Working in Germany as an International Student. [05.08.22]

Before you start looking for a job, it is important to know and understand the basis on which you can work as a student. Students may come on a scholarship, and others are financially supported by savings or with the help of their families. In all cases, there is the possibility to work in Germany – but it is important to pay attention to the regulations.

Firstly, is necessary to understand that you must be allowed to work while studying. Usually, this will be written on your visa/residence permit. Make sure you are allowed to work before applying for a job. Students who come from outside the European Union usually get a visa with a permit to work 120 full days (>4h/day) or 240 half days (<4h/day) during one year. It is not necessary to register with the German authorities unless you want to work more. The income limit may be regulated differently depending on the financial aid you receive. Therefore, as an international student, before applying for a job or an internship, you should consult with the respective "sponsor" for more information. It is very important to know about this to avoid penalty fees or even the loss of your residence permit.

Always remember, your main occupation is still “student”.

Working in Germany: The Basics

Now, let’s talk about the conditions of workers in Germany. When do you get paid? What is the minimum wage? Can you take days off? What happens if you are sick?

Tax Identification Number Anyone working in Germany needs a tax identification number. You will receive this automatically by post a few weeks after registering your residence.

What are the working conditions in Germany? The regular working hours are 39.5/40 h/week in full employment. Usually, you work 8 hours and not more than 10 h. After 6 hours of work, you are legally entitled to have a break of 30 min; after 9 h another 15 min, the resting time after a workday must be of at least 11 hours. Of course, depending on the field you are working in, these conditions might differ, esp. in the care sector.

Minimum wage From the 1st of July 2022, the minimum wage is set to 10,45 € per hour and mini-jobs will be paid from the 1st of October 2022 as 520 € maximum.

Payment Oftentimes, payment is received at the beginning, the 15th, or end of the month. This might differ of course, depending on the company or institution, Your employer is obligated to give you a copy of what you have been paid for, the Gehaltszettel (inf.) or Lohnabrechnung (payroll).

Vacation days The legal amount of vacation days in Germany is 24 days per year. Employers can grant additional days. If you do not work in full-time employment, you only need to work the required hours – the rest of the time is yours. After 6 months of being employed, you officially receive full vacation entitlement; this differs in limited contracts, here the time can be less. You are entitled to pro-rata leave even before that - but the easiest way is to talk to your employer (well in advance) about when you plan to take holiday, have exams, or are unable to work for other reasons. There are national holidays that are free for most workers: New Year’s day (1st January), Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates change), Labor Day (1st May), Christ’s Ascension Day (date changes), Whitmonday (date changes), German Unity (3rd October), and 1st and 2nd day of Christmas (25th and 26th December). Often, the 24th Dec is a short work day, and many offices and stores close early, as many Germans go to Christ Mass in the evening. In Germany, the 24th of December is called Heiligabend (Holy Night) and most families celebrate on this night. Depending on the Bundesland (German state) you live in, there can be additional holidays.

Sick Days and Sick Leave When you feel sick you need to contact your employer and call in sick. You can do this without any kind of validation. You should give the approximate time of how long you will be sick and – usually –by the 3rd calendar day you need to hand in a doctor’s note. Check with your employer – they might be stricter and require a doctor’s note on the first day!

Contract Your working contract should include the following:
· parties of the contract (you as employee, the employer)
· the start of employment and duration of employment/end of employment [otherwise “unbefristet” (unlimited)]
· place of work
· hourly wage and working hours
· work to be performed by the employee (tasks)
· payment information (your account)
· vacation days
· notice period (cancellation period)

Types of jobs

Although you could of course do a variety of different jobs and job types, the following are the most common types of employment for students: mini-job (Mini-Job/geringfügige Beschäftigung) and part-time (Teilzeit). These jobs can be found in many kinds of places like restaurants, shops, and post offices, among many others.

Mini Job You usually do not have to pay taxes and can be exempted from pension insurance contributions. You are registered by your employer. You have to pay taxes if you have two or more mini-jobs at the same time and your employer registers you with income tax class 6.

Part-time Job If you regularly earn more than 450 euros per month, certain deductions are automatically withheld from your salary: For students, this is the pension insurance contribution and taxes. If your income remains below the basic tax-free amount, you can get the income tax paid back via your income tax return.

Special Case: Hiwi Job If you want to keep close to “home”, try a Hiwi job. A Hiwi job at an institute does not count into your 120 full/240 half-days! Hiwi positions can be found in all departments and institutes. Oftentimes, they are very handled flexibly and let you arrange your work hours in a way that does not interfere with your studies. Most Hiwi jobs are therefore mostly mini-jobs, e.g. with 10 - 40 hours per month.
There are other jobs, e.g. in the university administration that colloquially are also called Hiwi – however, these jobs count in the 120 full/240 half-days. It is a bit complicated, we know. When in doubt, ask your employer. :)

Special Case: Semester Break If the employment is limited to the lecture-free period, it is exempt from social insurance. The amount of income and the duration of the weekly working hours are irrelevant. However, the contract must be limited in time. If you work less than 70 days per calendar year, you do not have to pay anything into the pension insurance either.

What are the conditions for international students?

There is a difference between EU/EEA students and non-EU/EEA students.
EU students are equal to German students and there are no restrictions based on the EU Free Movement Agreement. However, even EU students need to keep in mind that their main occupation is their studies. Working more than you study might result in severe complications for you as a student. EU/EEA students that have a part-time job (more than 20h/week), or a paid internship, must have German insurance.

As already explained, non-EU/EEA students can work 120 full or 240 half days per year without additional permission. Internationals who want to work more than this per year need additional working permission from the Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency) and the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Office). Again: Working as a scientific/research or student assistant for an institute does not count into your working days just as if you have to complete a compulsory internship, whether paid or unpaid! You might even work for an unlimited period and amount of time but then need to inform the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Office). Working for university administration, in voluntary internships, or any other job unrelated to your studies however does count into your 120 full/240 half-days. Self-employment or freelance work is not permitted.

Working with a DAAD scholarship

Scholarship holders who would like to take on a job during their scholarship always need the prior approval of the DAAD. In addition, the academic supervisor or program coordinator must approve the employment. The DAAD will check whether the employment is compatible with the purpose of the scholarship. Secondary income of more than 450 euros gross per month will be deducted from the monthly scholarship installment.
If you receive any other scholarship, please contact the sponsor before taking up work to avoid problems.

We hope that we have been able to give you a good overview of working as an international student in Germany. If you have any questions, you can ask them in our Facebook group or contact the Office of International Affairs. Please keep in mind that your studies should be your priority and the best is to look for a job that gives you the flexibility and support to finish your degree with success.

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Resources:

Studieren in Deutschland - Land der Ideen (study-in-germany.de)
Important information for scholarship applicants - DAAD
Side jobs - DAAD
Living and working conditions: Germany (europa.eu)
DSW Internationale Studierende: Jobbing (internationale-studierende.de)

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