Wage portage abroad: work from another country

Wage portage abroad: keep employee status while working from another country

Key takeaways:

• Wage portage abroad lets you stay an employee of a French umbrella company while working on missions, or living, outside France.
• Within the EU, EEA and Switzerland, the A1 certificate can maintain French social-security coverage during a temporary assignment.
• Outside the EU, coverage depends on a bilateral social-security agreement with the destination country.
• Taxation follows tax residency, not nationality: spending roughly 183 days in one country can shift where you are taxed.

Wage portage abroad: a wage-ported consultant can take on missions for clients abroad, or work remotely from another country, while keeping an employment contract with a French umbrella company. The umbrella company remains the employer, handles payroll and social filings, while the consultant invoices clients wherever they are based.

Who is wage portage abroad for?

This setup covers consultants working for a foreign client, freelancers spending part of the year outside France, wage-ported employees on a long-term assignment in Europe, and consultants supporting a French client through an international rollout. The country, length of stay and tax residence determine the checks required before departure.

European Union, EEA and Switzerland: the A1 certificate

What is the A1 certificate?

The A1 certificate confirms that an employee temporarily working within the EU, European Economic Area or Switzerland remains affiliated with French social security during the assignment. It helps avoid double social contributions and protects continuity of rights under the applicable conditions.

How to get it in wage portage

The umbrella company, as the employer, applies to URSSAF before departure. The request needs to be planned in advance. Beyond a temporary assignment or in case of a lasting move, the situation must be reviewed with the umbrella company.

Outside the European Union: check the bilateral agreement

Outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, there is no automatic mechanism equivalent to the A1 certificate. A bilateral agreement may allow temporary continuity under the French system. Without an applicable agreement, the consultant may fall under the local social-security system, so any assignment outside the EU should be flagged to the umbrella company early.

Taxation: tax residency comes before nationality

Taxation mainly depends on the number of days spent in each country, where the main home is located and where economic interests are centred. Spending roughly 183 days in the same country can shift tax residence outside France. Tax treaties may prevent double taxation, but their rules vary from country to country.

How it works in practice with Weepo

• Before departure: tell your account manager the destination and planned length of the assignment or stay.
• Verification: Weepo checks whether an A1 certificate or bilateral agreement applies and starts the process if needed.
• During the assignment: the activity report and client invoicing continue remotely.
• Expenses and currency:professional expenses remain subject to the usual rules; foreign-currency assignments are generally converted to euros for salary calculation.

What to plan before leaving

• Health cover: check company health insurance and whether supplementary cover is needed.
• Visa and local labour law: wage portage does not replace checks on entry, residence and work rules in the destination country.
• Length of the assignment: a few weeks and a move lasting several months do not trigger the same checks.
• Connectivity and time zones: plan for client meetings, invoicing and activity-report deadlines.

FAQ on wage portage abroad

Can I use wage portage while expatriated year-round?

It depends on the country and length of stay. For a lasting move, social-security and tax affiliation must be reviewed with the umbrella company: the A1 certificate is designed for temporary assignments.

Is the A1 certificate automatic?

No. The umbrella company must request it from URSSAF before departure, and approval depends on the nature and length of the assignment.

What happens if my mission country has no agreement with France?

The consultant may fall under the local social-security system. The situation should be checked with the umbrella company before departure.

Can I invoice a foreign client in local currency?

Assignments are generally invoiced and converted to euros for salary calculation, according to the umbrella company's tools and workflow.

Does wage portage abroad cost more?

Management fees stay the same; additional one-off costs may apply depending on the administrative steps required.