For many international students in Lower Saxony, a part-time job is more than just extra money. It is a way to practice German, understand everyday work culture, and feel more at home. At the same time, there are strict legal rules about how much you can work, how much you can earn, and what this means for your residence permit and health insurance. If you do not follow these rules, you may risk problems with your visa or with the Ausländerbehörde.
This guide explains the main student work rules in Germany and what they mean in practice if you study and live in Lower Saxony. You will learn about the 20 hours rule, the 140 days or 280 half days rule, how Minijobs work, and what to expect from taxes and social insurance. The focus is on non-EU students with a student residence permit, but EU and German students will also find useful information.
Why Student Work Rules Matter for Your Lower Saxony Visa
Student work rules are not only about labour law, they are directly connected to your residence permit. If you have a student residence permit under Section 16b of the German Residence Act, you are in Germany primarily to study. Work is allowed, but only as a secondary activity. The rules are the same in all German states, so what you read here applies to Lower Saxony as well.
Since changes connected to the Skilled Immigration Act, most non-EU students are now allowed to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year, or alternatively up to around 20 hours per week during the semester, without asking for additional permission from the Ausländerbehörde or the Arbeitsagentur [1][2][3]. These limits are usually written on your electronic residence permit (eAT) card or on a supplementary sheet. It is very important to read that text carefully.
Universities and official information portals for Lower Saxony, such as the state’s own study information pages, repeat the same basic message: working is allowed and even encouraged as a way to finance your studies, but only within clearly defined limits [4]. If you work more than allowed, you may be in violation of your residence conditions, even if your employer is happy and continues to pay you.
Who Is Allowed to Work: EU, Non-EU, and Other Statuses
Not all students in Lower Saxony follow the same rules. Your passport and your residence permit type decide which regulations apply to you.
Non-EU / Third-country Students
If you come from a “third country” (non-EU, non-EEA, non-Switzerland) and hold a German student residence permit for university studies, the typical rules are:
- You may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year without special permission [1][2][5].
- Instead of counting days, you may work up to around 20 hours per week during the lecture period, which is another way to stay inside the legal framework [1][2].
- Work that is a mandatory part of your study programme (for example, a compulsory internship) usually does not count towards these limits, but voluntary internships normally do [2].
Some exceptions apply if you are in Germany only for a language course or a preparatory college (Studienkolleg). In these cases, your work options can be more limited, especially in the first year [3]. Always check the exact wording on your residence permit and any extra letter you received from the Ausländerbehörde.
EU / EEA and Swiss Students
Students from EU or EEA countries and from Switzerland enjoy almost the same working rights as German students. They can usually work more than 20 hours per week, at least in theory, but after that point normal social insurance rules apply [6][8]. For most EU students, the main limitation is not the residence law, but the need to keep enough time and energy for their studies.
Students with Other Residence Permits
A small number of people in Lower Saxony study at university but do not hold a student residence permit. For example, they might have a residence permit for family reunion, for work, or as a refugee. In those cases, the work rules follow the main type of residence permit and can be more generous or more restrictive. If you are in this situation, it is safer to ask your Ausländerbehörde in Oldenburg, Hannover, Braunschweig, or your local city for a written explanation.
How Many Hours Can You Work? 20 Hours Rule and 140/280 Days
The two numbers that you will hear again and again are “20 hours per week” and “140 days or 280 half days per year”. Many students are confused by this, because it looks like two different systems. In reality, they are connected.
The basic idea is simple:
- 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year is the main immigration rule for non-EU students. It defines how much you can work without extra permission [1][2][5].
- 20 hours per week is mainly a social insurance and student status rule. If you regularly work more than 20 hours per week over a longer period, you are seen as a worker first and a student second, so normal social insurance contributions may apply and you may lose your cheap student health insurance [7][8].
Because of this, universities, DAAD, and the Deutsches Studierendenwerk usually recommend that you stay under 20 hours per week during the lecture period, even if your annual day quota is not used up yet [1][2][7][8]. During semester breaks, you can often work full time for some weeks, as long as you stay within the yearly limits.
