Posting abroad

If you process an order through Smart and carry it out wholly or partly outside Germany, you must inform Smart at least 10 days before the start of your stay abroad. This also applies to temporarily working from abroad, for example from a home office or as part of a “workation”.

Please complete the posting abroad form. Our Payroll Team will then take care of applying for the A1 certificate and completing the necessary notifications. You can find the A1 certificate in your Mein Smart folder.

For temporary orders as part of your employment with Smart in the EU, the EEA (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), Switzerland or the United Kingdom, a posting may apply. In this case, Smart must assess the posting and apply for the A1 certificate. The A1 certificate may be checked by the relevant authorities in the country where you are working.

The A1 certificate confirms that German social security legislation continues to apply during your order abroad. It therefore serves as proof that, in principle, you remain covered by the German social security system for this period.

If you regularly work at the same location, an A1 certificate with a longer period of validity may also be issued. However, it is only valid for the duration of your employment with Smart.

The posting procedure is not possible in the following cases:

• For non-EU nationals who temporarily work in Switzerland, Denmark, the United Kingdom or the EEA countries Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein

• For nationals of Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein who temporarily work in Switzerland

• For Swiss nationals who temporarily work in the EEA countries Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein

If you work for a limited period in a country outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, a social security agreement may exist between that country and Germany. Under certain conditions, German social security legislation may continue to apply, and a corresponding certificate may be requested. Please contact us if you plan to work in such a country.