Work While Studying and Stay in Germany After Graduation (2026 Rules)

As a non-EU student in Germany you may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year, and after graduation you can get a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a qualified job. Once you find one, you can move to a work permit for skilled workers or an EU Blue Card, and later apply for permanent settlement.

This guide explains the 2026 rules from DAAD, what counts as work, how internships are treated, and the steps from student to employee. Rules change, so always confirm with your foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde).

Working while you study: the basic rule

DAAD states that students from outside the EU may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. Self-employment or freelancing needs permission from the foreigners' office. Working beyond the limit needs approval from both the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) and the foreigners' office, which DAAD says is granted only in cases of special financial need.

Money, tax and insurance

• Minimum wage: €13.90 per hour since January 2026; students generally cannot be paid less in regular jobs.
• Tax: DAAD says you can earn up to €556 per month without paying tax. Above that you need a tax number and tax is withheld monthly, which you can reclaim with a tax return.
• Social insurance: contributions generally apply only above €556 per month. Working more than 20 hours a week triggers health, unemployment and nursing care insurance contributions.
• Health insurance: a paid internship or part-time job needs cover from a German provider; home-country insurance is not enough.

Finding a student job

• On campus: HiWi positions in institutes, libraries and labs are posted on university job boards and are often in English in research groups.
• In your field: working-student roles and internships with companies are the best preparation for a job after graduation.
• Off campus: shops, restaurants and delivery jobs are common but usually need some German.
• Careers service: most universities run a careers service and job portal for students – ask in your first semester.

After graduation: the 18-month job-search permit

Once you complete your degree in Germany, you can apply for a residence permit for job seekers, issued for up to 18 months to find qualified employment (DAAD). During this time you may take any job to cover your living costs. Apply at the foreigners' office before your student residence permit expires.

1. 1

   Start your search before you finish

   Use your final semester for applications, internships and networking.

2. 2

   Get proof of your degree

   Ask your examination office for the final certificate or an official confirmation that you have completed your degree, as soon as your last grade is in.

3. 3

   Apply for the job-seeker permit

   Ask your foreigners' office for its document list and appointment rules, and apply before your student permit expires.

4. 4

   Work any job while searching

   You may take any job to support yourself during the search period.

5. 5

   Switch when you get a qualified job

   Apply for a residence permit for skilled workers or an EU Blue Card.

From job to work permit or EU Blue Card

DAAD explains that once you have found a suitable job you can convert your permit into a work visa for qualified professionals or an EU Blue Card. The job should generally be aimed at university graduates; depending on the permit it does not have to match your degree exactly, and your salary must cover your living costs. The EU Blue Card has a minimum salary threshold that is updated every year, so check the current figure on the official German government portals before you sign a contract.

Settlement permit and citizenship

If you plan to stay long term, you can apply for a settlement permit (permanent residence). DAAD lists among the requirements that you have been in Germany for at least three years, can cover your living costs and have German at B1 level. The next step after that can be naturalisation, which DAAD notes gives you the right to vote and to live and work anywhere in the EU.

Further study: master's and PhD in Germany

Many bachelor's graduates continue with a master's, and master's graduates with a doctorate. Some fee-charging universities reward this: TUM exempts bachelor's graduates of TUM or another German university from tuition for a subsequent master's if they submit proof before the enrolment deadline. Doctoral candidates are exempt from non-EU tuition at TUM and in Baden-Württemberg, and many PhDs in Germany are paid research positions. See scholarships in Germany.

Other routes: the Opportunity Card

DAAD describes the job search Opportunity Card as a basic visa that gives up to twelve months to find work in Germany. It is aimed at jobseekers coming from outside Germany with recognised qualifications, not at graduates of German universities, who use the 18-month permit instead.

Honest expectations

• The permit gives you time, not a job. Graduates with German skills and German work experience usually have more options.
• Your field matters: technical and scientific fields have a large English-speaking research and industry sector, while many other jobs require fluent German.
• Paperwork continues: keep track of permit expiry dates and apply for changes before they expire.
• Rules change. DAAD itself notes that regulations change and points to the official Make it in Germany portal for details.

Why a HiWi job is worth it

A student assistant (HiWi) job in a research group is often the easiest job to get without fluent German, especially at technical universities with many English-taught master's programs. Because DAAD says there is no day limit for academic assistants, it also leaves your 140/280 days free for other work. Most importantly, it gives you German work experience and references from professors, which help with later job and PhD applications.

Common mistakes with work rules

• Losing count of days. Half days and full days add up across all jobs. Keep your own record. Working beyond the limit needs approval from both the Federal Employment Agency and the foreigners' office.
• Treating a voluntary internship as free time. DAAD says voluntary internships count as regular work, even when unpaid.
• Not reporting a HiWi job. HiWi work has no day limit, but you still have to inform the foreigners' office.
• Starting freelance work without permission. Self-employment needs approval from the foreigners' office first.
• Letting your student permit expire. Apply for the job-seeker permit before your current permit runs out.

Your final-year timeline

Checklist: from student to employee

1. 1.Keep a record of your working days so you stay within 140 full or 280 half days.
2. 2.Report HiWi jobs to the foreigners' office.
3. 3.Do at least one internship or working-student job in your field.
4. 4.Reach B1 German or higher before graduation.
5. 5.Apply for the job-seeker permit before your student permit expires.
6. 6.Switch to a skilled-worker permit or EU Blue Card as soon as you sign a suitable contract.

Planning the whole route from application to job? Start with the complete Germany guide, check the Germany student visa guide, and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.