Important Updates
Important Updates
October 22, 2025 | SwedenSweden: New EU Blue Card Rules Forthcoming
October 22, 2025 | ChinaChina: Updated Online Visa Application System for U.S. Applicants Launched
October 22, 2025 | United KingdomFinancial Times: Scientists Charged Too Much to Come to Work in UK, Says Royal Society
October 22, 2025 | HungaryHungary: Change of Residence Permit Practice Relaxed
October 22, 2025 | 🌐Minimum Salary Changes Announced
October 22, 2025 | SwedenSweden: New EU Blue Card Rules Forthcoming
October 22, 2025 | ChinaChina: Updated Online Visa Application System for U.S. Applicants Launched
October 22, 2025 | United KingdomFinancial Times: Scientists Charged Too Much to Come to Work in UK, Says Royal Society
October 22, 2025 | HungaryHungary: Change of Residence Permit Practice Relaxed
October 22, 2025 | 🌐Minimum Salary Changes Announced
October 22, 2025 | SwedenSweden: New EU Blue Card Rules Forthcoming
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationFragomen Consulting EuropeImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapCenter for Strategy and Applied InsightsVietnamese ImmigrationView More
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Fragomen Consulting Europe
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Center for Strategy and Applied Insights
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • View More

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
  • Insights

Social Security post-Brexit in the UK and EU

July 25, 2018

brexit flags

Country / Territory

  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Related contacts

siobhan_owers

Siobhan Owers

Partner

London, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 20 7090 9132

Related offices

  • Brussels (Benelux)
  • Frankfurt
  • London
  • Sheffield

Related content

  • Fragomen Consulting Europe

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

siobhan_owers

Siobhan Owers

Partner

London, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 20 7090 9132

Related offices

  • Brussels (Benelux)
  • Frankfurt
  • London
  • Sheffield

Related content

  • Fragomen Consulting Europe

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

siobhan_owers

Siobhan Owers

Partner

London, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 20 7090 9132

Related offices

  • Brussels (Benelux)
  • Frankfurt
  • London
  • Sheffield

Related content

  • Fragomen Consulting Europe

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

By: Siobhan Owers, Iskra Nikolic Uskokovic

Social security is likely to be one of the key areas affected by Brexit for employers with internationally mobile employees working between the UK and other EU countries.

Currently, when an EU national is posted to work in another member state on a temporary assignment, they can apply to continue paying into their home country’s social security system. This is often seen as the preferred option in terms of administrative ease and cost. However, following Brexit, the future legitimacy of this arrangement is open to doubt. Indeed, unless measures are introduced to extend these arrangements, posted workers and their employers may face payroll withholding challenges or fragmented contributions records. They may also become embroiled in disputes between countries as to where the social security lies or be subject to a liability in multiple countries for which there is no relief for a double social security liability. The focus on ensuring that sufficient consideration is given to these issues, and that suitable policies are put in place to manage this going forward, is key to risk management.

Key Points

The UK government believes it would be desirable to maintain some aspects of continued mobility between the UK and the EU with reciprocal arrangements in a new framework. This would support the close links between people and economies so that they continue after the UK leaves the EU. The UK’s future immigration rules would incorporate any mobility provisions agreed with the EU, in the same way they currently do in respect of the UK international agreements with other trading partners. This framework would represent what the UK agrees reciprocally, allowing the UK and the EU to set their own rules in all areas (be that in relation to immigration, social security, healthcare or related matters) where no commitments are taken.

The UK government’s White Paper refers to wider mobility areas, such as the future rules around social security coordination and where the UK would seek a reciprocal system for UK and EU nationals who are able to live, work or retire in the EU or the UK in the future. This could cover:

1. Arrangements relating to the uprating of state pensions, including export rules and accompanying aggregation principles for people who have contributed into multiple countries’ systems

2. A set of rules to determine how workers pay social security contributions to ensure that individuals only pay contributions to one state at a time

3. Reciprocal healthcare access for state pensioners retiring to the EU or the UK, continued participation in the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme for people currently staying in the UK or EU and cooperation on planned treatment

The payment of certain limited benefits or social security will be subject to the upcoming negotiation.

Considerations

The UK government’s White Paper leaves areas of uncertainty for those with work patterns subject to frequent change and for those who become mobile only after Brexit, for whom no access to the European regulations is currently envisaged, but where the shape of any future social security coordination regime is unknown.

For more information reach Siobhan Owers at [email protected] and Iskra Nikolic Uskokovic at [email protected].

Country / Territory

  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Related contacts

siobhan_owers

Siobhan Owers

Partner

London, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 20 7090 9132

Related offices

  • Brussels (Benelux)
  • Frankfurt
  • London
  • Sheffield

Related content

  • Fragomen Consulting Europe

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

siobhan_owers

Siobhan Owers

Partner

London, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 20 7090 9132

Related offices

  • Brussels (Benelux)
  • Frankfurt
  • London
  • Sheffield

Related content

  • Fragomen Consulting Europe

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

siobhan_owers

Siobhan Owers

Partner

London, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 20 7090 9132

Related offices

  • Brussels (Benelux)
  • Frankfurt
  • London
  • Sheffield

Related content

  • Fragomen Consulting Europe

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Blog post

Costa Rica Family Relocation: Understanding Residency for Dependents

Immigration Director Adriana Martínez Garro explains the residency process in Costa Rica for families relocating with dependents, outlining key legal considerations and steps for securing status.

