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Can you work in Germany on a student visa?
2024-02-02 21:41:09 / BOTA
A German student visa allows the holder to stay in the country while studying and to be employed part-time, but there are restrictions. TheLocal takes a look at what work is and isn't allowed on a student visa, reports albinfo.ch.
Germany has steadily gained popularity as a study destination in recent years. Last year, Germany hosted more than 450,000 international students. This is ten percent more than a year ago and 50 percent in ten years, according to data collected by Wissenschaft Weltoffen.
The main reasons students cite for choosing Germany are free or affordable education, an affordable cost of living and an excellent higher education system.
Germany also offers a number of scholarship opportunities, including the DAAD Scholarship Program, the Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships or the DeutschlandStipendium National Scholarship.
Among the main countries of origin for international students in Germany are China, India, Syria and Austria.
Student visa applicants have a relatively high success rate, provided applicants have all the necessary documents, and there are many documents required.
Applying for a student visa in Germany requires:
A completed application form
Valid passport
Biometric photo
An acceptance letter from a German university
Proof of financial resources (either a blocked account with around €11,000, or a guarantee from a financial supporter called "Angaben zur Verpflichtungserklärung")
Motivation letter
CV
Proof of health insurance
Evidence of language skills
Certificates of past degrees
Application fee (€75)
Upon arrival in Germany, international students usually have 90 days to collect all of the above documents and make an appointment with the Bürgeramt visa office to apply for their student visa.
Many universities offer visa services for their students, and some will even help make appointments at the Bürgeramt on behalf of students.
Employment with a German student visa
A student visa allows one to stay in Germany for the expected duration of studies and also to work, but with certain restrictions.
The main limitation of student visas, in terms of employment, has to do with how much one is allowed to work. The idea behind these limits is to encourage students to focus on their studies, rather than work, allowing them to earn a modest income to support themselves. It may also be intended to prevent foreign workers from using student visas to stay in the country.
Interestingly, EU nationals are limited to 20 hours of work per week during term time, while students coming from outside the EU are limited to 120 full days or 240 part-time per year. (With a full day being eight hours and a day and a half being four, that's an average of 20 hours per week). Furthermore, one cannot exceed 20 working hours during study periods, but can work more during study break periods.
Students should be aware not to exceed these limits, as penalties for working beyond the student's legal capacity can include fines or even the loss of your student visa.
While maintaining these limits may sound a little complicated, most of the jobs that are readily available to students are designed not to exceed legal limits. For example, some German companies offer "working student" positions, which are essentially part-time entry-level positions that will not exceed predetermined limits.
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