Part-time cross-border commuter

What you need to consider as a part-time cross-border commuter from Austria to Switzerland / Liechtenstein

Social security obligation

If you also work as a cross-border commuter in Switzerland or Liechtenstein in addition to your job in Austria, the EU regulation requires you to check whether the country of residence or the country of your employer is responsible for social insurance. This check is carried out by the Austrian Health Insurance Fund using the A1 form.

As a rule, persons who work less than 25% of their working hours in Austria are subject to compulsory insurance in Switzerland or Liechtenstein. These persons are treated almost like “normal” cross-border commuters.

However, if more than 25% of the working hours are worked in Austria, the insurance obligation falls on Austria and this means that the health insurance must remain in Austria. Below we explain how to register and what you need to bear in mind.

TIP: As both cases are very special and must always be examined on a case-by-case basis, we recommend that you seek advice from one of our cross-border commuter professionals. We will be happy to advise you individually on your situation.

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Registration with the ÖGK

If you have an employment relationship in several countries and the insurance obligation falls on Austria, your new future employer in Switzerland or Liechtenstein must register you with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund as the competent Austrian social insurance institution from the time of your multiple employment. and pay the corresponding contributions directly to the health insurance fund. To register, please contact the contributions department of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund directly (by e-mail: beitragsabteilung@oegk.at or by telephone 0043 50 76619 – 1348)

Note: Under Austrian law, the employer must submit social security notifications and pay all social security contributions (employee and employer’s share) to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund. The employer is entitled to deduct the employee’s share from the gross salary.

Employers without a permanent establishment in Austria have the option of transferring social security obligations to the employee. A corresponding agreement must be concluded for this purpose. We recommend that you talk to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund(–> for contact details)

If such an agreement is concluded, you must complete the registration form and submit it to the ÖGK together with the agreement signed by both parties (contractor and client). When the registration is received by the ÖGK, a certificate will be issued immediately stating that Austrian legal provisions apply in this case (form A1). This certificate serves as proof that the registration for social insurance has been made in Austria and that there is therefore no obligation to pay contributions in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein.

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EXKURS: Self-employed & second job

If you are self-employed in Austria and take on a second job in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, regardless of whether you are self-employed or employed, the above information does not apply to you. Self-employed persons have the option of completely exempting themselves from statutory health insurance (SVA) for a second job in Switzerland and taking out private insurance only. This is generally much cheaper and the scope of cover of private cross-border commuter insurance is much better than that of statutory health insurance.

Get in touch with us! We will be happy to discuss your specific situation with you and advise you on the best option for your health insurance.