Is my child insured in a holiday job or internship in Germany?
In short
Yes. In a holiday job or internship in Germany your child has statutory accident insurance from the first working day, including the way to work. Family health insurance (Familienversicherung) usually continues as long as regular income stays below EUR 565 a month, or EUR 603 in a mini job. A job limited to three months or 70 working days counts as short term employment.
Figures and limits that matter for a holiday job in Germany in 2026.
Example
Typical range
Income limit for family health insurance
EUR 565 a month
Mini job limit
EUR 603 a month
Short term employment
at most 3 months or 70 working days per calendar year
Family liability policy, if you have none
about EUR 60 to 180 a year
Limits for 2026 under German law and social insurance reference values.
The liability premium is a guide value from publicly quoted tariffs, October 2026;
we obtain the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Son, 16, four week holiday job in a supermarket
He works four weeks in the summer holidays and earns EUR 1,400. He has no other income.
Duration
4 weeks, within the limit for pupils
Type of employment
short term, under 3 months
Accident in the warehouse or on the way
statutory accident insurance
Income spread over the year
about EUR 117 a month, below EUR 565
He is insured against accidents at work and as a rule stays in family health insurance. He needs no extra policy for the holiday job.
Accident insurance from the first day of the holiday job
Anyone employed in Germany is covered by statutory accident insurance (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung). That includes holiday jobs and mini jobs, however short, and applies even if the employer has not yet registered your child.
Cover includes accidents at work and on the direct way to and from work. If your child falls off a bike on a free afternoon, statutory accident insurance does not pay.
School internship, compulsory internship, voluntary internship
Internships are covered by statutory accident insurance too. Which body pays depends on who runs the internship. For a school internship organised by the school, pupils' accident insurance applies; in a voluntary internship your child is covered through the company like an employee.
University students are also covered during internships and dual study programmes. Always report an accident during an internship to the company and the school or university.
Situation
Accident cover
Health insurance
Holiday job up to 3 months or 70 working days
through the employer
family insurance usually continues
Mini job up to EUR 603 a month
through the employer
family insurance continues
School internship
pupils' accident insurance
family insurance continues
Paid voluntary internship
through the company
depends on pay and duration
Health insurance: when family cover continues
Children are covered free of charge through a parent's statutory health insurance until 18, and until 25 while in school or vocational training. Their total income must not regularly exceed one seventh of the reference value: EUR 565 a month in 2026, or the mini job limit of EUR 603.
A holiday job limited from the outset to three months or 70 working days counts as short term employment (kurzfristige Beschäftigung). If your child earns a lot over the holidays, ask the health insurer beforehand how it spreads the income over the year.
What your child may work
From 13, a child may do light work suitable for children with your consent, at most two hours a day, not between 6 pm and 8 am and not before or during school lessons.
Teenagers still at school may work during school holidays for at most four weeks per calendar year. The protective rules of the Youth Employment Protection Act (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz) then apply.
Liability and leisure: where cover ends
In private life your child stays in your family liability policy (Privathaftpflicht) during a holiday job or internship. For damage at work to the employer's property, employment law has its own rules; whether your liability policy pays is set out in its terms.
You do not need private accident insurance just for a holiday job, because statutory cover applies at work. It can make sense for leisure time, which statutory cover does not include.
Step by step
Ask the employer whether the job runs as short term employment or as a mini job.
Check that age and duration fit youth employment rules.
Compare expected income with the family insurance limits.
Tell your child to report any accident at work to the employer straight away.
Check that your child is still included in your liability policy.
Checklist
Contract or written agreement with start and end date
Duration at most three months or 70 working days
Pupils from 15: at most four weeks in the holidays
Income regularly below EUR 565 a month, or EUR 603 in a mini job
Child included in the family liability policy
Common mistakes
Buying accident insurance for the holiday job although statutory cover applies
Not reporting an accident on the way to work as a work accident
Not adding up several holiday jobs in one year
Not telling the health insurer about a well paid internship
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Do I need extra insurance for my child's holiday job?
No.
At work and on the way your child has statutory accident insurance,
and family health insurance usually continues.
What applies to a school internship?
If the school organises it, pupils' accident insurance applies.
Health insurance continues through you.
From what age may my child take a holiday job?
Light work with your consent from 13, at most two hours a day.
Pupils from 15 may work up to four weeks a year in the holidays.
Will my child lose family health insurance?
Usually not.
What matters is whether regular income exceeds EUR 565 a month, or EUR 603 in a mini job.
If earnings are high, ask the health insurer.
Is my child insured during an internship abroad?
That depends on the country and the type of internship.
Clarify accident and health cover with the school, university and health insurer beforehand.
