Injury en route to the border: LAINF coverage and reporting procedure (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Border workers who suffer an accident en route to the border between Switzerland and Italy must file a complaint within 24 hours.
• A sickness certificate must be obtained.
• The LAINF covers on-the-go injuries for border workers.

Requirements for insurance coverage

In order to benefit from LAINF's insurance coverage in the event of an accident while on the move, border workers must meet certain specific requirements. First, they must be subject to the Swiss law on accident insurance, as provided for by the Federal Act of 20 March 1981 on Accident Insurance (LAI). In addition, they must be in possession of an insurance contract with the LAINF or be enrolled in equivalent insurance.

The Complaint Procedure

In the event of an accident on the move, border guards must file a complaint within 24 hours with the nearest police office or border police. It is important to note that the complaint must be filed within 24 hours, otherwise insurance coverage may not be guaranteed. In addition, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of illness, which may be requested by the attending physician or the general practitioner.

Concrete examples

Let's imagine we have a frontier worker who lives in Bellinzona and works in Chiasso. One day, on his way home, he is involved in a car accident in Lugano. He suffers an injury and is

Operational details

Key facts

• What: Injury on the way to the border.
• When: within 24 hours.
• Where: on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
• Who: the frontiersmen.
• Amount: not specified.

Item Title

Injury en route to the border: LAINF coverage and reporting procedure

Introduction

Border workers who work in Switzerland and reside in Italy are subject to different rules and regulations that may vary depending on the region and the type of work. In the event of an accident while travelling, it is essential to know the procedures to be followed and the insurance coverage available.

LAINF Cover

The LAINF (Italian Law on Compulsory Insurance for Accidents in the Workplace) guarantees insurance coverage for accidents in the workplace, including those on the move. Coverage is mandatory for all employees and independent workers who carry out work activities in Italy. The amount of coverage is set at € 10,000.00, but may vary depending on the type of job and the region of residence.

Complaint Procedure

In the event of a commuting accident, it is essential to report the accident within 24 hours to INAIL (National Institute for Workplace Accident Insurance) at the Lugano office. You can also report the incident through the INAIL website or by calling the toll-free number 0771 513 513.

Operational Checklists

To report an accident while on the road, you must have the

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

Practical analysis

Injury en route to the border is covered by the Law on Social and Supplementary Assistance (LAINF) for border workers. You must file a complaint within 24 hours and obtain a sick certificate. The procedure is as follows:

1. File a complaint within 24 hours. 2. Obtain a sickness certificate. 3. Send the sickness certificate to SECO.

The LAINF came into force on 1 January 2019 and covers accidents that occur in the first 30 days of work in Switzerland. According to the rules of the LAINF, the border worker who is injured en route to the border must file a complaint within 24 hours to the competent LAINF office. The competent LAINF office is that of the municipality in which the worker is registered.

For example, if a Bellinzona worker is injured in Lugano, they must file a complaint within 24 hours with the LAINF office in Bellinzona.

Concrete example

A worker from Lugano, registered at the LAINF office in Lugano, injures himself in Como, Italy, while on his way to his workplace in Bellinzona. You must file a complaint within 24 hours with the LAINF office in Lugano and obtain a sickness certificate. Subsequently, you will have to send the sickness certificate to SECO.

Operational Checklists

• Submit a complaint within 24 hours to the competent LAINF office.
• Obtain a sickness certificate.
• Send the sickness certificate to SECO.
• Check that

For a precise net salary calculation, use our tax comparator: compare take-home pay between G and B permits with all 2026 deductions.