Working in Germany - Side job

There are numerous options for working while you are studying. A job at the University that is related to your studies is often the best option. However, permission to work is not tied to your studies. Students often work for local businesses, such as cafés, bars, restaurants, hotels, and cleaning services. However, make sure that you have a valid employment contract and that taking up employment does not violate the conditions of your residence permit!

Generally, knowledge of German is mandatory. It is rare to find a job in which English skills alone are sufficient. If you want to finance your studies through part-time jobs, we strongly recommend that you acquire German skills. The Lektorat Deutsch als Fremdsprache offers German language courses that are available free of charge to students of all subjects and degrees.

Part-time student job postings can be found on these pages, among others:

• StudIP-Portal: Announcements – Current job postings
• Stellenwerk Göttingen
• Job portal of the University of Göttingen
• Home pages of various companies in the area
• Notices in local cafés, bars and restaurants

Application documents should be carefully composed and follow certain conventions, regardless of whether you are applying for a full-time job after graduating or a part-time student job. The following sources provide some advice on how to put your application together:

• Make it work! - WelKMU (available only in German)
• Explainer videos - Application - Make it in Germany!

Avoid typical mistakes when submitting an application:

• Common mistakes in job applications - Deutschland.de

The Start Guide can offer assistance in writing applications or reviewing documents:

• Start Guide

The University of Göttingen Career Service offers online seminars on the topic of "application documents":

• Career Service

Students from EU/EEA countries

Students from EU and EEA member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) as well as Switzerland can work in Germany without needing a permit.

However, students who are enrolled full time are required to devote themselves predominantly to their studies. Therefore, gainful employment is limited to 20 hours per week. More hours might be permitted during the lecture-free period.

Students from non-EU countries

Students from non-EU countries with residence permits in accordance with §16b of the Residence Act (Further education) may also take up part-time employment in Germany to a limited extent. Here, too, the limitation stems from the fact that the primary purpose of the stay is intended to be studying.

Gainful employment is limited to 140 full days or 280 half days (alternatively students may work up to 20 hours per week as 'Werkstudenten') per calender year (as of 2024). Every working day with not less than four and not more than eight working hours counts as a full day; every working day with not more than four working hours counts as a half day. Thus, it is not the de facto hours worked that are counted, but rather the number of working days according to this calculation. It is advisable to distribute the working time in such a way that the allowable number of days is utilised as much as possible. As a general rule, we always recommend asking for information from the foreigners authority.

Part-time student jobs that are carried out at the university and compulsory internships that must be completed as an integral part of the studies are exempt from time limits. For further information, please get in touch with your contact person in the HR department

Voluntary internships, on the other hand, are not exempt. These fall under the 140/280-day rule and thus require the approval of the Immigration Office if they exceed the number of specified days.

In the event that longer term employment that exceeds the 140/280-day rule is planned, the Immigration Office must be contacted. Please include a concrete job offer for the purpose of verification.

The pursuit of self-employment is usually not permitted and can lead to loss of the residence permit. Individual cases could be approved by the Immigration Office if the time frame of the self-employment remains limited and there is also a connection to one’s studies. We always recommend that you consult with the immigration authorities before taking up self-employment.

For non-EU citizens who have been granted a residence permit in accordance with another section, other regulations may apply. The Immigration Office can provide more information on this.

Information and reporting obligations

Employees are generally obliged to provide their employers with all relevant and up-to-date information (e.g. change of name, address, family status, student status, taking up other jobs, etc.).

Working students

Students who are employed while studying and are not marginally employed, i.e. earn more than 538 € (as of 2024), are called working students. Please find here further information.

Marginal employment (“Mini jobs”)

Mini jobs are low-paid jobs. It also means that there is a specific earning or time limit.

The earning limit is 538 € per month (as of 2024). This earning limit is calculated as an average over the calendar year; therefore, it may be exceeded for individual months. It is usually not a problem if the 538 € gross earnings is exceeded for up to three months (as of 2024), but it should be discussed with employer.

The time limit for short-term mini jobs is no more than three months, or a total of 70 working days per calendar year. Please find further information here.

Workers in mini jobs usually do not pay social security contributions, except for a small contribution to their pension. Workers in mini jobs can be exempted from a compulsory pension contribution. Once the decision for exemption has been made, it is binding until the end of the employment relationship. You should therefore seek advice on the subject of exemption from compulsory pension insurance, especially with regard to long-term residence in Germany. Please find further information here and here.

