Intergovernmental agreements on social security

The Nordic countries agreement on social security

On 1 May 2014 the new Nordic countries agreement on social security, passed by the Icelandic parliament, passed into law 119/2013. It replaces the previous Nordic countries agreement which came into force on 1 September 2004.

The parties to the agreement are Iceland, Denmark, Finland (and Åland), Norway and Sweden. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are parties to the agreement from 1 May 2015 but were, for the time that passed from the agreement to the other countries, still parties to the earlier agreement.

The agreement is based on the old agreement but is adapted to the developments in Europe and to the Nordic social security legislation. The agreement is based on the EU rules that apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The same applies to non-EEA/EFTA citizens who move between the Nordic countries. The Danish authorities have expressed reservations about family benefits, unemployment benefits when moving to another country and the rules on basic pensions for non-EEA citizens.

The aim of the agreement is to facilitate transport between the Nordic countries and to ensure that those who do so have social security rights.

The scope of the social security rules in the EEA Agreement is extended to all persons who are covered by the agreement and are resident in a Nordic country, unless otherwise specified in the Nordic agreements.

The Nordic countries agreement covers all persons who are subject to the EEA rules and other persons who have been subject to legislation in a Nordic country, their family members or survivors who attribute their rights to the persons mentioned above.

The EEA rules apply to all persons who are insured and residing in the Nordic countries, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and who move between the countries for business purposes or move between the countries.

Special rules in the agreement

The agreement also contains some specific rules, for example, regarding co-operation on rehabilitation, repatriation for sickness, unemployment insurance and calculation of family benefits.

The main points of the new agreement are, as far as the Social Insurance Administration is concerned, provisions that the countries should conclude bilateral agreements on rehabilitation and how these matters should be handled. The goal is that rehabilitation can be carried out in a Nordic country other than the country of employment. For example, a person who lives in Iceland but works in Norway could apply for rehabilitation in Iceland if he or she had an accident or became seriously ill.

If a person who is temporarily staying in another Nordic country is found to have to use an expensive travel method during a return trip, the country of residence will pay the additional costs. The need for an expensive travel method must be confirmed by a doctor with a written certificate and the institution of the place of residence shall decide on the refund for the return trip.

An implementation agreement has been made with the agreement, which provides for its implementation in more detail. The agreement contains a brief description of the main benefits in the Nordic countries.