Social security agreements

In accordance with the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU, relations with EU Member States are governed by the provisions of  Regulations (EC) No. 883/04 and (EC) No. 987/09 from 1st April 2012. Both regulations coordinate the various European social security systems.

For EFTA countries, Regulations (EEC) No. 1408/71 and No. 574/72 apply.

Switzerland has concluded international social security agreements with 44 countries to date. The objectives of these agreements are: guaranteeing the equal treatment of citizens from the contracting States, the determination of the applicable legislation, and the payment of social security benefits abroad.

Standard-setting conventions

Switzerland is a member of several international organisations working in the social field. Switzerland has also ratified some of the legal instruments, or "standard-setting conventions", developed by these organisations.

Standard-setting conventions, as the name suggests, set international standards. As a general rule, these conventions are not directly applicable. They are only binding for those countries which have ratified them.