Posted workers

Employees who are sent by their employer to work in another country for a limited period of time remain subject to the social security legislation of the sending country for the entire duration of their posting if certain conditions are fulfilled.

Further information

Postings from Switzerland to an EU Member State

Postings from Switzerland to an EU Member State

Detailed information can be found in the brochure Social Security for Posted Workers between Switzerland and EU.

Certificate of posting

For postings of no more than 24 months, the employer or the self-employed person must submit a request for a certificate of posting to the competent AHV/AVS compensation fund office. If the requirements for a posting are met, the AHV/AVS compensation fund office will issue an attestation A1 (in German, French or Italian) to the employer or the self-employed person. The employer must then forward the attestation A1 to the posted worker.

Extending the posting

Should a period of 24 months be insufficient, an employer may, in the interests of the posted worker, request an extension through a web application regarding applicable legislation made available by the competent Swiss AVS/AHV compensation fund. The FSIO will then negotiate a special agreement in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 with the competent authority in the State of temporary employment. If such a special agree-ment is reached, the FSIO issues the employer with a confirmation that the posted worker remains subject to the Swiss social security legislation for the duration of the extended peri-od. The same procedure applies to self-employed workers.

If it can be reasonably anticipated from the beginning that the temporary posting duration will extend beyond 24 months, an employer may, in the interests of the posted worker, apply directly for a special agreement covering the whole duration of the posting.

According to current practice, a special agreement is only negotiated with the competent au-thority in the State of employment if the total posting period is no more than five or six years.

Social Security for Posted Workers between Switzerland and EU (PDF, 372 kB, 06.01.2023)

Postings from Switzerland to an EFTA Member State

Postings from Switzerland to an EFTA Member State

Detailed information can be found in the brochure Social Security for Posted Workers between Switzerland and EFTA.

Revised EFTA Convention

Under the revised EFTA Convention of 21 June 2001 (in effect since 1 June 2002), relations between Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are governed by similar regulations as those set out in the Swiss-EU Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. It refers to the coordination provisions of the Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 (similar to a social security agreement) and Regulation No. 574/72 (implementing regulation)Certain exceptions apply to relations between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Social Security for Posted Workers between Switzerland and EFTA (PDF, 224 kB, 06.01.2023)

Postings from Switzerland to Contracting States outside EU/EFTA

Postings from Switzerland to Contracting States outside EU/EFTA

Detailed information can be found in the brochure Social Security for Posted Workers between Switzerland and Contracting States (outside EU/EFTA).

Certificate of posting

An employer wishing to post an employee abroad must submit a request for a certificate of posting to the competent AHV/AVS compensation fund.

The compensation fund and possibly the accident insurer confirm that the worker continues to be subject to Swiss legislation for the entire duration of his/her posting in the Contracting State (or until the maximum duration envisaged in the agreement).

The employee must have been insured in Switzerland prior to his or her posting, and the employer must intend to continue to employ him or her after the posting is completed.

The certificate should be submitted to the relevant insurer of the employer in the host country.

Extending the posting: special agreement

Should the envisaged duration not be sufficient to fulfil the task, the employer and employee can submit a joint long-term posting or posting extension request (special agreement) to the Federal Social Insurance Office (Effingerstrasse 20, 3003 Berne), before the initial posting duration expires.

According to international practices, extension negotiations with the authorities in the other State will only be initiated if the required posting duration is no longer than five to six years.

If the foreign authorities approve the exception, a certificate confirming this decision will be issued to the applicant and the relevant insurers.

Social Security for Posted Workers - Contracting States (outside EU/EFTA) (PDF, 170 kB, 06.01.2023)

Work on behalf of Swiss employer in a Non-contracting State (a state with whom Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement)

Work on behalf of Swiss employer in a Non-contracting State (a state with whom Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement)

Detailed information can be found in the brochure Social Security for Posted Workers between Switzerland and Non-contracting States as well as the following bulletins: 10.01 Employees living abroad and their family members (in German, French and Italian); 10.02 The voluntary old-age, survivors and disability insurance scheme and 10.03 Citizens of States with which Switzerland has not concluded a Social Security Agreement

Social security for Posted Workers - Non-contracting States (PDF, 147 kB, 06.01.2023)

10.01 Employees living abroad and their family members (in German)

10.02 The voluntary old-age, survivors' and disability insurance scheme

10.03 Information for Citizens of States with which Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement (non-contracting states)