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 interest of the posted worker, apply to the Federal Social Insurance Office (Effingerstrasse 20, 3003 Berne), for a long-term posting or posting extension (special agreement). In accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No. 883/04, the Federal Social Insurance Office will then negotiate a special agreement with the competent authority in the State of temporary employment. If such a special agreement is reached, the Federal Social Insurance Office issues the employer with a confirmation that the posted worker remains subject to Swiss social security legislation for the duration of the extended period. An extension application must be made before the initial 24-month posting period expires. The same procedure applies to self-employed workers.
According to international practice, a special agreement is only negotiated with the competent authority in the State of employment if the total posting period is no more than five to six years.
If it can be reasonably anticipated from the beginning that the temporary posting duration will exceed beyond 24 months, the employer may apply directly to the Federal Social Insurance Office for a special agreement covering the whole duration of the posting.
