taking a video of your self (the video display will routinely change to selfie mode) – place your self in order that your face is inside the yellow sq., which can change to inexperienced as soon as you might be in the correct place.
Standard passport picture guidelines apply – so no glasses, hats or different head coverings and your hair shouldn’t be overlaying your face.
Once your face is within the appropriate place the video will instruct you to sourire s’il vous plaît (smile please), that is to show that the video is reside and you are not simply holding up a photograph.
Final levels
Once your video is full, the ultimate stage is to pick a password for the app – this should embody not less than one capital letter and one decrease case letter, one quantity and one particular character.Â
Creating the password completes your utility – it is best to then obtain an e-mail inside 48 hours telling you that the account is about up. You might want to open up the app once more to finalise this course of.
