Austria and Brazil Roll Out Social Security Reciprocity

A new bilateral social security agreement between Austria and Brazil is now officially in effect, streamlining the financial obligations for remote workers and expats moving between the two nations. This treaty, which became active on March 1, 2026, represents the first formal coordination of social security benefits in the history of these two countries.

The agreement focuses on pension insurance, covering old age, invalidity, and survivor benefits. By coordinating their systems, both countries have effectively eliminated dual social security taxation. This means workers no longer have to pay into two different systems simultaneously for the same income.

Who is affected

This change is particularly relevant for digital nomads and remote workers who split their time between South America and Central Europe.

• Posted Workers: Employees sent by a company to work in the other country can remain under their home country’s social security system for up to 60 months.
• Freelancers and Nomads: The agreement establishes clear rules for which country has the right to collect contributions based on where the work is physically performed.
• Long-term Expats: Individuals who have worked in both countries can now "totalize" or combine their contribution periods to meet the minimum requirements for a pension.

What you need to know

The best part of this update is that it requires very little paperwork from the individual. There are no additional fees or complex application processes to benefit from the treaty.

If you are filing for benefits, a claim submitted to one country’s social security office is automatically considered a valid claim in the other, provided you mention your history of work in both locations. For those in Austria, periods worked in Brazil will now be treated similarly to periods completed in an EU member state for calculation purposes.

This international agreement works alongside Austria’s recent teleworking laws to provide a more stable framework for anyone looking to manage a cross-border career. You can stay informed on similar nomad news to see how these treaties impact your tax residency.

Read our full Austria, Brazil guide for the complete picture.