A1 Certificates Explained: Why They Matter for Business Travelers & Remote Workers

Avoiding double contributions and staying compliant in the world of cross-border work

With remote work becoming the norm and international business travel more fluid than ever, companies—and especially Swiss employers with cross-border teams—are navigating a web of social security rules. One key document at the center of it all? The A1 certificate.

It might not make headlines, but it plays a critical role in ensuring compliance and protecting both the company and its people.

What is an A1 Certificate?

An A1 certificate is a form that proves a worker continues to pay social security contributions in their home country while working temporarily in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

For Swiss companies, it ensures that employees seconded abroad—or working remotely from another country—aren’t subject to double social security charges.

It’s issued under bilateral agreements or the EU regulation EC 883/2004 and helps maintain:

• Access to healthcare and social insurance

• A clear social security status

• Protection from dual contributions in the host country

Who needs an A1 certificate?

You need an A1 certificate if you're:

• An employee sent temporarily to work in another EU/EEA country

• A cross-border worker regularly working across countries

• A remote worker working from abroad short-term but still employed by a company in your home country

Examples include:

• A ****employee based in Germany attending client meetings in Paris for a week

• A developer working for a Swiss startup who plans to work remotely from Spain for the summer

• A Zurich-based consultant who regularly travels to Germany for cross-border work

• A Swiss citizen living in Geneva but working part-time in France

Even short-term or informal travel can require an A1 if you’re performing actual work duties abroad.

Why it matters for employers

Switzerland’s role outside the EU means it has individual agreements with each EU/EEA country for social security coordination. That adds complexity. Failing to secure an A1 certificate can result in:

• Double contributions in Switzerland and the host country

• Penalties during audits or border inspections

• Loss of coverage in the Swiss system (which could affect pensions, accident insurance, or healthcare access)

• Employee disputes if workers are caught in legal grey zones

For Swiss companies with globally mobile teams, proactively managing A1 certificates is essential.

If your company is based in Germany or elsewhere in the EU/EEA, not having an A1 can still lead to:

• Double social security payments (one in the home country, another in the host)

• Fines or audits from foreign authorities

• Loss of employee protection under the home country's system

• Reputational damage with partners, clients, and regulators

For HR and People Ops teams, A1 forms are essential when facilitating short-term remote abroad arrangements or business travel—even if it’s just for a few days.

Workations & A1: The modern compliance puzzle

Say one of your employees from a Zurich-based fintech wants to spend July working from their family’s flat in Lisbon. It sounds harmless—and it’s great for morale—but from a legal standpoint, they’re now working in Portugal.

That means:

• Local authorities may expect social security enrollment if no A1 is in place

• The employee might lose eligibility for Swiss accident or unemployment insurance

• Your company could be seen as having undeclared activity abroad

A1 certificates help ensure everything stays above board.

The process: How to request an A1

The application process depends on the home country’s social security authority. In most EU countries, it involves:

1. Submitting a request—either online or via paper forms

2. Specifying the destination country, period of work, and nature of the assignment

3. Receiving confirmation (processing time varies, from a few days to a few weeks)

In Switzerland, A1 forms are issued by the Swiss compensation offices (Ausgleichskassen / caisses de compensation). The application typically requires:

1. Details of the employer and employee

2. The destination country and travel dates

3. Confirmation of continued Swiss employment and salary payment

Once submitted, the certificate will confirm that the employee remains covered under the home social security system during the temporary stay.

Important note: Processing times vary, and some countries require A1 certificates to be filed in advance, not retrospectively.

And what about non-EU countries?

While A1 certificates apply to EU/EEA and Swiss coordination agreements, working from non-EU countries like the U.S., Canada, or Australia may trigger different compliance needs. In these cases, totalization agreements or local rules apply instead.

Employers need to review each case carefully, especially as more employees choose to combine remote work with travel.

How Vamoz simplifies A1 compliance for employers

Managing A1 applications manually can be a drain—especially if you’re offering flexible remote abroad policies or managing frequent cross-border projects.

Vamoz helps companies:

• Identify when A1 certificates are needed

• Automate the application process

• Track approvals and expiration dates

• Align policies with Switzerland’s bilateral agreements

Whether you’re managing a team in Geneva, Berlin, or Viena, we streamline compliance and let you offer mobility without the legal headaches.

In summary: Why A1 matters now more than ever

As remote flexibility becomes a core part of modern work culture, even a few days abroad can have compliance implications. For  businesses, A1 certificates are a vital tool in navigating Europe’s complex social security landscape.

Getting them right keeps your team protected and your business compliant—so you can say yes to global mobility, without borders becoming barriers.

Want to make remote work abroad smooth and compliant?

Let us help you do it right.

Book a demo to see how Vamoz simplifies A1 certificates for companies and global teams.

And stay in the know—follow us on LinkedIn for practical updates on cross-border work.