Do interns have to pay social security?

Legal analysis: no. Students can not pay social insurance during the internship. Interns and employers are not in a labor relationship, so they can't pay social security. The social security needs to establish a labor relationship. If a student is a student and uses his spare time for internship, it is not regarded as employment and is not subject to the regulation and protection of labor law.

Legal basis: Article 58 of the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China

An employer shall, within thirty days from the date of employment, apply to the social insurance agency for social insurance registration for its employees.

If it fails to register for social insurance, the social insurance administration organization shall approve the social insurance premiums it should pay.

Individual entrepreneurs without employees who voluntarily participate in social insurance, part-time employees who do not participate in social insurance with their employers, and other flexibly employed persons shall apply for social insurance registration with the social insurance administrative organization.