Legal Working Conditions

International Social Security Regulations

Even though the insurance system is meant for all employees in Germany, many foreign residents prefer to be exempted from this set of rules and remain in the social security system of their home country.

For this reason, Germany has signed bilateral social security agreements defining who must join the system and who may not. Moreover, there is a mutual recognition of social security systems within the European Union and the European Economic Area. Additional bilateral social security agreements with Germany have been signed by the following nations: Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, Israel, Japan, Canada, Croatia, Morocco, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Serbia and Montenegro, Tunisia, Turkey, USA.

Employees from other EU Member States who only temporarily work in Germany for periods of less than 24 months are only liable to the social insurance of their country of origin. The German Liaison Office for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA) is responsible for the necessary proceedings. Individuals who are employed in more than two EU Member States are insured under the social insurance scheme of their country of residence.

Even if the compulsory German social insurance does not apply, individuals may choose to pay voluntary contributions if they reside in Germany or if they have already paid social insurance contributions in Germany.

German health insurances have joined hands to set up a clearing agency for all international questions on health insurance, the DVKA. Although it mainly supports Germans going abroad, the agency provides some useful information online for foreigners in Germany.

A summary on social insurance regulations for EU citizens is available in the brochure ''Living and Working in Europe'' which was published by the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. In addition the European Commission provides further information on its website.