Midi-Jobs

A “midi job” is one in which you earn more than 538 € and less than 2000 € per month (as of 2024) on average (including any one-time payments, etc). Annually recurring one-time payments such as holiday or Christmas bonuses are also included in the calculation.

Midi jobs are subject to social insurance contributions, albeit at reduced rates. The amount of the contribution increases with higher incomes. People with incomes over 2000 € are required to pay the social insurance contribution at the full rate.

Income from midi jobs is taxable. The amount of the tax due is determined by the tax brackets.

Please find further information here and here.

Everyone who earns an income in Germany is subject to income tax. Therefore, this applies to international students as well as to all Germans. All income from work and property is subject to tax. Anyone who earns income is obligated to inform the tax office of the amount and then to pay the income tax due.

Tax brackets (tax class)

The amount of income tax due depends on the amount of taxable income earned and the applicable tax bracket. As a rule, the classification of tax brackets depends on marital status. The classification is made automatically by the personnel department of the company in which you are employed. It is therefore important to report any changes, e.g. in marital status, to your employer.

The tax calculator provides a rough estimate of the tax burden: Tax calculator

Here you can find another tax calculator offered in several different languages.

Tax-free income

In Germany, there is a baseline amount that is considered tax-free. This is currently 11,784 € (as of 2024). Only the income that exceeds this tax-free amount is taxable.

Tax return

If the income is below the above-mentioned tax-free amount, it is usually the case that no tax is due for gainful employment. This means that as a rule, no tax return has to be filed.

However, if taxes have been already paid during the year, this amount can be reclaimed and returned to you by filing a tax return.

When preparing the tax return, any income-related expense, that is, expenses that are incurred in connection with employment during the year, can reduce the amount of taxable income. Here are some common examples of costs that can reduce the tax:

• Work equipment or professional literature
• Office furniture
• Travel expenses
• Laptop
• Tuition fees
• etc.

All details will be checked by the tax office. The tax burden will be reduced only if the costs are recognized by the tax office.

A tax return can be prepared by yourself using the online portal (ELSTER) of the tax office

Assistance with preparing a tax return can be obtained from income tax assistance associations or tax consultants, for example. Generally, this assistance is subject to a fee.

For more information on preparing a tax declaration, including illustration via video, click here.

Documents for employment

• Where can I find my social securtiy number?

From the pension insurance fund: toll-free service number 0800-1000 4800 or from your health insurance company.

• Where do I get my tax ID (identification) number?

After you have registered at the Residents’ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldamt), you will receive a letter from the tax office by post informing you of your tax ID number.

• Where do I get my health insurance certificate?

From your health insurance company.

• Where do I get my pension insurance certificate with my pension insurance number?

From the responsible pension insurance company.

• How can I get my police record certificate?

By booking an appointment using the appointment portal of the City of Göttingen.

• What is the health certificate (Gesundheitszeugnis) and how do I get one?

If you work in the food sector and are in direct contact with food during food preparation, it is mandatory that you have a health certificate. You will be informed about this by your future employer when you are hired, if the document should be necessary. You can obtain the health certificate from the City of Göttingen by booking an appointment using the appointment portal.

Income

• What is the minimum wage?

In Germany, the federal minimum wage is the same for all industries. It is adjusted annually. A minimum wage of 12,41 € has been in force since 01.01.2024. However, different regulations may apply to internships.

• Is there an income limit?

No, there is no limit on how much you may earn. Only the number of working days is limited (see above). However, the amount of your income determines the amount of social security contributions and any taxes that may be payable. Please also note any restrictions that your residence permit imposes.

Employment at the University

• What is an SHK or a HiWi?

The abbreviation SHK stands for student assistant (studentische Hilfskraft), HiWi stands for academic assistant (Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft). In both cases, these are student jobs that are typically taken on part-time while you work toward your degree.

• May I have more than one mini job?

Yes, it is possible to have several mini jobs at the same time. If the total income is less than 538 €, your jobs will continue to be treated as mini jobs. If the total income exceeds 538 €, the jobs can no longer be classified as mini jobs but as employment subject to social insurance contributions. Further information can be found here .

• Do I have to notify the Human Resources Department of any additional employment or internships (outside of the University)?

Yes, you have a duty to inform the employer of any other activities and previous employment with other employers outside the University. This information is required for the correct determination of your social security obligation. In addition, you can declare which of your employers is to be the “main employer” for the purposes of determining your income tax class. For all other employers, income tax will then be deducted according to income tax class “6”.

• Further informationen from DGB (available only in German)
• Working beside your studies - IQ Netzwerk Brandenburg (available only in German)
• Tips for international students – How to finance your studies in Germany - Studentenwerk