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Applying for the German A1 certificate — working temporarily elsewhere in the EU

Anyone working only temporarily in another EU state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom stays, in a posting case, within German social insurance law — and proves it with the A1 certificate (A1-Bescheinigung). Since 1 January 2025 it can be applied for ONLY electronically: for employees by the employer from its payroll software or through an online filling aid (§ 106(1) SGB IV), by self-employed people for themselves through the SV-Meldeportal (§ 106a(1) SGB IV). Once it is established that German law applies, the certificate is issued within three working days. The competent office depends on health insurance: the statutory health insurer (Krankenkasse), the association of professional pension schemes (ABV) or the pension insurance institution (Rentenversicherungsträger).

Up to date for 2026 — verified on September 23, 2026Official procedure, no printed formGuide: about 30 min

Deadlines

Application: as a rule before work abroad begins
Only for short-notice or short business trips of up to seven days can the A1 be applied for retrospectively where needed, according to the pension insurance — for France, Austria and Switzerland it recommends applying in advance because of stepped-up checks
Issue: within three working days of the determination
§ 106(1) sentence 3 SGB IV (to the employer, who makes it available to the employee without delay) and § 106a(1) sentence 3 SGB IV (to the self-employed person)
Form: electronic only since 1 January 2025
A paper application is inadmissible (German pension insurance); §§ 106 and 106a SGB IV require electronic transmission

Documents to prepare

  • Destination state, place of work, and start and expected end of the assignment
  • The posted person's social insurance number
  • Details of the person's health insurance (statutory, private, professional pension scheme)
  • The person's nationality and residence
  • Access to the SV-Meldeportal (company account with an ELSTER organisation certificate, or BundID) or certified payroll software
  • For employees: the employer's establishment number (Betriebsnummer)
See the procedure on the official site

No form is attached to this procedure: the link leads to the official page that describes it.

What this page gives you

The guide above and the link to the official site. ActioFin does not produce any document for this page: whatever you fill in or file is done on the official medium.

Who this applies to

  • Employees whom their employer posts temporarily to another member state — the employer applies (§ 106(1) sentence 1 SGB IV)
  • Self-employed people working temporarily in another member state, for instance on a job in France — they apply themselves (§ 106a(1) sentence 1 SGB IV); according to the pension insurance this includes working partners and shareholder-managing directors with self-employed status
  • People who normally work in several member states — according to the pension insurance from as little as one day a month or five days a quarter; they apply to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband, DVKA)
  • People working across a border from a home office in their state of residence
  • NOT for states outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom: agreement states such as the USA use a different posting certificate, and non-agreement countries have none
  • NOT for a mere transit country in which no work is done

Worked example

Mara Schulz, a self-employed exhibition-stand builder from Freiburg, works three weeks in Strasbourg

Mara has a EUR 6,400 job: three weeks building a stand for a French client in Strasbourg, after which she returns to Freiburg. She is a voluntary member of statutory health insurance, so her Krankenkasse is the competent office. As a self-employed person working temporarily in another member state, she applies for the A1 herself, electronically through a filling aid (§ 106a(1) sentence 1 SGB IV) — in the SV-Meldeportal, for which the pension insurance recommends simple registration with BundID for the A1 application for self-employed postings. She applies two weeks before leaving: France is among the states where the pension insurance reports stepped-up checks. With the application she receives a confirmation, which she carries in case the certificate has not arrived when she starts. As soon as it is established that German law applies, the A1 is made available to her electronically within three working days (§ 106a(1) sentence 3). For Tim, the fitter she takes along for one week, she applies separately as his employer — from her payroll software or through the filling aid (§ 106(1) sentence 1). She checks French posting notification duties separately: the pension insurance points out that it cannot advise on them. Amounts are illustrative.

