Social Security Coordination

Regulation (EC) 883/2004 — France / Switzerland

General Principle

European Regulation 883/2004 coordinates social security systems between France and Switzerland (via the AFMP). The fundamental principle is: a worker is subject to the legislation of only one country at a time.

For cross-border workers: social contributions are generally levied in the country of employment (Switzerland), while certain benefits are provided in the country of residence (France).

Branch by Branch

Health Insurance

Switzerland (LAMal) or France (CMU/PUMA)

Cross-border workers have a right of option between Swiss health insurance (LAMal) and the French system (PUMa, formerly CMU). The 3-month window runs from the start of your work in Switzerland, from your move to France if you already worked in Switzerland, or from the grant of a Swiss pension. For Swiss and EU nationals, without a form within the window, the Swiss authority affiliates you to LAMal (Swiss health insurance) automatically; a frontalier of another nationality outside the EU/EFTA/UK is insured in Switzerland only on request (OFSP). The option is exercised once and is irrevocable. A new option opens only on resuming work in Switzerland (e.g. after a period of unemployment), moving to France, or passing from worker to recipient of Swiss pensions only. A change of employer without unemployment, a marriage, a divorce or a birth does not reopen it. The option is open to Swiss and EU nationals who live in France and work in Switzerland, or who draw Swiss pensions only. A pensioner who also draws a French pension is insured in France, without option. For British and EFTA frontaliers the OFSP says the insurance obligation follows the place of work (Swiss insurance); for other nationalities Swiss insurance applies « on request » within 3 months of the start of the G permit (OFSP). Stateless persons and refugees: not covered by this product, ask your CPAM.

LAMal: premium per insured person (~CHF 521/month in 2026 for an adult frontalier residing in France). Care covered in Switzerland and, once the S1 form is registered with the CPAM, in France.
PUMa (France): contribution calculated by the Urssaf on your N-2 income (8% after allowance; Social Security Code (CSS), art. L. 380-3-1 IV and D. 380-2). Care reimbursed at French rates; in Switzerland, only medically necessary care during a stay (European card) or planned care with prior authorisation (S2 form).
In both cases, work accidents and occupational diseases remain covered by the Swiss system (LAA).

ameli.fr

Pension (AVS / 1st Pillar)

Switzerland

AVS/AI/APG (1st pillar) contributions are deducted in Switzerland at 5.3% of gross salary for the employee (5.3% employer). Swiss contribution periods are aggregated with French periods for entitlement (Regulation 883/2004, art. 6). Each country pays its own pension; at the end you receive the P1 summary of each country’s decisions (Regulation 987/2009, art. 48).

Full AVS pension: CHF 1,260 to 2,520/month (2026) depending on contribution years and average annual income.
13th AVS pension: paid for the first time in December 2026 (an automatic 13th monthly payment for every old-age pensioner).
Reference age (AVS 21 reform): 65 for men and women (stepwise rise for women born 1961–1963 — 65 from 1964; compensation measures for the 1961–1969 transitional generation).
Pension claim: from the competent Swiss compensation fund. For the French portion, contact CARSAT.

FSIO — Social Insurance

Unemployment

France (total) / Switzerland (partial)

In the event of total unemployment, the cross-border worker registers in France (France Travail). They must obtain the U1 form (PDU1) from the cantonal unemployment office of the work canton to claim their Swiss periods. For partial unemployment (short-time work), compensation comes from Switzerland (RHT).

Documents for PDU1: international employer attestation (716.052), last 6 payslips, employment contract, termination letter, ID, AVS card.
PDU1 processing time: it depends on the office; register with France Travail without waiting for it.
Register with France Travail as soon as the contract ends, without waiting for the PDU1 (you provide it afterwards): benefits only run from registration, and registration must take place within 12 months of the end of the contract (extendable in some situations, e.g. sick leave).
The reference salary is built, under the French rules, from the pay of the last 24 months before the end of the contract (36 months from age 55); France Travail takes the Swiss salaries into account (Reg. 883/2004 art. 62 § 3).
Reform in progress: a revision of Regulation 883/2004, which changes among other things the unemployment rules for cross-border workers, was adopted by the European Parliament on 07/07/2026; the Council of the EU must still approve it. It will not apply directly to Switzerland: it must first be taken over into the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (Joint Committee decision, with Switzerland's explicit agreement — SECO). Today, the rule above remains in force.

ge.ch — PDU1

Family Allowances

Child's country of residence has priority + differential supplement

The parent who works in the child's country of residence has priority (art. 68, EU Regulation 883/2004). If the other parent has an activity in France or an assimilated situation there (paid unemployment, sickness or maternity benefits, parental leave treated as activity — Decision F1), the CAF pays first, monthly, and the Swiss caisse pays the difference under its own arrangements, on the basis of the CAF statement of the amounts paid. Otherwise Switzerland pays the full allowance, monthly with the salary.

Swiss allowances (LAFam): min. CHF 215/month per child (until 16; 20 if unable to work), CHF 268/month per child in post-compulsory training (from 15 at the earliest, until 25 at the latest — LAFam art. 3). Amounts vary by canton.
Swiss allowances are paid every month with the salary, by the employer (LAFam art. 15 al. 2); the differential supplement is paid by the Swiss caisse under its own arrangements (frequency, documents) — ask it.
Process: request Swiss allowances via the employer; when the CAF has priority, send the CAF statement of the amounts paid to the Swiss caisse for the supplement.

Work Accidents

Switzerland (LAA)

Accident insurance (LAA) is mandatory in Switzerland for all employees. It covers occupational accidents and, if you work more than 8h/week for the same employer, also non-occupational accidents. Medical costs are covered in full (no deductible or co-payment).

LAA occupational accident premiums: paid by the employer. Non-occupational: paid by the employee (unless otherwise agreed).
LAA daily allowance: 80% of insured salary from the 3rd day of incapacity.
Even if you are affiliated with PUMa (France), work accidents and occupational diseases are mandatorily covered by Swiss LAA.

Key Portable Documents

Document	Purpose	Issued by
A1	Certifies the country of social security affiliation (posting, multi-activity, telework under the framework agreement). Below 25% of working time teleworked from France: Swiss social security; the ordinary A1 procedure still applies (the competent institution of the state of residence decides — OFAS). From 25% to below 50%: FRENCH social security, unless your employer requested and obtained an A1 under the framework agreement (in force 01/07/2023; one employer or all employers in Switzerland; employees only; 3 years at most, renewable). 50% or more: French social security. Distinct from the 40% TAX threshold.	AVS compensation fund (CH)
S1	Right to healthcare in the country of residence: frontaliers insured under LAMal, pensioners, posted workers; to be registered with the CPAM	Competent institution of paying country
U1 (PDU1)	Aggregation of unemployment periods — transfer to France Travail	Cantonal unemployment office (CH)
U2	Maintain unemployment benefits while job searching abroad (3 months)	France Travail (FR) or unemployment office (CH)
E104/S041	Aggregation of health insurance periods (benefit entitlement)	CPAM (FR) or health fund (CH)
P1	Summary of each country’s pension decisions, sent to the claimant at the end (Regulation 987/2009, art. 48) — periods are aggregated between the institutions	Contact institution (French pension fund / Swiss compensation fund)

Official Resources

CLEISS \u2014 Regulation (EC) 883/2004 FSIO — Social security agreements ameli.fr \u2014 Swiss cross-border worker Prefecture Haute-Savoie — Right of option ge.ch \u2014 Obtain the PDU1 form

Social security coordination depends on individual circumstances (activity in one or more countries, self-employed status, etc.). Verify with the competent institutions (CPAM, URSSAF, Swiss fund).

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