On February 24, 2026, an update was released to the pan-European multilateral framework on cross-border telework. A key practical development for the relocation market is that Estonia joined the agreement on February 1, 2026, bringing the total number of participating countries to 23.

📲 The mechanism is straightforward. If an employee lives in one country and works remotely for an employer in another, the key risk previously arose once remote work from the country of residence exceeded 25% of total working time. In most cases, this triggered a change in the applicable social security system. Under the updated framework, it is now possible, upon application, to remain insured in the employer’s country even if remote work from the country of residence reaches up to 49.9% of working time.

However, this is not automatic. To apply this regime, an exception under Article 16 is required, and in most cases an A1 certificate must be obtained to confirm the applicable social security legislation. This is what makes the framework practical: it offers greater flexibility, but only with proper documentation and compliance.

🌍 Why this matters now: the EU relocation model is shifting from “move where you work” to “choose where you live.” When individuals can legally spend nearly half of their working time in their country of residence without changing their social security system, real estate decisions are increasingly driven by quality of life, cost of living, and infrastructure rather than office location.

What changes for individuals and families

— the ability to choose a country based on lifestyle and affordability rather than strict workplace location
— more cases of “city for living” instead of “city for work”
— reduced risk of unexpected social security consequences when working remotely within the allowed threshold

What to check before relocating or purchasing property

— whether both countries are part of the agreement (currently 23 countries, not the entire EU)
— whether the 49.9% threshold is respected and all conditions are met
— who is responsible for obtaining the A1 certificate and ensuring compliance: the employer, a provider, or the individual

📩 As it is now possible to live in one country and work in another, choosing where to live becomes a real estate decision: where ownership is more affordable, where rental demand is stronger, where infrastructure is better, and where property management is easier.

If you are planning a relocation or considering buying property in a country where it is comfortable for you to live, not just work, the Realting platform allows you to compare options across countries, explore properties listed by partners, and evaluate solutions based on your needs.