If you are an international student in Germany, how much you are allowed to work is governed by two separate systems: immigration law (how many days) and social insurance law (how many hours). Getting either wrong has consequences — the first for your residence permit, the second for your payslip.
The day limit: 140 full days, not 120
This rule changed on 1 March 2024 and most guides still quote the old figure. If you are reading “120 days” anywhere, that source is out of date.
Students from non-EU countries holding a residence permit for study under § 16b AufenthG may work:
- 140 full days, or
- 280 half days per calendar year.
The details that matter:
- A half day means up to 4 hours of work.
- Only days you actually work count. Holiday, public holidays and sick days do not.
- Alternative: instead of counting days you may work as a Werkstudent up to 20 hours per week.
- Academic assistant roles at your university (Hilfstätigkeiten an Hochschulen) are exempt from the limit entirely.
- To exceed the limit you need approval from the Ausländerbehörde.
Exceeding the limit puts your residence permit at risk. Keep your own record of days worked — do not rely on your employer to track it.
Minijob or Werkstudent?
| Minijob | Werkstudent | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly earnings limit | €603 (2026; €556 in 2025) | No limit |
| Hours | Bounded by the earnings cap | Max 20 h/week during term |
| Health / care / unemployment insurance | You pay nothing | You pay nothing (if you keep to 20 h) |
| Pension insurance | Opt-out possible | You pay 9.3% |
Practical conclusion: above roughly €600 per month, Werkstudent status is usually better. You stay exempt from health, care and unemployment contributions and pay only pension — money that comes back to you later.
Semester break exception: during the lecture-free period you may work more than 20 hours per week. But if you are a non-EU student, the 140-day limit still applies.
When does income tax start?
Below the Grundfreibetrag of €12,096 per year (about €1,007 per month) you owe no income tax. If tax was deducted from your pay anyway, you can reclaim all of it by filing a Steuererklärung at year end. This is the most commonly missed refund among students.
If you receive BAföG
There is an annual earnings allowance of €6,672 gross. Income above that reduces your BAföG payment. Do the arithmetic before taking on extra shifts.