Check whether you will remain insured in the Netherlands

If you are going to work outside the Netherlands, we will look at the country where you will be working and how long you were insured in the Netherlands before you left to decide whether you can remain insured in the Netherlands. In general, you can only stay insured in the Netherlands if your work in the other country is temporary.

You are an employee

If you are going to work outside the Netherlands for an indefinite period , you will stop being covered by the Dutch social insurance schemes . Instead, you will be insured in the country where you work.

If your employer is sending you to work outside the Netherlands temporarily, you will probably stay insured in the Netherlands. This is called ‘posting’. In that case, your employer can apply for an A1 certificate (certificate of coverage) for you.

You will also remain covered by Dutch health insurance if you start working outside the Netherlands temporarily. You can ask your Dutch health insurance provider for a European health Insurance Card (EHIC). With this card, you will be able to get medical care outside the Netherlands.

You are self-employed

If you start working outside the Netherlands as a self-employed person on a permanent basis, you will stop being covered by the Dutch social insurance schemes . Instead, you will be insured in the country where you work. 

If you only work outside the Netherlands temporarily, you can stay insured in the Netherlands provided you meet the conditions. We refer to this as ‘posting’.

What are the conditions?

You will remain insured in the Netherlands if:

  • you start working in a country of the European Union (EU ) or the European Economic Area (EEA )
  • you worked in the Netherlands as a self-employed person for at least 2 months prior to your posting
  • your work activities outside the Netherlands are the same as your work activities in the Netherlands 
  • you pay social insurance contributions to the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst
  • you are a national of a country of the EU or the EEA. Or you have a residence permit  that allows you to work in the Netherlands 

If you are going to work in a country outside the EU or the EEA

If you are going to work in a country outside the EU or the EEA, you can apply to us for an A1 certificate (certificate of coverage). You will need this certificate if you are going to work in the United States, South Korea, Canada (including Quebec), Israel, Japan, Chile, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

You should register as a self-employed person in the country where you work. We recommend that you ask the authorities in that country to explain exactly what social insurance schemes you come under.

If you are going to work in Belgium

If you are going to work temporarily in Belgium as a self-employed person, inform Limosa in Belgium about this before you go.

You can read more about working in Belgium on the website of the Bureau for Belgian Affairs.

You work in 2 or more countries

It will not be immediately clear which country you are insured in. You can read more about this on the page If you are self-employed in 2 or more countries.

You are a civil servant

If you are a civil servant and you are going to work both in and outside the Netherlands, you will remain insured under the Dutch social insurance schemes .

You will also remain insured in the Netherlands if you temporarily start working exclusively outside the Netherlands.

Your employer must report this to the social security institution in the country where you are insured for national insurance contributions.

You also work as an employee or self-employed person outside the Netherlands

If you are a civil servant and you also work as a self-employed person or an employee, you will remain insured in the Netherlands. Your employer must report this to the social security institution in the country where you are insured.

You are a civil servant and you work for both a Dutch and a non-Dutch employer

If you also work for a non-Dutch employer, it will not be immediately clear in which country you are insured. Your employers must report your work activities to the social security institution in your country of residence. If you are resident in the Netherlands, they can report this to us.

Your family members

If you work in a country of the European Union (EU ) or the European Economic Area (EEA ), or in Switzerland, your family members will not be insured as from 1 January 2024. Your family members may be able to apply for voluntary AOW pension insurance.

If you are a Dutch civil servant working outside the Netherlands for a Dutch embassy or consulate, your family members are insured.

If you work outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, your family members will generally remain co-insured with you unless they also work outside the Netherlands and earn more than the protected earnings rate .

You are a performing artist

If you live in the Netherlands but you sometimes go to another country to perform, you will remain insured in the Netherlands if:

  • you perform in a country of the European Union (EU ) or in a treaty country
  • you are a national of a country of the EU or a treaty country. Or you have a residence permit that allows you to work in the Netherlands
  • In addition to this:

  • you must be working for a Dutch employer that pays social insurance  contributions for you to the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst), or
  • perform as a self-employed person and pay social insurance contributions to the Belastingdienst yourself

Make sure that you do not pay contributions in both countries

Non-Dutch clients often ask for proof that you are covered by the Dutch social insurance schemes. You can prove this with an A1 certificate (certificate of coverage). This means that your non-Dutch client may not deduct any social insurance contributions from your fee (wages). You are still insured in the Netherlands and you already pay contributions here. 

Important: some countries will not allow you to perform there without an A1 certificate.

If contributions have been paid for you in 2 countries

If social insurance contributions have been deducted from your fee for a performance outside the Netherlands, you can ask for a refund using the contact form. State the country you worked in on the form. We will let you know within 1 week who you can contact to claim a refund of your contributions.

You are a student or you are doing an internship

If you are going to do an internship in another country as part of your studies in the Netherlands and you have not received a letter from the CAK , neither your school nor the organisation where you will be doing your internship will have to apply for an A1 certificate/certificate of coverage. For more information, contact your health insurer.

If your employer in the Netherlands is sending you to do an internship or training course in another country, you can stay insured in the Netherlands if:

  • your employer continues to pay your wages during your internship or training
  • your employer pays social insurance contributions for you to the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst)
  • you are doing your training or internship in a country of the European Union (EU ) or in a treaty country
  • you are a national of a country of the EU or a treaty country, or you have a residence permit which allows you to work in the Netherlands

An A1 certificate is proof that you are covered by the social insurance schemes of the Netherlands. Your employer can apply to us for this certificate.

If you are doing an internship for which you have an employment contract with an employer based outside the Netherlands, and you are being paid for the internship by this employer, you will stop being insured in the Netherlands.employment contract

You are an international driver, a member of the cockpit or cabin crew of an aircraft, or a Rhine boatman

If you work for a company that transports people or goods to countries of the European Union (EU ) or the European Economic Area (EEA ), you will normally stay insured in the Netherlands if:

  • you live in the Netherlands, or
  • you live in another EU country and you work for less than 25% of your working hours in that country

Your employer will deduct social insurance contributions from your salary or wages. An A1 certificate/certificate of coverage is proof that you are covered by the Dutch social insurance schemes. Some countries will not allow you to work there without this certificate.

There are a few exceptions to this rule:

You live outside the Netherlands

If you live outside the Netherlands and you work in the Netherlands as well as in 1 or more other EU countries (for example as a coach driver, lorry driver or on an inland vessel), your employer must ask the social security institution  in the country where you live to take a decision on where you are insured. If they decide that you are covered by the Dutch social insurance schemes, your employer must send us a written application for an A1 certificate within 2 months.

You work at least 25% of your working hours in your country of residence

If you do not live in the Netherlands and you work at least 25% of your working hours in the EU or EEA country where you live, you will be insured in that country. If your employer is registered as an employer in the country where you live, you will be covered by the unemployment benefit, incapacity benefit and old-age pension schemes in that country.

You work as a member of a cockpit or cabin crew in civil aviation

If you are a member of a cockpit or cabin crew working in civilian aviation, you will be insured in the country where your home base is. If your home base is in the Netherlands, you will be covered by Dutch social insurance.

You are a Rhine boatman

If you work on board a Rhine vessel, you will be covered by the social insurance schemes of the country where the vessel’s operator is based.

Inform the authorities that you are working in 2 or more countries

If you are going to work in 2 or more countries, you must inform the social security institution in the country where you live. If you live in the Netherlands, you should inform the SVB.

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Version: 1 January 2025