Social security when working in another EU country

In the EU you are insured in one country only. As a rule this is the country where you work, not the country of your citizenship or residence. The exceptions are postings and work in several countries — then you may stay insured in Bulgaria, which is proved with an A1 certificate issued by the National Revenue Agency (NRA, Bulgarian НАП).

insurance

1 country

never two at once

posting

up to 24 months

with an A1 certificate

substantial part

25%

of your work in your country of residence

A1 processing

30 days

45 via another NRA office

Which country insures you

Postings and the A1 certificate

If a Bulgarian employer sends you temporarily to another EU country, you stay in the Bulgarian system and do not register with the other country’s social security. An A1 is issued for a maximum of 24 months. For longer work you either move to the other country’s system or your employer asks for an extension — possible only by agreement between both countries and if it is in your interest.

For employees, the employer requests the A1. Self-employed people request it themselves and must show they do similar work in the other country as in Bulgaria.

1. Choose the form

   OKd236 — posted employee; OKd237 — employee in two or more countries; OKd238 — self-employed; OKd239 — self-employed in two or more countries; OKd240 — employed in one country and self-employed in another; OKd241 — EU contract staff; OKd284 — employed or self-employed person in one country.

2. Submit the request

   Online in the NRA portal (group “Certificates and copies of documents”) with an NRA personal code (PIK) or qualified electronic signature, or on paper at an NRA office. You can attach documents to the online request.

3. Wait for the decision

   The A1 or a reasoned refusal is issued within 30 days, or within 45 days if the request was filed at another NRA regional directorate. You are notified by email or phone when it is ready.

4. Keep the A1 with you

   The certificate proves to the other country that contributions are paid in Bulgaria. A refusal can be appealed to the NRA regional director.

Working in two or more countries

If you regularly work in several countries, the test is whether at least 25% of your working time and/or income (turnover for the self-employed) is in your country of residence. If so, you are insured there. If not, for employees the employer’s registered office decides, and for the self-employed the centre of their activity. Here too the NRA issues the A1 if Bulgaria is the competent country.

Health insurance in Bulgaria

When the coordination rules make you subject to health insurance in another EU country, you are not compulsorily insured with the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund (Art. 33(2) of the Health Insurance Act). For treatment on visits to Bulgaria you use the European Health Insurance Card of the country that insures you.

• Posted with an A1 — you remain insured in Bulgaria and use the Bulgarian European Health Insurance Card abroad. If you move your habitual residence there, you need form S1.
• Local contract — you are insured in the other country and pay contributions there.
• If you come back — if you spent more than 183 days a year abroad and used the right not to pay health contributions in Bulgaria, your rights are restored after 6 consecutive months of contributions (Art. 40a of the Health Insurance Act).