Financing

Work permit for students

Students who come from the EU and the EEA (European Economic Area) are practically treated as equal as German students. They have free access to the German employment market. There are no limits for the hourly wage, and one may work up to 20 hours per week. As a student, you pay the health and nursing insurance to the insurance company itself, regardless of the employer. Therefore, these contributions must not be included in the salary statement. Besides, students are also exempt from the unemployment insurance. Only the pension insurance fund is deducted. During holidays, students are allowed to work without limitation of the working hours - and many also take advantage of this.

Students can also be registered as marginal employees and on the 400-euro basis salary. For the 400-euro job, the so-called mini-job, there are the following regulations:

Mini-job

Criteria
Regular employment in economical system or in the private households, with which one does not earn more than 400 Euros per month.

Wage taxes
None

Social security contributions
One pays neither taxes nor contributions for the pension insurance funds. However, the latter are paid by the employer. Thereby one gets claims in the pension insurance fund.

Attention
If one has several mini-jobs simultaneously and thus earns a total of more than 400 Euros monthly, one must pay taxes.

More than part-time employment

Criteria
Regular employment in economical system or in the private households, with which one does not earn more than 400 Euros per month.

Wage taxes
Yes. The wage tax is automatically deducted from the salary every month. You need a tax card. You get this at the Administrative Office for Citizens (registration office, town hall). If you earn less than 7.664 Euros a year, you will receive at the end of the year your taxes back. In addition, you must deliver to the tax office an income tax explanation.

Social security contributions
Every month you will be automatically deducted from the wage contributions for the pension insurance fund: 1.94 percent with an income between 400 and 500 Euros, rising to 9.75 percent for an income of minimum 800 Euros monthly.

Attention
With more than 20 hours paid work per week, you must pay as a rule contributions to the health insurance and to the unemployment insurance.

Look for more information at the Studentenwerk and on the internet site of the German social security system.

The employment legislation for international students is very strict. As a matter of fact, one can be expelled if one violates it. Get all information before accepting a job in order to see whether you are entitled to it. You can consult the student's administration in your city.

You can find detailed information for native students here, and for international students here and on the internet site of the GAES.

Employment conditions

Whether in a café, as a tutor or in the office - work opportunities for students in Germany are varied and are also used by the majority of the students. The payment and the working hours vary from job to job, and are also different in various parts of the country. However, you should not be exploited as a student. You should not put up with long stressful work hours, poor payment and unfriendly treatment. You can get further information and advice at the career service at your university and the student’s administration.

Finding a job

You can best find job ads on the bulletin board at the university, in the local newspapers or the Internet. We have put together a few links for you where you can find job ads in Germany and which offer information about working in Europe.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Bundesweite Jobbörse
Students at work
Fit For Europe
Praktikant 24