How to fill it in, step by step

  1. Check the destination: A1 only for EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
  2. Check the posted person's nationality: for some combinations, such as third-country nationals and Switzerland, no A1 may be issued.
  3. Identify the competent office: the Krankenkasse for statutory health insurance, the association of professional pension schemes (ABV) for private health insurance with a professional pension scheme, otherwise the pension insurance institution; for normal work in several states, the GKV-Spitzenverband (DVKA).
  4. Apply electronically before work begins: as an employer from payroll software or via the SV-Meldeportal (§ 106(1) SGB IV); as a self-employed person for yourself only via the SV-Meldeportal (§ 106a(1) SGB IV).
  5. Where the pension insurance is competent, always give the posted person's social insurance number.
  6. Keep the application confirmation and carry it while the certificate has not yet arrived.
  7. As an employer, make the A1 received available to the employee without delay (§ 106(1) sentence 3 SGB IV).
  8. Check the destination state's posting notification duties separately.

Good to know

  • The A1 documents which law applies: for temporary work abroad, by way of exception, still that of the sending state. It thus avoids double contributions and a switch of system.
  • For employees § 106(1) SGB IV refers to Article 12(1), for the self-employed § 106a(1) to Article 12(2) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 — the A1 rests on EU coordination law.
  • German outward posting (Ausstrahlung, § 4 SGB IV) requires a posting limited in time by the nature of the work or by contract in advance, and applies to the self-employed accordingly (subs. 2); but supranational and international law remains unaffected (§ 6 SGB IV). In non-agreement countries, the employer assesses the posting itself.
  • The counterpart is inward posting (Einstrahlung, § 5 SGB IV): someone posted to Germany from abroad for a limited time is to that extent not subject to German compulsory insurance.
  • For normal work in several member states, an A1 can be issued for up to five years covering all the states concerned.
  • Home office: from 25 percent of work in the state of residence the applicable law may change; between 25 and under 50 percent an exception agreement with the GKV-Spitzenverband (DVKA) may be possible.
  • Registration in the SV-Meldeportal usually requires a company account based on an ELSTER organisation certificate; without a German business tax number, BundID can be used instead.

Common mistakes

  • Filing on paper. Since 1 January 2025 this is inadmissible; §§ 106 and 106a SGB IV prescribe the electronic procedure.
  • Waiting, as a self-employed person, for the employer route. The self-employed apply for themselves through the filling aid (§ 106a(1) sentence 1 SGB IV).
  • Applying to the wrong office. What counts is the person's health insurance, not where the company is based.
  • Going on a short trip to France without an A1. Retrospective application for up to seven days is possible, but the pension insurance recommends applying in advance there because of stepped-up checks.
  • Omitting the social insurance number when the pension insurance is competent. According to it, the number must always be given.
  • Expecting an A1 for the USA or China. Agreement states use a different certificate; non-agreement countries have none.

Frequently asked questions

Who applies for the A1 certificate?

For employees, the employer, electronically from payroll software or through a filling aid (§ 106(1) sentence 1 SGB IV). The self-employed apply for themselves through a filling aid (§ 106a(1) sentence 1 SGB IV), in practice the SV-Meldeportal.

Where do I apply?

To the Krankenkasse if the person has statutory or family health insurance; to the association of professional pension schemes (ABV) if they are privately insured and in a professional pension scheme; otherwise to the pension insurance institution. For normal work in several states with residence in Germany, to the GKV-Spitzenverband (DVKA).

How quickly is the certificate issued?

Once it is established that German law applies, within three working days (§ 106(1) sentence 3 and § 106a(1) sentence 3 SGB IV). Until then, the application confirmation serves as documentation.

Do I need the A1 for a two-day business trip?

Yes, it is needed then too; for short-notice or short trips of up to seven days it can, according to the pension insurance, be applied for retrospectively where needed. For France, Austria and Switzerland it recommends applying in advance.

Does the A1 apply outside Europe?

No. It is issued only for EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Agreement states use a bilateral posting certificate.

Go further

Related forms

Official sources

Read in German

Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.