European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance

European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance (ECSMA)

What is ECSMA?

All countries who have signed / ratified ECSMA undertake to ensure that nationals of the other Contracting Parties who are lawfully present in any part of its territory to which this Convention applies, and who are without sufficient resources, shall be entitled with its own nationals and on the same conditions to social and medical assistance provided by the legislation in force from time to time in that part of its territory.

All countries within EU have signed the treaty

Others outside of the EU…are

Special rules apply to these countries - see Step by Step Guide to PFAs