Working abroad after your degree raises an obvious question: which health insurance and which pension cover apply? In Germany the answer starts from a simple rule. You are insured in the country where you work, not where you live or studied.
Short answer: If you work abroad, you are usually insured in the country where you are employed. Only during a temporary posting by a German employer does German insurance continue. Within the EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, in German: Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte) covers treatment during your stay. Pension rules depend on the country and are coordinated under EU rules and social security agreements (status October 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- The basic rule is that you insure yourself in the country where you work.
- During a temporary posting from Germany you remain in German health insurance.
- With the EHIC you can see doctors during a stay in the EU, although it does not replace travel insurance.
- If you move abroad permanently, you usually change your health insurance.
- Pension rules differ by country. The German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) gives binding information.
Which health insurance applies when I work abroad?
Compulsory insurance follows the place of work. The health insurer AOK summarises the rule: employees generally have to insure themselves in the country where they are employed. This also applies if you live in Germany but work for an employer abroad. AOK describes the rules for working abroad (in German) in detail.
| Situation | Health insurance | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary posting by a German employer to an EU country | You stay insured in Germany | Apply for a certificate of entitlement from your fund if treatment is needed |
| Permanent move and work abroad | Usually in the country of employment | Coordinate your German cover and your place of residence in good time |
| Residence in Germany, work for an employer abroad | Usually in the country of employment, regardless of where you live | Check the rules of your fund for cross-border workers |
| Cross-border commuter, for example to Switzerland or France | Choice of a regional fund, for example an AOK in the border region | Compare the offer and benefits of the fund |
These details come from the AOK, status of the page: 13 April 2026 (in German). For your own case, your fund’s answer is decisive.
What does the EHIC mean and when do I need it?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) applies to temporary stays in the EU and in many other European countries. It does not replace travel health insurance for trips outside this area, and it does not cover repatriation. For treatment in some states a certificate of entitlement is required. More on cover abroad is in our guide on health insurance abroad (in German).
How to set up your cover for a job abroad, step by step
The following order helps before you leave or sign the contract:
- Clarify with your employer whether you are posted from Germany or employed directly abroad.
- Ask your German health insurer whether your cover continues during a temporary posting.
- Apply for a certificate of entitlement if needed and take your EHIC with you.
- Check whether you must take out local insurance and compare the offers.
- Clarify pension insurance with the German Pension Insurance, because contributions can be governed by agreements or EU rules.
- Report any change of residence to your fund and the authorities as soon as the move is fixed.
What applies to my pension when I work abroad?
Pension insurance follows its own rules. Within the EU and in countries with social security agreements, contribution periods are coordinated so that you do not pay twice. How long German insurance continues during a posting depends on the rules of the country and of your contract. The German Pension Insurance gives binding information.
For employees in Germany the contribution rate to statutory pension insurance is 18.6 percent in 2026, and you pay half of it (vdek, contribution rates 2026, status 22 December 2025 (in German)). If you work abroad under a different rate or system, this benchmark changes. Keep your pension contributions well documented.
Where you live and where you work: what matters?
Many people mix up residence and place of work. For health insurance the place of employment is the main factor. For residence it matters where you live permanently and where you are registered. Both can differ, for example if you live in Germany and work in a neighbouring country. Then insurance generally follows the place of work. For students and graduates this distinction matters, because it determines which fund pays and which forms you need.
The length of the stay also plays a role. A stay of a few months is treated differently from a permanent job. If you are unsure, ask your health insurer before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Am I still insured in Germany after moving abroad?
If you permanently move your residence and place of work abroad, you are usually insured there. A temporary posting is a different case from a permanent move, so clarify with your German fund when your cover ends or whether it is suspended.
Do I need separate travel health insurance for a job abroad?
That depends on your status. With a posting and German cover, the situation is often covered, but if you are employed locally you need to clarify local insurance. A private travel health policy can close gaps if it matches your stay.
What happens when I return to Germany?
When you return you register with a German fund again. Whether you are then statutory or privately insured depends on your salary. The rules are explained in our first job guide (in English).
Do I still have to pay German pension contributions?
If you work abroad and pay contributions there, your pension contributions follow the rules of the country of employment and, where applicable, agreements. Whether a German contribution duty continues is a question for the German Pension Insurance.
What about a side job abroad during my studies?
The basic rule also applies here: where you work, you are generally insured. Details are in our guide on a side job abroad (in German).
What to do now
- Clarify your status: posting by a German employer or permanent employment abroad.
- Ask your health insurer about the concrete rule for your country and your duration.
- Clarify pension insurance with the German Pension Insurance before you sign the contract.
- Check your EHIC and your travel or local insurance before you leave.
Related guides
- Health Insurance for a Part-Time Job Abroad
- Health Insurance After Graduation: From Exams to Your First Job
- First Job Health Insurance: Statutory or Private?
- Master Abroad: Health Insurance in Germany (in German)
Sources: AOK, working abroad, status 13 April 2026 (in German); vdek, contribution rates 2026, status 22 December 2025 (in German); Deutsche Rentenversicherung, information on working abroad (authority, status of the respective information).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
