'Part-time Jobs for Students in Germany: Types of Work, Limits, and Taxes

Students in Germany can work while studying, but the rules depend on citizenship, type of employment, number of hours, and residence status. For foreign nationals from third countries, two restrictions are particularly important: the immigration limit on working days and the 20-hour-per-week rule for students during the lecture period.

The Main Rule for International Students

Students from countries outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland may work in Germany without separate approval from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit within the established limit: up to 140 full working days or 280 half working days per year. A half working day is generally defined as up to four hours of work.

In 2026, an alternative rule applies: working up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period. During breaks, employment restrictions may be more lenient, but it’s best to check the specific conditions with your residence permit type, university, and the Ausländerbehörde if your situation is unusual.

Student assistant jobs at a university, such as a wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft, may not count toward the same limit on workdays, but this does not mean that you can ignore the employment contract, taxes, insurance, and restrictions on student status.

EU/EEA/Switzerland and Third Countries: What’s the Difference?

Students from the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland have unrestricted access to the labor market. However, if they work more than 20 hours per week during the semester, the usual social insurance consequences may apply.

Students from third countries must also pay close attention to the conditions of their residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). Self-employment and freelance work generally require permission from the Foreigners’ Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde). If you plan to work beyond the standard limits, you must also obtain official approval.

Two Different Limits: Migration and Insurance

When it comes to student part-time work, two rules are often confused.

Restriction	Who it applies to	What it means
140 full days / 280 half days	primarily students from third countries	employment limit under a residence permit
20 hours per week during the semester	students in the social insurance system	criterion affecting student status for insurance purposes

These rules do not replace one another in all situations. For example, work may be permitted under a residence permit but affect insurance contributions. Or conversely: employment may seem minimal in terms of hours but must be counted toward the annual limit.

Minijob

A Minijob is a job that provides a small, regular income. In 2026, the Minijob limit is 556 euros per month. This type of job is popular among students because it is generally simpler in terms of taxes and social security contributions, but the limit is calculated based on total income if a person has multiple Minijobs.

Examples of minijobs: working in a café, store, delivery service, kitchen, office, reception desk, service industry, or in a small project role related to one’s field of study.

What to check before signing a contract:

• how many hours per month you’ll work at your pay rate;
• Does the income exceed the Minijob limit?
• how vacation time is counted;
• whether pension contributions are withheld and whether it is possible to opt out of them;
• Does the schedule conflict with your studies and residence permit regulations?

HiWi and Work at the University

HiWi-Job, or a student assistant position, is often associated with a department, laboratory, library, research project, or administrative support. Tasks vary depending on the university and the supervisor and may include data collection, bibliographic research, laboratory assistance, processing materials, and providing technical support for classes.

Such job openings are usually found on the university’s website, at the Studierendenwerk, on department bulletin boards, or directly through professors. It is important for international students to clarify whether a specific position qualifies as a studentische Nebentätigkeit and how it is documented by the employer.

Pay is often close to the lower end of the student job market or slightly higher. In 2026, the statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) is 13.90 euros gross per hour, but certain positions may pay more depending on the state, university, qualifications, and contract.

Internship

Praktikum may be mandatory as part of the curriculum or voluntary. This is important because the rules regarding pay, time tracking, insurance, and the work limit may differ.

Before starting your internship, check the following:

• whether it is a Pflichtpraktikum or a freiwilliges Praktikum;
• whether it counts toward the curriculum;
• Is the internship paid?
• how it affects the limit on workdays;
• Do you need a separate endorsement or permit for your type of residence permit?

Full-time work on an internship is more common during school breaks or mandatory practical training periods, but the details are always determined by the program, the employer, and the student’s legal status.

Part-time student job

Werkstudentenjob — a student job at a company, often in the student’s field of study. Unlike a Minijob, there is no fixed upper salary limit of 556 euros, but there are more significant tax and insurance implications.

Typically, a Werkstudent works up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period and may work more during breaks. Students from third countries must also pay attention to the 140/280-day limit or the alternative rule specified in their official residence permit conditions.

The advantage of this arrangement is professional experience and the chance to receive a job offer after graduation. The downside is more red tape: a contract, tax classification, health insurance, pension contributions, and tracking of working hours.

Temporary Work at Events

Work at exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, and conferences is often classified as short-term employment. It can be convenient for students due to flexible schedules and high pay per shift.

However, temporary work must also comply with residence permit and social insurance regulations. If tax is withheld at the source, it can sometimes be partially refunded through a tax return, but this depends on your total income, tax bracket, and specific circumstances.

Ausbildung and preparatory courses

Participants in the Studienkolleg, language courses as preparation for studies, and other preparatory measures (studienvorbereitende Maßnahmen) have been granted broader opportunities for part-time work following the reform of the rules for skilled migration. However, the wording in the documents and the permitted amount of work must be verified based on the specific residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel).

A separate set of rules applies to Ausbildung: this is training under an employment contract. Additional part-time work is not automatically permitted. The employer’s consent, working hours, occupational safety regulations, and the overall workload limit are all important factors. In practice, it is best to coordinate this matter before starting a second job, rather than after.

Taxes, Insurance, and Pension Contributions

Even legal part-time work can affect a student’s financial obligations.

• With a Minijob, it is important not to exceed the monthly limit and to understand the issue of pension contributions.
• For a Werkstudentenjob, income may be subject to tax, and a portion of contributions is withheld from your paycheck.
• If you work more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period, your status with Krankenversicherung may change.
• If you have multiple jobs, your earnings and hours are combined.
• For freelance or self-employment, an international student usually needs a separate permit.

If your annual income was below the taxable threshold or if tax was withheld in advance, filing a Steuererklärung may be beneficial. However, there is no one-size-fits-all outcome: it all depends on your income, the period of employment, your tax bracket, and your expenses.

Where to Look for a Student Job

Work channels depend on the type of employment:

• the university and department websites—for teaching assistants (HiWi) and research positions;
• Studierendenwerk — for local student job openings;
• career portals and LinkedIn — for Werkstudenten jobs and internships;
• company websites — for internships and field-specific jobs;
• Posters in cafes, stores, and local groups—for Minijobs;
• Temporary employment agencies—for events and seasonal work.

For your first job, it’s helpful to have a short German CV, a schedule showing your availability, a tax identification number, your health insurance (Krankenversicherung) information, and, if applicable, a copy of your residence permit with the terms of employment.

Checklist Before Starting a Part-Time Job

Before agreeing to a shift or signing a contract, check the following:

• How many hours per week will you work during the semester?
• How work is counted toward the 140/280-day limit;
• Is a permit from the Ausländerbehörde required?;
• Does the income exceed the Minijob limit, if it is a Minijob?
• What will happen with health insurance;
• Are there vacation days, and how are they calculated?;
• who pays pension contributions;
• how employers track working hours;
• Does the schedule interfere with class attendance and exams?

Student work in Germany can help cover some expenses and provide professional experience, but it’s best to plan it as part of your academic path. The most common mistake is to focus only on the pay and not check what happens with your residence permit, insurance, and limits.