As international work arrangements continue to be a great way to facilitate international growth and hire the best talent across the globe, employers must navigate a complex web of compliance obligations, including with regards to social security.
One critical element in managing cross-border travel for employees is the A1 certificate, or Certificate of Coverage, where there is a social security agreement in place between the home country and the host country/countries. This is a document that confirms where an individual will be liable to social security contributions system while working temporarily abroad (generally the home location), rather than the individual contributing to the host social security system or paying social security in every location they work.
Below, we’re considering the purpose, application process, and strategic importance of these certificates for global mobility professionals and multinational employers.
Failure to obtain an A1/certificate of coverage can result in:
Many countries require registration of overseas assignments under the Posted Worker Directive, which may include:
Some jurisdictions also require healthcare entitlement certificates (S1) or proof of residence rights, depending on the nature of the assignment.
At activpayroll, we simplify the complexity of international compliance by providing:
Whether you're sending employees for a few days or several months, we help you stay compliant, avoid costly surprises, and focus on what matters—your people and your business.
To discover our wide range of global mobility and global employer services please visit our dedicated Global Mobility web page or complete our contact us form, and a member of our team will be happy to assist with your queries.