European Citizens

Moving Your EU Social Security (U1 / S1)

Use the U1, S1 and PD A1 forms to keep your benefits and contribution years.

7 min read · Updated 2026-04-30

Why these forms exist

EU Regulation 883/2004 coordinates social security across member states so you don't lose contribution years, healthcare access, or unemployment rights when moving. The forms are the practical instrument — request them from the country leaving, present them in the country arriving.

U1: contribution history

The U1 documents the social security and unemployment contributions you made in your previous EU country. Hand it to Portuguese Segurança Social so those years count toward Portuguese unemployment, sickness and pension entitlements.

  • Request from your home unemployment / social security agency before leaving
  • Free, usually issued in 2–6 weeks
  • Best filed in person at a Segurança Social office in Portugal once you have a NISS
  • Without it, your first months in Portugal don't count for Portuguese unemployment benefit

S1: healthcare while drawing a foreign pension or salary

If you receive a state pension from another EU country, or are posted to Portugal by an EU employer, the S1 entitles you to full SNS access — paid for by your home country, not Portugal.

  • Pensioners — request from your home pension authority once your pension starts
  • Posted workers — request from your employer's home social security office
  • Spouses and minor children can be covered with their own S1 forms
  • Lodge it with Segurança Social, then take the receipt to your Centro de Saúde

PD A1: short postings

Working temporarily in Portugal but staying registered to your home social security? The A1 (issued by your home authority) proves you don't owe Portuguese social security on that income, typically up to 24 months. Self-employed contractors can also request it for cross-border gigs.

Pensions add up

Years contributed in any EU country count toward minimum-eligibility periods in every other EU country. If you eventually claim a Portuguese pension, Lisbon will pay for your Portuguese years; the other countries pay you proportionally for theirs. Keep all U1s and PD A1s permanently.