Becoming a digital nomad as a student means studying from anywhere and earning money on the side while travelling. This works if your university offers online formats and you keep an eye on exam dates, income and insurance cover. If you are employed, your employer must agree to work from abroad, and your health insurer decides what applies to you in the destination country.
The key points in brief
- If you are employed, your employer decides whether you may work from abroad, as there is no legal entitlement to it.
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) applies in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, but only for medically necessary treatment.
- Statutory insurers do not pay for medical repatriation to Germany, so private travel health insurance is the usual solution.
- Visas, tax liability and social security differ by country and length of stay, and should be clarified before you leave.
What does digital nomad as a student mean?
Digital nomads work with a laptop and internet access in changing locations. Students combine this with a degree that can be completed entirely or partly online, for example through distance learning or hybrid models. How everyday life looks, switching between online lectures and on-site phases, is covered in the article on distance learning and remote work (in German).
Can I study and work abroad?
That depends on what you mean by “studying abroad”. If you are enrolled at a German university and only use online offers, much depends on your university: it sets its own attendance requirements, examination formats and deadlines. Before you leave, ask the student advisory service and the examinations office which achievements are possible online.
If you study abroad, for example as part of a semester abroad, different rules apply. For study abroad under BAföG, the entire degree can be funded in the EU and Switzerland. Outside these countries, funding is generally available for up to one year, after at least one year of study in Germany. You submit the application online via BAföG Digital, at the latest six months before you go abroad.
How do students earn money as digital nomads?
Typical routes are remote jobs, freelancing and working-student positions that can be done from anywhere. An overview is in the article on remote jobs for students (in German). Which sectors suit which destination is compared in the article on the best sectors for student jobs (in German). All other routes are covered in the overview earning money alongside your studies (in German).
The usual benchmarks apply to employment under German law. The minimum wage is €13.90 per hour in 2026 and €14.60 from 2027. A mini-job is possible up to €603 per month, and from 2027 up to €633. As a working student, you may work at most 20 hours per week during the semester if you want to stay in the student health insurance. Check with your employer whether the same applies to work from abroad.
May I work from abroad for a German employer as a student?
There is no legal entitlement to mobile working abroad. Your employer must agree. Within Europe, a posting may apply, which can last up to 24 months. The A1 certificate, which the employer applies for, serves as proof. For cross-border telework, a framework agreement has applied since 1 July 2023, which provides a 50% threshold for social security. Whether and how it applies to you is for your employer to clarify.
Outside the EU, EU social security rules do not apply. The 183-day rule in tax law also only applies under further conditions. For this reason, discuss every stay abroad with your employer and, if you are unsure, with the tax office.
Which visa do digital nomads need?
That depends on the destination. Each country decides for itself who may enter, how long they may stay and whether they may work there. The embassy or consulate of the destination country gives binding information. Do not rely on experience reports from forums, because rules change.
What about taxes?
If you earn money, the question is where you pay tax on it. That depends on where you have your residence or habitual abode, and where your income comes from. If you work as a self-employed person, the basics of trade licences and the small business regulation are covered in the article on being self-employed during your studies (in German). For longer stays abroad, it is worth checking with the tax office before you set off.
How are you insured as a digital nomad?
It is important to ask your health insurer before any longer trip whether your cover continues in the destination country and for the planned duration. The basics of compulsory insurance and the options are explained in the article on health insurance for students (in German).
| Destination | What applies to statutorily insured people |
|---|---|
| EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom | EHIC for medically necessary services of the state system |
| Countries with agreements, such as Turkey, Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Israel | Entitlement under the agreement; in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Turkey and Tunisia the EHIC cannot be used (yet), instead the insurer issues a certificate of entitlement |
| Countries without an agreement, for example the USA | Limited only. Acute treatment, reimbursement at most at German costs, up to 6 weeks per calendar year, and only if private travel insurance was not available because of age or illness |
Medical repatriation is not part of the benefits of statutory insurers. Private travel health insurance is the usual solution for this. Details on long-term stays are in the articles on health insurance for students in the EU (in German), health insurance for students outside the EU (in German) and health insurance with a part-time job abroad (in German).
How do you finance life as a digital nomad?
Calculate rent, food, transport and equipment separately for each destination. Also plan for visa fees, insurance and a buffer for the unexpected, such as a broken device or a short-notice flight home. If you go abroad with Erasmus+, you receive €600 per month for a study stay in country group 1, and €540 in groups 2 and 3. The rates differ depending on the university and the project year.
Frequently asked questions
Can I become a digital nomad as a student?
Yes, if your degree can be completed online and you have clarified your income and insurance cover. The decisive factors are your university’s requirements for on-site dates and examinations, and the rules of the destination country. Speak to the student advisory service, your health insurer and, if you are employed, your employer beforehand.
Do I need a visa as a digital nomad?
The destination country decides, usually depending on the length of stay and the purpose of the trip. Because the rules change, check them shortly before booking with the embassy or consulate. Plan the application in good time, because processing times and fees differ from country to country.
Is my health insurance valid abroad?
The EHIC covers medically necessary services in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In countries without an agreement, protection is heavily restricted. Statutory insurers do not pay for repatriation. Ask your health insurer what applies during your stay.
Do I have to pay tax abroad?
That depends on your residence, the length of your stay and the source of your income. The 183-day rule in tax law is tied to further conditions and is not a rule of thumb. Before you leave, contact the tax office or a tax adviser.
What to do now
- Clarify with the student advisory service and the examinations office which achievements are possible online.
- If you are employed, ask your employer whether mobile working is allowed in the destination country.
- Find out about visas and work permits at the embassy of the destination country.
- Clarify your insurance cover with your health insurer, and take out private health insurance abroad if needed.
- If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to advice on the Academycon homepage (in German).
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Related articles
- Health insurance during a study abroad: what applies to long stays (in German)
- Financing a study abroad: study abroad BAföG, Erasmus and scholarships (in German)
- A master’s degree abroad: countries, applications and costs (in German)
- Planning a semester abroad: applications, Erasmus and funding (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
