Who needs an A1 certificate?

If you are travelling to the EU for business or work, including whether you are a business visitor of posted worker, you will need an A1 certificate. This also applies to both self-employed professionals and those on assignment.

What is A1 certificate?

An A1 certificate is a form used to confirm the country in which an employee or visitor currently pays for their social security contributions. If an individual will be travelling for work, as a posted worker or for business visits in another EU member state, they will be required to have an A1 certificate before they travel.

Within EU policy, an individual can only be subject to one country’s social security at a time. A1 certificates are typically considered when an individual is travelling to work or visiting for business and will therefore be subject to social security contributions in their host country as well as their home country.

What Does Social Security Mean in the European Union?

The European Union (EU) is a diverse region, with each member country having its own set of social security laws. Regardless of whether individuals are local residents or come from abroad, these laws dictate the same rights and obligations for all workers within a given country.

To ensure a seamless experience for those relocating within the EU, there are coordinated EU rules in place. These rules safeguard individuals from losing their social security benefits, such as pension rights and healthcare, when moving to another EU country. Moreover, they provide clarity on which national laws are applicable.

Under EU regulations, individuals are subject to the social security laws of only one country at a time, necessitating them to make their social security contributions exclusively in that specific country. Generally, the laws of the country where a person is actively working—be it as an employee or self-employed—apply, and contributions are required to be made there. The location of residence or the base of the employer is immaterial.

However, there exists an exception for individuals working abroad for less than 2 years. They have the option to maintain their insurance and continue making contributions in their home country.

For those engaging in work across multiple countries simultaneously, distinct regulations delineate the applicable laws and guide them on where to fulfil their contribution obligations.