Learn more

Media mentions

Financial Times: Scientists Charged Too Much to Come to Work in UK, Says Royal Society

Fragomen contributed data showing how UK visa and health surcharge costs compare with other leading research nations.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Contributes to Migration Observatory Report on Gender and Migration in the UK

Fragomen supported this report, which explores how gender shapes migration patterns, visa routes, employment and settlement in the UK.

Learn more

Blog post

Polish Citizenship Rules Under Review: What the Proposed Amendments Mean

Senior Associate Tomasz Rdzanek or Poland Immigration Strategy Director Tomasz Rogala discuss proposed changes to Poland’s citizenship law aimed at simplifying eligibility and clarifying naturalisation procedures for foreign nationals.

Learn more

Video

Oman Introduces a Golden Visa Program | #MobilityMinute

Manager David Makau discusses Oman's recent introduction of a Golden Visa program.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Stage: Actors, Dancers and Writers Set to Escape Visa Ban

Partner Louise Haycock highlights the inclusion of performing arts occupations on the temporary shortage list and what it means for international talent in the sector.

Learn more

Media mentions

Arts Professional: Creative Sector Must ‘Come Together’ to Give Artists Easier Access to Visas

Partner Louise Haycock highlights opportunities for easier access to overseas talent for the UK creative sector while guiding businesses through evolving visa rules.

Learn more

Blog post

British Citizenship for Adopted and Surrogate Children: What Families Should Know

Associate Amelia Haynes and Paralegal Clare Macmillan Bell discuss the legal considerations surrounding British citizenship for children born through adoption or surrogacy.

Learn more

Media mentions

Financial Times: Boom Time for Immigration Lawyers as US and UK Tighten Restrictions

Partner Bo Cooper provides insight on how evolving US and UK immigration policies, including recent H-1B changes, are shaping corporate mobility and compliance strategies.

Learn more

Video

Atividades Técnicas sob Status de Visitante | #MobilityMinute

O Diretor Executivo da Fragomen Brasil, Diogo Kloper, destaca uma atualização importante na política migratória brasileira, que muda significativamente o que estrangeiros podem fazer no país sob o status de visitante.

Learn more

Media mentions

Global Mobility Lawyer: Founders Without Frontiers: Navigating Immigration Rules for Start-Ups

Partner Rajiv Naik provides insight on how immigration frameworks across the UK, Europe and EMEA are evolving to support start-ups and entrepreneurial talent.

Learn more

Media mentions

The New York Times: Visiting the European Union? Expect to Give Your Biometric Data.

Partner Jo Antoons discusses the rollout of the EU's new Entry/Exit System.

Learn more

Blog post

Costa Rica Family Relocation: Understanding Residency for Dependents

Immigration Director Adriana Martínez Garro explains the residency process in Costa Rica for families relocating with dependents, outlining key legal considerations and steps for securing status.

Learn more

Media mentions

Financial Times: Scientists Charged Too Much to Come to Work in UK, Says Royal Society

Fragomen contributed data showing how UK visa and health surcharge costs compare with other leading research nations.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Contributes to Migration Observatory Report on Gender and Migration in the UK

Fragomen supported this report, which explores how gender shapes migration patterns, visa routes, employment and settlement in the UK.

Learn more

Blog post

Polish Citizenship Rules Under Review: What the Proposed Amendments Mean

Senior Associate Tomasz Rdzanek or Poland Immigration Strategy Director Tomasz Rogala discuss proposed changes to Poland’s citizenship law aimed at simplifying eligibility and clarifying naturalisation procedures for foreign nationals.

Learn more

Video

Oman Introduces a Golden Visa Program | #MobilityMinute

Manager David Makau discusses Oman's recent introduction of a Golden Visa program.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Stage: Actors, Dancers and Writers Set to Escape Visa Ban

Partner Louise Haycock highlights the inclusion of performing arts occupations on the temporary shortage list and what it means for international talent in the sector.

Learn more

Media mentions

Arts Professional: Creative Sector Must ‘Come Together’ to Give Artists Easier Access to Visas

Partner Louise Haycock highlights opportunities for easier access to overseas talent for the UK creative sector while guiding businesses through evolving visa rules.

Learn more

Blog post

British Citizenship for Adopted and Surrogate Children: What Families Should Know

Associate Amelia Haynes and Paralegal Clare Macmillan Bell discuss the legal considerations surrounding British citizenship for children born through adoption or surrogacy.

Learn more

Media mentions

Financial Times: Boom Time for Immigration Lawyers as US and UK Tighten Restrictions

Partner Bo Cooper provides insight on how evolving US and UK immigration policies, including recent H-1B changes, are shaping corporate mobility and compliance strategies.

Learn more

Video

Atividades Técnicas sob Status de Visitante | #MobilityMinute

O Diretor Executivo da Fragomen Brasil, Diogo Kloper, destaca uma atualização importante na política migratória brasileira, que muda significativamente o que estrangeiros podem fazer no país sob o status de visitante.

Learn more

Media mentions

Global Mobility Lawyer: Founders Without Frontiers: Navigating Immigration Rules for Start-Ups

Partner Rajiv Naik provides insight on how immigration frameworks across the UK, Europe and EMEA are evolving to support start-ups and entrepreneurial talent.

Learn more

Media mentions

The New York Times: Visiting the European Union? Expect to Give Your Biometric Data.

Partner Jo Antoons discusses the rollout of the EU's new Entry/Exit System.

Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.