Business trip requests must be submitted at least two weeks before departure. The request must include an invitation letter or program and be forwarded to the Dean’s office for examination and approval. For foreign trips within Europe, an A1 certificate must also be requested in the personnel administration. The necessary forms can be found here:

Forms and Information • Personnel • Freie Universität Berlin

Please send your documents to: dienstreisen@geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de

The preclusive period for claiming reimbursement of costs is 6 months. The period begins on the day after the end of the business trip. As compensation for additional expenses for meals, business travellers receive a daily allowance for all domestic business trips, the amount of which is measured in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act. Travel and flight costs: Class 1 train journeys may only be booked if the train journey itself takes at least 2 hours (excluding transport time from the main departure point). Otherwise, only journeys in 2nd class will be reimbursed. For flights, bookings of business flights of 6 hours or more are covered. Overnight allowances can only be granted for necessary overnight stays.

A1 Certificate for Business Trips

European social security regulations require all employees of Freie Universität Berlin to carry a so-called A1 certificate with them during business trips, regardless of the duration of the trip. This applies to all work-related stays abroad in EU member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (EEA states), Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The A1 certificate serves as proof that, during the temporary work assignment abroad, German social security legislation continues to apply and that the social security legislation of the country of stay does not apply. This is particularly important with regard to health insurance and accident insurance coverage.

The A1 certificate is applied for and issued electronically. To request one, please send a copy of your business trip application, along with a request for the issuance of an A1 certificate, to the following email address:

a1-bescheinigung@personal.fu-berlin.de

It is not necessary to have the business trip approved prior to requesting the A1 certificate. Please also provide the address abroad in the following format:

Street, house number, postal code, city

Further information is not required.

Once the A1 certificate has been issued, it will be sent to you by email as a PDF document. Please carry the certificate with you for the entire duration of your business trip.