Why Buy an A1 Certificate?

A1 certificates are a big deal for business travelers, however many people are unaware of their significance. Lack of knowledge can have grave consequences.

Companies based in EU Member States frequently assign their employees to work on the territory of other EU states. These assignments are controlled by EU social security legislation.

What is the A1 Certificate?

An A1 certificate is a form that confirms a person's membership in their home country's social insurance system while working in another country for a brief time. This certificate allows you to avoid having to pay contributions to more than one country at a simultaneously. If you are temporarily assigned to work in Romania A1 will confirm that your employment is covered under the UK National Insurance Scheme. This will save you from having to pay for both the Romanian scheme and the UK scheme at the same time.

A1 certificates are valid for 24 months generally. It is common for project deadlines to change, and assignments to extend past this limit. In this case, it's important to apply for a certificate extension before the current one expires.

A1 certificates are necessary for business travel and work within the EU and the EEA, and Switzerland. These certificates aren't required for every trip, but can simplify administrative processes and decrease the risk of non-compliance. The certificate can be used to prove your claim or to dispute your claim.

The process for obtaining an A1 certificate varies from countries to countries, so it is recommended to begin the application early of any planned trip. Employers usually provide an A1 certification on behalf of their employees. However, self-employed people are expected to take on the responsibility of submitting the application on their own.

It can take up to six months for the A1 certificate to be processed after the application has been submitted. During this time, applicants could be required to provide additional documents to the social security office in their host country to verify their eligibility.

Many individuals work and travel to various European countries without a valid A1 certificate, it's crucial to know the requirements before travelling. For instance, certain countries have stepped up controls on social security fraud and won't allow work without a valid A1 certification. Some employers may also refuse to allow workers access to sites or premises if they do not have one.

How do I get an A1 Certificate

A1 certificates are required for civil servants, employees and self-employed individuals who carry out activities within the social security systems of two or more EU countries. The certificate confirms that the person is covered in their country's social security and prevents them from making double contributions. It also stops wage and social dumped in cross-border assignments.

The procedure for applying varies per country, but generally involves identifying the authority responsible and completing a thorough form, and awaiting approval. The most common institution that is responsible is the employee's health insurance or pension insurance provider. In Germany, for instance, it may take several days to receive an A1. The A1 should be requested as soon as possible prior to departure. It is also advisable to print the form and bring it along while you are abroad in case local authorities require it during inspections.

While A1 certificates are not a substitute for travel visas or work permits However, they are an essential element to ensure that your employees are in compliance with foreign labor laws. Employers who send employees to frequent work or business trips need to ensure that they are carrying A1 certificates. This can help avoid fines and other legal issues for the company and its employees.

In recent years, it has been observed that more European countries are now requiring (and willing to enforce) that workers posted abroad have their A1 certificates with them when they visit for short or medium term. This requirement, regardless of length of stay, the country, or industry and the kind of work carried out, appears to be the result of a growing information sharing between social security and national labour authorities, as well as the increased enforcement of cross border social security compliance.

It is not yet clear what the requirements for A1 certificates are going to change. Employers should be aware of any changes and ensure that their employees adhere to the new requirements. Consider joining forces with RemoFirst as an Employer of Record that takes on the legal responsibility of sourcing and managing your global employees. This will lower the chance of expensive penalties and other legal pitfalls. Book a demo to learn how RemoFirst can help make your global expansion simple and legal.

What is the purpose of an A1 Certificate?

A1 certificates can be a valuable tool for both employers and employees when it comes to international travel. They ensure that an employee stays within the social security system of their home while they are working in another country, thereby avoiding double contributions as well as other costly mistakes. However, the process of obtaining an A1 certificate can be lengthy and laborious, especially for companies that frequently send employees on work trips across Europe. This is due to the changing regulations, the requirement for additional documentation and different procedures in different countries.

However, there are ways to speed up the process, especially when you utilize a tool such as Localyze which offers an easy-to-use interface for managing A1 Certificates and other related documents for employees travelling internationally. In fact utilizing tools like this can help to reduce the processing time for A1 Certificates to less than one minute for HR and employee combined because the work is managed for both parties by the platform.

The goal of the A1 form is to regulate a person's social security rights while they are temporarily working in a different European country. The A1 certificate identifies which social security system is applicable to them, and prevents the person from having to pay into more than one system at a at the same time. This is a great tool for employers and employees who have employees for frequent trips across Europe.


The A1 certificate is valid in all EU member states, including the EFTA countries (Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) and Switzerland. There are restrictions on the kinds of work the certificate covers and the time frame of the certificate. For example, the A1 certificate is not valid to cover work in a country that is not an EEA member where social security plans are not covered by an agreement between the country and the EEA.

A1 certifications are also required by self-employed individuals working in more than one nation. The A1 form permits them to prove they aren't required to pay social security taxes in a country where they don't have residency. This is an important aspect for freelancers who have clients across the globe and might have to travel to multiple locations to complete their work.

How do I purchase an A1 Certificate

The A1 certificate is required for those who travel abroad for reasons related to work. This includes employees as well as self-employed persons. You must always carry the A1 certificate with you when you travel to any other EU member state or to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, Switzerland, or the UK. The A1 certificate is required for any business trip in Europe regardless of whether it's a luncheon meeting in Paris, attending an exhibition or technical seminar. The A1 certificate is also required if you are planning to work in the Netherlands or Belgium, Denmark, or Germany.

The certificate enables you to prove that you are insured in your home country and can therefore work legally abroad without a permit to work. It also shows which social security system you contribute to in order to avoid double taxation. Additionally, the A1 certificate is a crucial document for health insurance.

Many companies ensure that their employees are carrying the A1 certificate. This prevents the employee from paying into two different social security programs and also shields the company from potential legal risk. However, we have a number of employees who travel across borders within Europe often and don't have an A1 certificate with them. We know of businesses who have refused workers access to their sites if they do not have an A1 certificate.

If you are a compulsorily or self-insured person in the Netherlands, you can apply for an A1 certificate online using our eService. After registering you will receive an e-mail with your CaseID which you can use to verify the status of your application. If your request is approved you can download the A1 Certificate and Cover Letter from our eService.

In the rest of Europe you can get an A1 certificate at your social security institution. In goethe zertifikat kaufen is the Dutch Social Insurance Bank (Sociale Verzekeringsbank, SVB). The SVB will send you an email when your A1 certificate and cover letter are ready for download. In addition, you can check the status of your application in our eService and download a list of all applications that have been granted or denied.