The A1 certificate is required for artists and cultural workers who are posted to work abroad by their employer, as well as for self-employed artists or cultural workers who post themselves. Read more about the A1 certificate below.
What is an A1 certificate and why do I need it?
When do I need the A1 certificate?
What does the A1 certificate cover?
Who applies for the A1 certificate?
Where can I obtain the A1 certificate in Slovenia?
What access to health services does the A1 certificate grant?
What happens if I cannot submit the A1 form?
Useful links
The A1 certificate is a document that confirms that a *posted worker or self-employed person performing a service/work in another EU country or in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Norway is subject to the social security regulations of the EU Member State of origin, i.e. the country in which their employer is based or in which they are registered as a self-employed person. The A1 certificate is required for artists and cultural workers who are posted to work abroad by their employer, as well as for self-employed artists or cultural workers who post themselves.
*A posted person endeavours to perform a specific task (work) for a specific period of time in another EU country, the EEA or Switzerland. Please note: different Member States have different rules on who is considered employed or self-employed. It is very important to remember that when you are posted to another Member State, you retain the status you had in the Member State from which you were posted.
You can find more information about posting workers from EU to Slovenia on EURES or Your Europe websites.
You need the A1 certificate when your employer posts you to work (check the status!) in another EU Member State, an EEA country or Switzerland. The A1 certificate is required for all workers who move abroad for a limited period of time in order to perform work, which is precisely defined.
An employee may be required to go abroad in order to perform work arising from their employment contract. Additionally, the employee and the employer must conclude an annex regarding the work to be performed outside Slovenia.
A1 insurance can be concluded for a maximum of 12 or 24 months, but can be extended by the same period should the worker wish to stay abroad longer.
The A1 certificate covers the worker’s basic social rights, including health insurance, pension and disability insurance, and unemployment insurance.
The worker has the same rights and duties abroad as while working in Slovenia. Before they go abroad, they are recommended to check the labour law regulations of the country to which they are being posted.
The A1 certificate for the employee going abroad for work is usually filed by the employer.
A self-employed worker must apply for the A1 certificate with the national administration competent for the social security of self-employed persons.
In Slovenia, the A1 certificate can be obtained from the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZZZS, information only available in Slovene).
Before the worker travels abroad, the employer or the self-employed person must obtain the A1 certificate, which proves that the worker has social security in Slovenia. The employer or the self-employed person can obtain the certificate through an application submitted to the ZZZS.
For further information about posting of a worker abroad, see SPOT portal.
While abroad, the worker may find themselves in various unpleasant situations, such as accidents in the workplace, illnesses, or injuries sustained at work. In such cases, the A1 certificate ensures that the worker has access to emergency and basic medical care abroad, and that they receive adequate compensation for the time they were unable to work due to illness or injury.
Workers are also recommended to obtain a European Health Insurance Card. LEARN MORE
For further information about posting of a worker abroad, see SPOT portal.
If you meet all the posting conditions while being posted abroad, you remain included in the social security system of the posting Member State, regardless of whether you have the A1 form (although you consequently cannot be included in the social security system of the receiving country).
However, if you cannot submit the A1 form as a posted worker, the receiving Member State in which you are temporarily working does not have proof that you meet the posting conditions. In such case, the authorities of the receiving Member State may decide that you must be included in the social security system of the receiving country. This means that you must pay national contributions, and fulfil all related administrative obligations. The A1 form may also be obtained retroactively, but getting your records in order, as you might imagine, costs a lot of time and money!
This article was written in cooperation with PIP Institute.