Many international students choose to work part-time during their studies to gain experience, improve language skills, or support themselves financially. Good news: Germany makes it possible – with some important rules to follow.
Please note: While working part-time might improve future employability, a job does take up a lot of time and might prolong your studies – or even jeopardize your residence title.
On this website, you will find important regulations and useful tips to make informed decisions.
Work Regulations
EU/EEA Students
If you are a citizen in a member state of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you may work without restrictions – no permit needed. You can work full-time during semester breaks and part-time (up to 20 hours/week) during lecture period (“Vorlesungszeit”).
Caution
If you’re from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and start a part-time job or paid internship in Germany, you’re generally required to enroll in a German public or private health insurance plan. Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is usually no longer valid once you begin earning income in Germany – even if it’s just a small part-time job.
What to do
- Contact your current health insurance provider to confirm your coverage status.
- If needed, switch to a German health insurance provider before starting work.
- see “What is the working student privilege?”
Non-EU/EEA Students
If you hold citizenship from a non‑EU/EEA country you most likely hold a study visa that is issued under § 16b of the German Residence Act. This visa gives you a “working‑day quota” that lets you earn money alongside your studies, but it is limited to 140 full work‑days per calendar year or 280 half‑days (a “half‑day” is a shift of up to 4 hours). That’s about 20 hours per week during term time, but you can work full-time during semester breaks (as long as you don’t exceed the annual limit).
Important
Your student visa or residence permit must explicitly allow employment (usually in the supplementary sheet to your residence title). If it doesn’t, you must apply for permission from the local Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde). Most students receive permission automatically – but always check your permit!
Below are the two ways you can use those 140 days. You may combine them in any pattern you like; you do not have to stick to a single option for the whole year.
Option A – Count the days you actually work
What counts as a full day?
4 hours or more of work in one day
What counts as a half day?
Up to 4 hours of work in one day
- You may work up to 140 full days (≥ 4 h each) or up to 280 half‑days (≤ 4 h each) during the year.
- Every day you work is recorded exactly as you have done it; holidays, public holidays and sick days are not counted.
- This quota of 140 full working days is available for each calendar year.
Option B – Use the weekly‑hour rule
Lecture (semester) period
Maximum weekly hours:
20 hours / week
How the week is counted:
Each week you work ≤ 20 h counts as 2.5 working days.
Lecture-free (semester-break) period
Maximum weekly hours:
Unlimited
How the week is counted:
Weeks are not limited – you can work any number of hours. The same 2.5-day rule applies only if you stay ≤ 20 h / week.
Please note
If you exceed 20 h in a lecture week, the week is not automatically counted as 2.5 days.
Instead, each calendar day you actually worked is added to your account (e.g., a week with 6 h on four separate days = 4 full days).
Students may only be permitted to work more than 140 full or 280 half days as part-time employment if it does not change the purpose of study and if it does not pose a significant obstacle or delay in completing the degree. The Immigration Office issues work permits on a case-by-case basis. The Federal Employment Agency must usually also approve the occupation (the Immigration Office will make this request on your behalf).
Not every type of job is treated the same. Below you'll find an overview of the on-campus jobs that are generally exempt from the 140-day work-day limit.
Student assistant (HiWi) – research or teaching support
Typical duties
- Helping a professor with a research project
- Grading
- Tutoring
- Lab work
- Data entry
Why it's special
The activity is directly linked to your studies, so it does not count toward the 140-day allowance (provided your residence permit allows employment and you have a valid work contract).
Student researcher / lab assistant / workshop
Typical duties
- Conducting experiments
- Maintaining equipment
- Writing reports
Why it's special
Same exemption as above.
Student employee at university service centres
Typical duties
- Front desk work
- Cataloguing
- Technical support
Why it's special
Often classified as university-related work and therefore exempt.
Jobs at the Studierendenwerk
Typical duties
- Service
- Sales
- Event organisation
Why it's special
Generally exempt, but always check the wording in your employment contract.
Internships that are part of the curriculum
Typical duties
Practical training that fulfils a study requirement.
Why it's special
Usually exempt, provided your faculty confirms that the internship is part of your study programme.
Please note:
Voluntary internships count as working days.
Tip: Even when a job is exempt, you still need to report it to the Immigration Office (“Ausländerbehörde”) if the contract exceeds 20 h/week during the lecture period, because it could trigger social‑security contributions.
According to the Aliens Act, students with a residence permit for studying are only permitted to work as employees. Therefore, for students from third countries, self‑employment / freelance work is only allowed if the residence permit already contains the relevant clause or they have obtained a written approval from the Immigration Office.
The working‑student privilege (“Werkstudenten‑Privileg”) lets you earn money while you study without losing the benefits that come with being a full‑time student. In practice this means lower taxes, reduced social‑security contributions, and the possibility to stay on the cheaper student health‑insurance rate – provided you meet a few simple conditions.
Who can use it?
- Enrolled full‑time students
- You must have a valid tax ID (Steuer‑Identifikationsnummer) and a social‑security number from your health insurer.
- The privilege also applies to EU/EEA students and non‑EU students as long as you are allowed to work under your residence permit (usually up to 120 full days or 240 half‑days per calendar year).
What are the main benefits?
Reduced social-security contributions
As long as you work ≤ 20 hours/week during the semester, you only pay the student portion of health, nursing-care and pension insurance.
Lower health-insurance fees
You stay in the student insurance class (≈ €110/month in 2026) instead of the regular employee rate (≈ €400/month).
Tax-free allowance
Income up to the annual basic tax allowance (≈ €11,000 in 2026) is tax-free.
Mini-job exemption (optional)
If you earn ≤ €520/month (current Mini-Job limit), you pay no social-security contributions. You can still be a Werkstudent as long as the 20-hour rule is respected.
Work-experience credit
Many employers value the Werkstudent status, and it can strengthen your applications after graduation.
Before you start your first job in Germany, your employer will ask for two important numbers:
- Your Tax Identification Number (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer or “Steuer-ID”)
- Your Pension Insurance Number (Rentenversicherungsnummer)
These are essential for your employer to correctly report your income and pay your social security contributions. Don’t worry – you’ll get them automatically in most cases, and they’re valid for life! So make sure to keep both in a safe place.
Tax-ID – What it’s for:
Anyone working in Germany needs a tax identification number: Your employer uses this number to send your income tax directly to the German tax office – no need for you to handle it yourself (at least not until tax season!).
How to get it:
When you register your address at the Residents’ Registration Office (“Einwohnermeldeamt”), your data is automatically sent to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt).
Within about 3 months, you’ll receive your Steuer-ID by mail — usually in a white envelope with a red stripe.
Keep this number safe — it never changes and you’ll need it for every job, bank account, or tax form in Germany.
Didn’t receive it?
You can request it online using the official form:
www.bzst.de/SiteGlobals/Kontaktformulare/EN/Tax_Idenr/message_IdNr/notification_idnr_node.html
You only have to pay income tax in Germany if your income exceeds the tax exemption limit or if you are self-employed. Taxes can be filed online using the “Elster”- portal: www.elster.de
You are protected by German labor law – even as a student! This means:
- Minimum wage
- Written contract (required for all jobs!)
- Paid vacation (usually 20–25 days/year for full-time work, pro-rated for part-time)
- Sick pay if you are ill (with a doctor’s note)
Note: No employer can force you to work more than 20 hours/week during term time or exceed your 120-day annual limit.
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