Sweden and Australia begin negotiations on a social security agreement

Sweden and Australia have agreed to enter into negotiations on a new bilateral social security agreement. The aim of the agreement is to promote the social security of individuals who have lived or worked in both countries. An agreement could allow for benefits, such as pensions, to be paid across borders.

“A social security agreement between Sweden and Australia would benefit both individuals and businesses in both countries. From an individual perspective, the agreement could contribute to increased flexibility and be of significance to those working and moving across national borders, for example, in connection with retirement. Furthermore, businesses won’t risk having to pay double contributions for the benefits that will be included in the agreement,” says Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje. 

 “Australia is a valuable partner for Sweden, and I welcome initiatives that help to foster even closer cooperation,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.

Sweden and Australia have well-developed cooperation, and the mobility between the countries is relatively significant. Almost 12 000 Swedes live in Australia and 5 300 Australians live in in Sweden. Australia is also one of Sweden's largest export markets outside of Europe and an important trading partner. Cooperation between Sweden and Australia would be further enhanced by an agreement on social security.

Today, Sweden has bilateral social security agreements with around twenty countries around the world. The agreements regulate, among other things, which country's social security system a person is covered by and in which country social security contributions are to be paid. The majority of Sweden's existing bilateral agreements cover the part of social insurance that deal with pension benefits, as well as certain parts of the sickness insurance.