European travel buyers network BT4Europe has urged the European Commission to reduce administrative burdens and reform the "outdated" A1 certification requirements for short-term business travel.
Full BTN Europe article
A1 certificate
BT4Europe calls for A1 form exemption for business travellers
European business travel association network BT4Europe has submitted a series of recommendations to the EU aimed at reducing the "bureaucratic challenges" of the A1 form for business travellers
The EU's A1 form, which was introduced in 2010, requires travellers to provide proof of payment of social security in another member state and this currently includes short-term business travellers crossing between countries.
BT4Europe wants a 14-day exemption from the A1 requirements to be introduced for activities such as business meetings, trade fairs and training events to reduce the administrative burden on organisations. The association is also calling for an expanded definition of business travel to include more temporary professional activities, such as client meetings, internal audits, industry events, and recruitment efforts.
A1 certificate: new guidance from the Centre for Pensions and Social Security on short journeys to work
At the end of 2022, the Pension Security Board issued instructions on how to apply for an A1 certificate for working abroad. The guidance has now been clarified for short meetings and business trips, for example:
"However, for short trips for meetings, business and official business, it is not necessary to apply for an A1 certificate unless it is known that the host country requires it. The likelihood of needing a certificate is low for this type of business trip. If it later becomes apparent that an A1 certificate is required, for example by a foreign body or in the event of an accident at work during the journey, it can be applied for retrospectively."
ETK links:
How to apply for an A1 certificate for short meetings and business trips
Ilmarinen's press release on the subject is available at here.
FBTA webinar | How to apply for an A1 certificate
If you work abroad, you must apply for A1 certificate from the Pension Security Centre as proof that you are covered by Finnish social security, regardless of the duration of your work abroad. Without an A1 certificate, you must be insured in the country of work. Anyone going abroad on a short business or educational trip or working remotely must also apply for an A1 certificate. The certificate must be applied for when working in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, the UK or a country with a social security agreement. The application is made by the employer.
FBTA organises 7.3. a webinar with the Pension Security Centre's international affairs specialist Marjaana Lundqvist provides background information on the EU regulation on the A1 certificate and answers questions from participants. After 15 minutes for an introduction, we will open the discussion; the duration of the webinar will depend on the number of questions but will not exceed 1 hour.
The webinar is free of charge for representatives of FBTA member companies and you are welcome to forward the invitation to your organisation's HR department.
Registration by Thursday 2.3. The Teams link will be sent to registrants the day before the webinar.
Welcome!
FBTA webinar | How to apply for an A1 certificate
If you work abroad, you must apply for A1 certificate from the Pension Security Centre as proof that you are covered by Finnish social security, regardless of the duration of your work abroad. Without an A1 certificate, you must be insured in the country of work. Anyone going abroad on a short business or educational trip or working remotely must also apply for an A1 certificate. The certificate must be applied for when working in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, the UK or a country with a social security agreement. The application is made by the employer.
FBTA organises 7.3. a webinar with the Pension Security Centre's international affairs specialist Marjaana Lundqvist provides background information on the EU regulation on the A1 certificate and answers questions from participants. After 15 minutes for an introduction, we will open the discussion; the duration of the webinar will depend on the number of questions but will not exceed 1 hour.
The webinar is free of charge for representatives of FBTA member companies and you are welcome to forward the invitation to your organisation's HR department.
Registration by Thursday 2.3. The Teams link will be sent to registrants the day before the webinar.
Welcome!
A1 certificate required for business trips abroad lasting as little as one day
At the turn of the year, the Pension Security Board updated its guidance on the A1 certificate. According to the new guidelines, the certificate must be applied for even for short business trips to the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK.
No matter how long you work abroad, you can apply for an A1 certificate even for short periods. The Pension Security Board's guidance, updated at the end of 2022, is that a certificate is required for a one-day business trip. The nature of the work is irrelevant, but the obligation to apply for a certificate applies to all business trips, be it a meeting, training, sales trip or any other business trip. An A1 certificate is also required for teleworking abroad.
The A1 certificate is not applied for by the traveller, but by the employer, who must apply for an A1 certificate for his/her employee. Although most electronic applications can be processed automatically and the certificate is issued quickly, it takes longer if the application requires contact with the authority in the country of destination. The ETC therefore recommends that the application is made well in advance. For more information on processing times here.
ETK: What is an A1 certificate?
Register at ETK webinar Fri 10.2. at 9 am