Comprehensive Guide to Student Work in Germany (2025)
Werkstudent (working student):
Part-time job related to your field of study, requiring enrolment at a university and a clear link between the job and your degree programme (VisaFlow).
Minijob (marginal employment / Geringfügig entlohnt):
Low, regular income of up to €556 per month, with exemption from most social security contributions for the employee (VisaFlow).
Kurzfristige Beschäftigung (short-term employment / Ferienjob / temporary helper):
Temporary job of up to 3 months or 70 working days per calendar year, exempt from social security contributions for the employee (InStaff).
Praktikum (internship):
Practical training, either mandatory (Pflichtpraktikum) as part of your curriculum or voluntary, to which the rules of a Minijob or short-term employment apply depending on its duration (VisaFlow).
Working hours:
Up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period
Up to 40 hours per week during university holidays
You must not work more than 20 hours per week for more than 26 weeks per year (VisaFlow, VisaFlow).
Pay:
At least €12.82 per hour (statutory minimum wage in 2025) (VisaFlow).
Social insurance:
Exempt from contributions to health insurance (KV), unemployment insurance (ALV) and long-term care insurance (PV) as long as you comply with the 20-hour rule (VisaFlow).
Pension insurance (RV): contributions are due in the “transition zone” (Übergangsbereich) for monthly income between €556 and €2,000 (VisaFlow, VisaFlow).
Taxes:
Income tax is withheld if your annual income exceeds €12,096. You can reclaim overpaid tax via an income tax return (VisaFlow).
Income limit:
Maximum €556 per month (from 1 January 2025) without social security contributions for the employee (VisaFlow).
Employer’s contributions:
Around 31% in total, consisting roughly of:
13% for health insurance (KV)
15% for pension insurance (RV)
2% flat-rate tax
(VisaFlow, saasde2023).
Employee’s contributions:
3.6% for pension insurance (with the option to apply for exemption)
No contributions to KV, ALV or PV (VisaFlow, saasde2023).
Registration:
The employer registers the Minijob with the Minijob-Zentrale before the employment starts.
Duration:
A maximum of 3 months or 70 working days per year (InStaff).
Income:
There is no fixed income limit; short-term employment is not tied to the €556 threshold.
Social insurance:
The employee is fully exempt from contributions to:
Health insurance (KV)
Pension insurance (RV)
Unemployment insurance (ALV)
Long-term care insurance (PV)
(InStaff).
Protection of minors:
If the employee is under 18, the Youth Employment Protection Act (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz) applies:
Maximum 8 hours per day
Maximum 40 hours per week
Mandatory internship (Pflichtpraktikum within the study programme):
Does not count towards the annual working-day limit of the residence permit (visa)
Is often unpaid or only compensated with a small allowance
Voluntary internship (Freiwilliges Praktikum):
If the internship lasts up to 3 months with the same employer, it is generally treated as short-term employment
If it exceeds 3 months, the statutory minimum wage and regular social insurance contributions apply (VisaFlow).
Student visa (Non-EU):
Up to 140 full days or 280 half days of work per year
Alternatively: up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during semester breaks (VisaFlow, make-it-in-germany.com).
Students from EU/EEA/Switzerland:
Generally have the same working rights as German students, with no formal day limit.
Basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag):
In 2025, the basic tax-free allowance is €12,096 per year (VisaFlow).
Tax returns:
It is strongly recommended to file an income tax return, especially for Werkstudent jobs, in order to claim back withheld income tax.
Prepare your documents:
Written employment contract
CV
Certificates and references
Registration of the job:
Werkstudent: No registration with Minijob-Zentrale; however, you must confirm your status as “student-insured” (studentisch versichert) with your Krankenkasse (health insurance fund).
Minijob: Employer registers the job with the Minijob-Zentrale.
Kurzfristige Beschäftigung: Inform your health insurance fund and make sure you stay within the allowed day limits.
Praktikum: Depending on the type of internship, inform your university and health insurance fund.
Record keeping:
Keep records of your working hours, payslips and contracts for at least 5 years.
Choose a job that matches your field of study and future career plans.
Manage your time carefully so that work does not harm your academic performance.
Regularly check the legal framework (working hours, income limits, insurance obligations).
Use your university’s network: career services, internal job fairs, notice boards, alumni contacts.
By understanding these types of employment and their conditions in detail, you can choose the job type that best suits you as a student in Germany and maintain a healthy balance between studies and practical experience.
The editorial team of the website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some details may be incomplete or no longer up to date. The information in this article should therefore be regarded as an initial reference. For binding and case-specific information, always consult the relevant authorities, universities, health insurance funds or professional advisory services.
