- You are insured in the national social security system of your country of residence immediately before the posting;
- You are in an employment relationship with the employer who is posting you;
- Your salary continues to be paid by the employer in your country of residence;
- Your posting does not last longer than 12 months;
- You are not posted as a replacement for a colleague whose 12-month posting ended previously;
- Your employer carries out substantial activities in your country of residence.
To be eligible for a posting certificate as a self-employed person, you must meet the following conditions:
- You are insured in the social security system of your country of residence immediately before the posting;
- You have the nationality of an EU or EEA state or you are stateless or a refugee;
- Your posting does not last longer than 12 months;
- You carry out substantial activities in your country of residence.
If you meet the conditions, then you or your employer can apply for an A1 posting certificate from the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) or your health insurance company before you move.
If the scheme proves to be particularly disadvantageous for you, the German and Dutch authorities can decide otherwise on request.
Do I have to apply for an A1 certificate for every business trip?
A1 certificates for business trips to the Netherlands
Since January 2019, there is an electronic application for an A1- certificate in Germany for a posting abroad.
European regulations
For cross-border work situations within the EU, EU Regulation 883/2004 regulates which country is responsible for social security.
Aim of the A1 certificates
The A1 certificate is a proof of which country’s social security is applicable when working in an EU/EEA country.
Business trip in the border region
Since January 2019, there has been uncertainty in Germany about the issue of A1 attestations. Many employees do not know whether they have to apply for an A1 certificate in advance even for a short business trip, for example a business meeting in the Netherlands.
Short business trip
A statement by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) makes it clear that it is possible to apply for an A1 certificate retrospectively for short business trips of up to 7 days if this is necessary and the employees have been requested to do so.
This statement saves (public) employers in our border region a lot of bureaucracy. In practice, this means that short business trips such as work visits, meetings or guidance meetings with trainees in the neighbouring country require the prior application for an A1 certificate.
GrenzInfoPunkt service
Every situation is different. Therefore, clarify in advance whether an A1 certificate is necessary in your individual situation. Contact the GrenzInfoPunkt (GIP) in your region to discuss your situation.
Further information on the European Regulation 883/04
Information on legal provisions that apply in various cross-border situations can be found in this brochure.
Advice from the German Pension Insurance on the A1 certificate:“Is an A1 certificate required for short-term or short-term business and official trips?â€
Reporting obligation for foreign companies when posting staff to the Netherlands
Starting on 1 March 2020, companies established outside the Netherlands that temporarily post employees to the Netherlands will be subject to a reporting obligation. The reporting obligation also applies to self-employed persons established outside the Netherlands who work temporarily in the Netherlands if the activities to be performed belong to one of the designated economic sectors.
Obligation to register for service providers
Are you an employer established in Belgium or Germany
- who comes to the Netherlands with your own staff;
- a multinational company that posts employees to its own subsidiary in the Netherlands;
- a temporary employment agency that employs temporary workers in the Netherlands; or
- a self-employed person subject to registration?
You must report temporary activities that start on or after 1 March 2020 online via the website www.postedworkers.nl. This can be done as early as 1 February 2020.
Obligation to control the beneficiaries
Are you a company based in the Netherlands that contracts a company or self-employed person from Belgium or Germany? From 1 March 2020, you as a client or customer have an obligation to check. You are obliged to check whether these temporary workers are registered. For more information and online reports, please visit www.postedworkers.nl.