A1 certificate for the self-employed: when it applies

The A1 certificate is an EU form confirming which social security system you belong to. For self-employed people from Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia or the Baltic states it is decisive: it determines whether you pay contributions at home or in Germany. The legal basis is Regulation (EC) 883/2004 – and only one country’s law applies at a time.

Basic rule: the law of the place of work

A self-employed person is generally subject to the social security law of the country where they work. If you work only in Germany – for example as a carer with a German Gewerbe – German law applies. You then need no A1 certificate from home, but health insurance in Germany.

Exception 1: temporary work (Art. 12)

If you normally work self-employed at home and temporarily do similar work in Germany, you stay insured at home for up to 24 months, provided that you were already active at home beforehand (in practice usually at least two months), you keep your infrastructure there and the activity in Germany is similar and limited in time. The home institution issues the A1 certificate – for example ZUS in Poland.

Exception 2: work in several countries (Art. 13)

If you normally work in two or more countries, you are insured where you live if you carry out a substantial part (at least 25%) of your activity there; otherwise where the centre of your activity is. The competent institution issues an A1 certificate here as well.

Applying for an A1 certificate

• Apply to the social security institution of the country whose law should apply – ideally before you start.
• Keep the certificate ready for inspections.
• If your situation changes, for example you stop working at home, the basis for the certificate ends.

A common mistake

Many keep paying contributions at home while working permanently and only in Germany. Then German law applies – and correcting it later can be expensive. If in doubt, have your case checked by a German health insurer, the DVKA or your home authority.