Number of A1 certificates more than tripled in ten years
Rising globalisation in the workplace and greater awareness are reflected in the growing number of A1 certificate applications. Applications for pensions from abroad were also on the increase in 2025 compared to 2024.
In 2025, the Finnish Centre for Pensions granted 26,700 certificates on coverage by Finnish social security while working abroad. This is an increase of 4,000 certificates compared to 2024. The number of certificates issued each year has more than tripled in the last decade.
An A1 certificate issued from Finland shows that a person is covered by Finnish social security while working in another country. This means that all social security benefits, such as the earnings-related pension, are determined under Finnish legislation. The certificate is issued by the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
For example, A1 certificates are needed when a Finnish employer posts an employee to work abroad for a fixed period. The employee may work for a subsidiary of the Finnish employer in another country, but they remain covered by Finnish social security. Sweden remains at the top for certificates for work done in one foreign country. Spain and Germany hold positions two and three respectively.
“The number of A1 certificates granted to Spain has been increasing for a few years, which can be attributed to the growing number of people working remotely in sunny destinations”, states Senior Policy Advisor Hanna Hyttinen of the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
Share of certificates for work in two or more countries up to 50%
“The A1 certificate is also needed when an individual regularly works in two or more countries, for example due to business trips or foreign work projects. More people are also working remotely abroad on an occasional basis than before”, Hyttinen explains.
In situations where an individual works in Finland and also regularly abroad, a certificate for two or more countries is applied for. In 2025, half of the issued certificates in 2025 were for individuals working in two or more countries.
Number of applications for pensions from abroad grew
In 2025, the Finnish Centre for Pensions forwarded 5,500 pension applications abroad. This was 300 pension applications more than in 2025.
If an individual has worked abroad but has not been a posted worker from Finland, they may have accrued pension in the country of work rather than in Finland. When an individual residing in Finland applies for a pension from abroad, the Finnish Centre for Pensions forwards the application to the relevant foreign pension authority. This applies to EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and countries with which Finland has a social security agreement.
“Sweden has been the most popular country for Finns to work in for decades. This is why many Finns have earned a pension in Sweden. In 2025, the Finnish Centre for Pensions forwarded 2,889 pension applications to Sweden. This accounted for more than half of all pension applications forwarded abroad”, says Special Adviser Reija Suontakanen from the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
Estonia received the second-highest number of pension application from Finland, at 938. The next highest numbers came from Norway (409 applications), Germany (277 applications), the United Kingdom (151 applications) and Switzerland (106 applications). The remaining 758 applications were forwarded to other EU, EEA and social security agreement countries.
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