Remote work in Finland for a foreign employer
As a rule, work done in Finland, also remote work, is insured in Finland. Work done in Finland is insured in Finland regardless of
- the worker’s nationality, or
- the domicile of the employer.
If the remote worker works in Finland for a foreign employer, the employer must arrange all statutory social security for the worker in Finland. The foreign employer may also authorise the worker to take out statutory insurance in Finland (with a Finnish insurance company) on its behalf.
If, in addition to doing remote work in Finland, the worker does other work in other countries on a regular basis, the employer must contact the Finnish Centre for Pensions to sort out where the worker is to be insured.
Question: My employer is a German company, but I do all my work remotely from my home in Finland. Which country’s social security am I covered by? Do I need to apply for an A1 certificate?
Answer: If you do all your work remotely from Finland, you are covered by Finnish social security (under the EU regulations on social security). That means that your German employer must insure you in Finland based on your work. You earn pension in Finland and get the other social security benefits from Finland.
As a rule, you don’t need an A1 certificate for the work you do in Finland. However, if your employer needs it to attest that you are covered by Finnish social security, you can apply for the certificate from the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
You can forward information about social security contributions in Finland to your employer. The instructions are available in several languages, including German.
Read more on Etk.fi:
Question: My employer is a Swedish company, but I do all my work remotely from my home in Finland. Occasionally, I go to the other Nordic countries on work trips. Which country’s social security am I covered by? Do I need to apply for an A1 certificate?
Answer: If you do all your work remotely from Finland, you are covered by Finnish social security (under the EU regulations on social security). That means that your Swedish employer must insure you in Finland based on your work. You earn pension in Finland and get the other social security benefits from Finland.
As a rule, you don’t need an A1 certificate for the work you do in Finland.
Going on work trips to other countries may change your situation. If you work regularly in other countries during the year, the EU regulations on social security state that you are to be insured in the country in which you reside. Please contact the Finnish Centre for Pensions to sort out where you are to be insured.
There are exceptions to the obligation to take out insurance in Finland, for example, if you are a civil servant or if you are temporarily posted abroad.
Question: I live with my family in France and work for a French company. But at least for the next two years, I will do most of my work remotely from my home in Finland for my employer in France, and occasionally I will visit my employer’s office in Finland. Which country’s social security am I covered by? Do I need to apply for an A1 certificate?
Answer: If you work temporarily for a foreign employer in Finland with the intent to return to France after your temporary period of working in Finland ends, you are most likely a posted worker. In that case, you are covered by the social security laws of France, the country from which you have been posted abroad.
Your employer must apply for an A1 certificate from France to attest that you are covered by French social security. If your employer does not apply for the A1 certificate or if the certificate cannot be granted, you are covered by Finnish social security while you work in Finland and your employer must insure your work in Finland.
Question: I work for a Swedish university but do all my work remotely from my home in Finland. Which country’s social security am I covered by? Do I need to apply for an A1 certificate?
Answer: If you do your work for the university in the capacity of a civil servant (check with your employer if you are unsure), you are covered by Swedish social security (under the EU regulations on social security), even if you do all your work remotely from Finland. Your employer must apply for an A1 certificate from Sweden to attest that you are covered by Swedish social security. In that case, your pension accrues in Sweden, and you get your social security benefits from Sweden.
However, if you do other work in Finland than that as a civil servant, please contact the Finnish Centre for Pensions.