Working in Germany
A part-time job provides you with the opportunity to gain experience, get to know Germany, make contacts and supplement the financing of your studies. It is very difficult to finance your studies and life in Germany with a part-time job alone, and if you have a part-time job that takes up a lot of time, your academic performance will suffer. This may prolong your studies and, in the worst case, risk your residence title.
Pro Tip: For many student jobs, knowledge of German is a must.
Students from Non-EU countries (India) (with residence according to §16b Residence Act)
The following regulations apply as of March 1, 2024
International students from third countries are allowed to work in Germany for 140 full or 280 half-working days per year. This is noted in the (supplementary sheet to your) residence title. Alternatively, employment of up to 20 hours per week is also permitted. Additional approval from the foreigners’ registration office is not necessary in these two cases. More precisely:
• Only the working days that are actually worked are counted. (This means holidays, public holidays and sick days are not counted.)
• Half working days are working days with up to 4 working hours.
• These are calculated for each calendar year. For example: if the employment contract starts on 1 July, the complete 140 full / 280 half working days can be worked until the end of this calendar year on 31 December.
• Days on which a voluntary internship is undertaken also count towards these 140 full or 280 half working days. However, compulsory internships as part of a degree programme do not count.
• If you wish to work more than the permitted number of days you need prior and written approval from the foreigners’ registration office.
International students from third countries (§16b Residence Act) are only allowed to work as fee-based workers or self-employed persons with the permission of the foreigners’ registration office.
As a rule, self-employed persons are those who invoice the employer for work performed (fee-based).
During a preparatory language course/internship placement or a preparatory college course, as of March 1, 2024, international students from third countries (§16b Residence Act) may work in the same way as during their studies.
IMPORTANT
In addition to the 140 full or 280 half working days, the following jobs are permitted: academic or student assistant at the university, in the Studierendenwerk (Student Service Organisation, STW) or in the students’ union (AStA/STURA), or jobs with a very close connection to your studies, e. g. at an institute. As long as this does not affect academic performance, this activity can be carried out for an unlimited period. Permission from the foreigners’ registration office is required for fee-based work.
Salary
The statutory minimum wage also applies to all students. It does not apply to compulsory internship placements and internship placements lasting less than three months.
Taxes and Social Security Contribution
Anyone working in Germany needs a tax identification number (“Steuer-ID”). You will automatically receive this by post a few weeks after registering your residence. Please keep this important information for further reference. • You only have to pay income tax in Germany if the tax exemption limit (also called the tax-free allowance) is exceeded. • An income tax return must be filed by anyone who is self-employed or who exceeds the tax exemption limit. The “Elster” internet portal is available for this purpose: www.elster.de • For individual advice, students must contact a tax advisor (subject to a fee).
