Students in Germany can work and stay on Public health insurance (GKV) as a student, as long as studies remain the primary occupation and paid work stays secondary. Mini-jobs, short-term employment, working student contracts, and qualifying internships keep you exempt from full social contributions. Working more than 20 hours per week on a regular contract moves you to Public health insurance as an employee. EU/EEA students on home-country insurance must switch to German coverage once they start qualifying work — Public health insurance under 30, Expat health insurance at 30 or over.
Can I work while studying in Germany and keep my student health insurance?
Yes. You can work while studying in Germany and stay on Public health insurance (GKV) as a student, as long as your studies remain your primary occupation and paid work stays secondary. Under these conditions you pay your own contributions to Public health insurance, because your employer does not contribute while you are insured as a student.
Which types of employment let me keep my student public health insurance?
You can keep Public health insurance (GKV) as a student, and stay exempt from full social security contributions, under any of these arrangements:
Mini-job: you earn up to €603 per month, regardless of how many hours you work.
Short-term employment: the job is limited from the start to a maximum of 3 months or 70 working days.
Working student contract: you work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the semester, and you may exceed 20 hours per week during semester breaks, up to a combined total of 26 weeks per year.
Paid internship during your studies: a mandatory internship is always exempt from social contributions, regardless of salary or hours, so you keep your student coverage. A non-mandatory paid internship follows working student rules — you keep your student coverage if you work up to 20 hours per week, regardless of earnings, but if you work more than 20 hours per week you count as a regular employee and must enroll in Public health insurance (GKV) as an employee.
What happens if I work more than 20 hours per week on a regular employment contract?
If none of the qualifying arrangements apply and you work more than 20 hours per week on a regular employment contract, you are insured through your employer instead of as a student. Your student coverage under Public health insurance no longer applies, and you are enrolled in Public health insurance (GKV) as an employee.
Are there special work-hour rules for international students on a residence permit?
Yes. Students in Germany on a residence permit can generally work:
up to 20 hours per week during the semester, and
full-time, up to 40 hours per week, during semester breaks.
Across a year this corresponds to a maximum of 120 full days or 240 half days of work without approval from the German Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). These limits match standard student visa work restrictions.
I'm an EU/EEA student on my home country's insurance — do I need to switch to German health insurance when I start working?
Yes. If you are from an EU/EEA country, or a country with a social security agreement with Germany, and you are currently covered by your home country's insurance, you must switch to German health insurance once you begin any of the qualifying types of employment. Which German product applies depends on your age:
Students under 30 enroll in Public health insurance (GKV) as a student.
Students 30 or over enroll in Expat health insurance.
An exception applies if you are insured in Denmark, Luxembourg, or Austria: because of additional bilateral agreements, you may stay on your home country's insurance even while working in Germany.