To make this more concrete, imagine you have a part-time job in Oldenburg where you work 12 hours per week as a student assistant during the semester, and then you do a full-time job for four weeks in the summer in Hannover. Together, this might still be well below 140 full days and under 20 hours per week for most of the year, so you are inside both rules, but you should still keep a written record of your working days and hours, just in case the Ausländerbehörde or health insurance asks for proof.
Understanding Minijobs, Midijobs, and Student Jobs
In practice, many students in Lower Saxony work in a Minijob. A Minijob is a special type of employment with low monthly earnings and simplified tax and social insurance rules. As of 2025, the earnings limit for an “earnings-limited Minijob” is 556 euro per month, and this limit is linked to the minimum wage and can be adjusted again in future years [5][6].
In a typical Minijob, the employer pays most of the social insurance contributions, and many students pay little or no income tax on this income. It is still important to register correctly with a tax ID and to tell your employer that you are a student. The official information pages of the official Minijob-Zentrale website explain these rules in detail and are available in English [5].
If you earn more than the Minijob limit, you move into the so-called “midijob” or normal employment area. In that case, social insurance contributions are shared between you and your employer. This can still be attractive if you work many hours or earn a higher hourly wage, but it makes the 20 hours rule even more important, because your health insurance status and student status may change [7][8].
For students, typical job types include university assistant jobs (Hiwi), service jobs in cafés and restaurants, warehouse and logistics work, tutoring, and jobs in supermarkets or call centres [9]. Many of these jobs are offered as Minijobs, but you should always look at your contract and your monthly payslip to see whether you are really inside the Minijob limit.
Taxes, Insurance, and Your Student Status
Many students are surprised when they see deductions on their payslip. A standard German payslip includes information about gross salary, income tax (Lohnsteuer), solidarity surcharge, church tax (if applicable), and social insurance contributions (pension, health, unemployment, and long-term care insurance). Understanding this document is very helpful for planning your budget.
The German tax system includes a basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag). In 2025, this is around 12,000 euro per year for a single person. Only income above this amount is actually taxed [7][9]. That means that many students who only have a small job and no other income will pay little or no income tax in the end. If tax is taken from your monthly salary, you can often get it back by filing a simple tax return.
However, the situation is different for social insurance. If you stay inside a Minijob, your employer usually handles the contributions and your own share is low. If you work more hours or earn more than the Minijob limit, you may pay full social insurance like any other employee. Working more than 20 hours per week for a longer time can also change your status in the health insurance system from “student” to “employee”, which is usually more expensive [7][8].
Read more: understand how doctors, pharmacies, and health insurance work in everyday life in Lower Saxony
Because of these interactions, it is smart to think about taxes and insurance before you accept a job offer. If you receive BAföG or a scholarship, ask the responsible office how much you can earn before it affects your funding. In some cases, student income above a certain level can reduce your financial aid.
Finding Student Jobs in Lower Saxony
Once you understand the rules, the next question is how to find a job. In Lower Saxony, there are several typical places to look:
- University job portals and notice boards – Universities and Hochschulen in cities like Oldenburg, Hannover, Braunschweig, Göttingen, and Osnabrück often have online job portals or printed boards with Hiwi positions and other student jobs [9].
- Studierendenwerk and Studentenwerk – The local student services organisations sometimes run their own job services or link to regional portals with part-time jobs and Minijobs for students [2][9].
- Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) – The national job portal includes filters for “student jobs” and shows local offers in Lower Saxony [9].
- Private platforms and apps – Well known websites and apps for part-time jobs, retail jobs, or hospitality jobs are used in all major cities.
In many cases, especially outside the university campus, basic German is required. Improving your language skills will make it easier to find better jobs and to understand your contract and payslip. For more details on language options, you can have a look at how you can learn German in Lower Saxony through VHS, private schools, and apps.
Finally, job interviews and workplace communication in Germany often follow certain expectations: punctuality, direct but polite communication, and reliability are very important. Understanding these expectations will help you to keep your job and maybe even move into a better position.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even careful students sometimes make mistakes with work rules. Here are some of the most common problems and how to avoid them:
- Not counting working days – Some students think only about hours and forget the annual 140 days rule. Keep a simple list or spreadsheet of your working days and hours each month [2][5].
- Accepting “cash in hand” jobs – If an employer wants to pay you only in cash and does not register you, you may be working illegally. This can create serious problems for your residence permit and future job chances.
