Before every stay in a third country, you should always find out whether and how you are insured. In many cases, it is advisable to take out international health insurance, as medical treatment and hospital stays can be very expensive in many countries. Check with your social security provider or private health insurance company. 

Insurance periods in third countries

If artists and cultural workers holding the nationality of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland wish to work in third countries, they should find out whether their destination country and home country have concluded a social security agreement. Why is this important? 

If you want to return to your country of origin, it is important to know whether the insurance periods acquired in a third country are recognised by your home country—or another country in which you would like to claim insurance benefits.

To do: You should therefore clarify whether your destination country has concluded an agreement on the recognition of insurance periods and which branches of insurance are included. 

There is no uniform EU agreement on social security matters with third countries.