Regulations regarding employment law
Non-EU member states
Students from non-EU member states can only work for restricted periods of time. The permitted work time is 120 whole days or 240 half days per year. Every student must be able to prove how long they have worked for, so please record the following information for all paid work you do:
- Employer
- The employment relationship with the dates you started and finished work
- The exact number of hours you've worked
IMPORTANT
The 120/240 -day rule also applies for voluntary (even unpaid) internships!
Any work lasting more than 120 full days or 240 half days in one year requires a work permit. This permit can only be issued by the foreigners’ registration office if you prove you have a concrete job offer.
EU member states (including Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland)
Students from EU member states are subject to the same rules as the Germans. They cannot work for more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period.
The weekly working time is unlimited during holiday periods.
It is possible to exceed the 20-hour limit during the lecture period, but this has to be in a "temporary occupation". In other words, the job should last no longer than 2 months or be limited to 50 working days per year.
Other rules may apply to students from new EU member states. Please ask at the foreigners’ registration office!