- Ignoring insurance status – Working more than 20 hours per week for months can change your insurance situation. Always ask your health insurance company before you take on a second job or increase your hours [7][8].
- Overlapping jobs – Two Minijobs that look small separately can together push you over the 556 euro limit. In that case, the jobs are no longer treated as Minijobs and full social insurance rules apply [5][6].
- Working too much during exam periods – If work takes over your life, your study performance may suffer. Remember that your main reason for being in Germany is your degree.
If you are unsure about a job offer, talk to the international office at your university, the AStA (student union), or a trusted student advisory service. They have experience with typical student problems and can often tell you quickly whether something looks normal or risky.
Checklist: Before You Accept a Job Offer
To finish, here is a short checklist you can use every time you get a new job offer in Lower Saxony:
- Check the text on your residence permit and any attached paper. Does it mention 140 days, 280 half days, or a 20 hours limit?
- Ask the employer whether the job is a Minijob, a midijob, or normal employment. What is the expected monthly gross salary?
- Calculate how this job fits with your existing jobs. Will your total income stay under the Minijob limit, or will social insurance contributions start?
- Think about your timetable. Can you keep your weekly hours under 20 during the semester, so that your studies and health insurance stay safe?
- Ask whether you will get a written contract and a monthly payslip. Never work long term without these documents.
- Clarify the language situation. Is German needed for safety, for customer contact, or for understanding instructions? Do you feel comfortable with that?
- Check how this job will affect your health insurance, BAföG, or scholarship. If needed, ask your insurance or funding office.
- Keep copies of your contract, payslips, and your personal record of working days and hours. These can be useful if there are questions later.
Working during your studies in Lower Saxony can be a great experience. If you understand the basic rules about hours, Minijobs, and taxes, you will be more relaxed, better protected, and more able to focus on why you came here in the first place: your studies and your future career.
References
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), “Side jobs” – overview of legal framework for international students working in Germany, including the 140 days or 280 half days rule and typical limitations for non-EU students. URL: https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/work-career/side-jobs/
- Deutsches Studierendenwerk, “Job regulations for international students in Germany” – English information sheet explaining that international students from third countries may work up to 140 full or 280 half working days per year and may alternatively work up to 20 hours per week, plus details on counting days and exceptions. URL: https://www.studierendenwerke.de/
- Information on the Skilled Immigration Act and its impact on student work rights – for example TU Dortmund University and other university or migration law explanations describing the increase from 120/240 to 140/280 days and the option to work up to 20 hours per week. Example URL: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/
- “Funding” section of Studieren in Niedersachsen – state information page on costs and funding options for students in Lower Saxony, with links to DAAD and Deutsches Studierendenwerk guidance on side jobs. URL: https://www.studieren-in-niedersachsen.de/
- Minijob-Zentrale, English homepage – explains what a Minijob is and states that the current earnings limit for an earnings-limited Minijob is 556 euro per month, plus general rules on social insurance and registration. URL: https://www.minijob-zentrale.de/EN/Home/home_node.html
- News and expert articles on the 2025 increase of the Minijob limit – for example IamExpat or tax advisory summaries explaining that the Minijob earnings threshold rose from 538 to 556 euro per month in 2025 and is linked to the minimum wage. Example URL: https://www.iamexpat.de/
- Handbook Germany and other tax information portals – explanations of the basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag) for income tax in Germany, which is around 12,000 euro per year in 2025, and the principle that income below this level is normally tax-free. Example URL: https://handbookgermany.de/
- University information sheets (e.g. Goethe University Frankfurt, HAW Hamburg, Fulda University) on “working during your studies” – describe the 20 hours per week rule, the consequences for social insurance and health insurance, and special rules for short-term full-time work during semester breaks. Example URL: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/
- Guides on student work and job search in Germany – for example the German Association of Postgraduate Programmes (AGEP), the Federal Employment Agency, and university career services describing typical student jobs, job portals, and support options. Example URL: https://agep-info.de/
- General EU and German government information on student residence permits and employment rights – including the EU Immigration Portal and German migration portals explaining the link between student residence permits and permitted employment. Example URL: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/
