Can students in Germany work freelance?

Are students in Germany allowed to work part time alongside university studies?

• If yes, then what are all the restrictions/rules applicable under the student visa?

• Answer:

  As an EU/EEA student you can technically work as much as you want, relevant regulations only concern the amount of tax-free earnings, social security cost, plus caps on state support such as BAFöG. For example, You can lose your status as a student in social security if you work regularly more than 20 hours a week/more than 26 weeks a year. That does not mean that the university would kick you out, as long as you somehow manage to still fulfil every course requirement. However, you could even end up paying much more than you additionally earn. [1] This is different on a student visa: [2] As of 2005 international students who do not come from the EU or EEA are allowed to work 90 full or 180 half days in a year. To do this they do not need authorisation from the Employment Agency, i.e. the German authorities. International students who do not come from the EU cannot go self employed or work freelance! If you want to work more than 90 full or 180 half days you need the approval of the Employment Agency and the Aliens Department. Whether you receive the approval depends on the situation of the job market in your place of study. In regions with high unemployment you will have little chance of working more than 90 days. One exception, however, is the occupation of academic or student assistant. As long as your studies are not impaired by it, this work can be carried out for an unlimited period of time. The Aliens Department must still be informed if you wish to work as an academic or student assistant! There is no restriction on the number of jobs (at least not in the law and I have never heard of one). The salary (for tax reasons) will be accumulated of course. 8 hours normally constitute a full day in Germany, so 4 hours are one half day, though 10 and 5 are possible as well according to the law - if that is the normal working day in that company. But this is the main restriction, if you stay below that with one or three jobs doesn't matter. Just the days and the time where you actually work are counted. [3] says you could also apply for a permission to work an additional 10-19h per week and claims this would usually be granted by the authorities, I cannot vouch for that as it is at the discretion of the local foreign office. The 90/180 day of unrestricted working rule above assumes that you work on weekends or on holidays, thus are not negatively influencing your studies. To be allowed to work more it must be clear that it has no such effect on your uni work (no idea how that is checked, maybe references or grades). For both EU and non EU-students one additional exception exists: If internships are mandatory in your course - very common in engineering for example - they do not count as work, regardless if you are paid or not. [1] http://www.tk.de/tk/versicherung-und-tarife/bei-der-tk-versichert/als-student/40454 [2] http://www.internationale-studierende.de/en/during_your_studies/jobbing/allowed_to_work/ [3] http://www.aaa.uni-dortmund.de/cms/de/Internationale_Studierende/Studienbewerber/Darf_ich_als_Student_arbeiten_/index.html