When an employee is working abroad
The collectively agreed insurances are usually valid when an employee is working abroad on the employer’s behalf. In addition, the employee usually continues to have social insurance in Sweden during this period.
Checklista
How to proceed when an employee is going to work abroad
The way the insurances work is dependent on how long the employee is going to be away and in which country they are going to be working. Follow our checklists to make sure you get all the pieces in place.
Blue collar workers
A checklist when an employee is going to work abroad
When a blue collar worker is going to be working abroad, in a country within the EU/EEA or United Kingdom:
Before the employee heads off, you should sit down together and plan their stay abroad. If they are going to a country within the EU/EEA, the social insurance is valid for max. 2 years. The insurances the employee has through the collective agreement are normally valid during the period they are working abroad. The rules for working in the United Kingdom are largely the same as for the EU/EEA.
If the employee is going to be working abroad for max. 2 years, you and the employee jointly need to report this to Försäkringskassan, The Social Insurance Agency and request an overseas posting certificate. You do this by filling in form 6220, which can be downloaded from Försäkringskassan. It is also possible to apply for a dispensation from Försäkringskassan for periods stationed outside Sweden of up to 5 years (this does not apply to United Kingdom).
If the employee works abroad for more than 2 years, or 5 years following a dispensation, and is consequently no longer covered by Swedish social insurance, you need to report this to Fora. Through the collectively agreed insurances, the employee is compensated for the loss of Swedish sickness benefit as well as retirement and survivors’ pension. This information is only available in Swedish at fora.se.
It is recommended that, as the employer, you should take out medical expenses insurance (LFU) for the employee. This reimburses medical expenses in the event they should require medical care during their time overseas.
When a blue collar worker is going to be working abroad, in a country outside the EU/EEA or United Kingdom:
Before the employee heads off, you should sit down together and plan their stay abroad. If they are going to a country outside the EU/EEA or United Kingdom, Swedish social insurance is usually valid for max. 1 year. Sweden also has several conventions that regulate which country’s social insurance will apply when working abroad. The insurances the employee has through the collective agreement are also normally valid during the period they are working abroad.
If the employee is going to be working in a country outside the EU/EEA or United Kingdom, you need to contact Försäkringskassan, The Social Insurance Agency. Visit forsakringskassan.se for information and the forms you need.
If the employee works abroad for more than 1 year, or according to the convention, and is consequently no longer covered by Swedish social insurance, you need to report this to Fora. Through the collectively agreed insurances, the employee is compensated for the loss of Swedish sickness benefit as well as retirement and survivors’ pension. This information is only available in Swedish at fora.se.
It is recommended that, as the employer, you should take out medical expenses insurance (LFU) for the employee. This reimburses medical expenses in the event they should require medical care during their time overseas.
White collar workers
A checklist when an employee is going to work abroad
When a white collar worker is going to be working abroad, in a country within the EU/EEA or United Kingdom:
Before the employee heads off, you should sit down together and plan their stay abroad. If they are going to a country within the EU/EEA, the social insurance is valid for max. 2 years. The insurances the employee has through the collective agreement are normally valid during the period they are working abroad. The rules for working in the United Kingdom are largely the same as for the EU/EEA.
If the employee is going to be working abroad for max. 2 years, you and the employee jointly need to report this to Försäkringskassan, The Social Insurance Agency and request an overseas posting certificate. You do this by filling in form 6220, which can be downloaded from Försäkringskassan. It is also possible to apply for a dispensation from Försäkringskassan for periods stationed outside Sweden of up to 5 years (this does not apply to United Kingdom).
If the employee works abroad for more than 2 years, or 5 years following a dispensation, and is consequently no longer covered by Swedish social insurance, you have to report this to Collectum. Through the ITP plan, the employee is compensated for the loss of Swedish sickness benefit as well as retirement and survivors’ pension. This information is only available in Swedish at collectum.se.
Take out medical expenses insurance (LFU) for the employee. This reimburses medical expenses in the event they should require medical care during their time abroad. This information is only available in Swedish at collectum.se.
When a white worker is going to be working abroad, in a country outside the EU/EEA or United Kingdom:
Before the employee heads off, you should sit down together and plan their stay abroad. If they are going to a country outside the EU/EEA or United Kingdom, Swedish social insurance is usually valid for max. 1 year. Sweden also has several conventions that regulate which country’s social insurance will apply when working abroad. The insurances the employee has through the collective agreement are also normally valid during the period they are working abroad.
If the employee is going to be working in a country outside the EU/EEA or United Kingdom, you need to contact Försäkringskassan, The Social Insurance Agency. Visit forsakringskassan.se for information and the forms you need.
If the employee works abroad for more than 1 year, or according to the convention, and is consequently no longer covered by Swedish social insurance, you have to report this to Collectum. Through the ITP plan, the employee is compensated for the loss of Swedish sickness benefit as well as retirement and survivors’ pension. This information is only available in Swedish at collectum.se.
Take out medical expenses insurance (LFU) for the employee. This reimburses medical expenses in the event they should require medical care during their time abroad. This information is only available in Swedish at collectum.se.
Remember this when an employee is going to work abroad
- If the employee is working in a country within the EU/EEA or United Kingdom, their social insurance will remain valid for maximum 2 years, or 5 years following a dispensation. The dispensation is not valid for United Kingdom. In other countries social insurance is usually valid for maximum 1 year or according to the convention.
- Insurances according to the collective agreement are usually valid when an employee is working abroad on the employer’s behalf.
- If the employee is working abroad and is no longer covered by Swedish social insurance, you need to submit a report regarding their service abroad to Fora for blue collar workers or Collectum for white collar workers.