Can You Work Part-Time During Ausbildung in Germany? The 2026 Rules

It's one of the first questions ambitious students ask: “Besides my training stipend, can I work part-time and earn more?” The honest 2026 answer is yes, within clear limits - and the rules have recently become friendlier to international trainees. Here's the full picture.

The headline rule for 2026

Thanks to recent reforms under Germany's Skilled Immigration Act, all trainees - including those from outside the EU - may now work up to 20 hours per week in a secondary job that is unrelated to their training. That's a meaningful change from the stricter rules of a few years ago, made specifically to help fill Germany's labour gaps.

The conditions that always apply

Your Ausbildungsvertrag is a training contract first, not just a job. That means your training and your Berufsschule (vocational school) always come first, and any side job that harms your attendance, grades or legally-required rest periods is not allowed. Most contracts require you to tell your employer about a side job and get written consent - which they can't refuse arbitrarily, but can refuse if it would genuinely interfere with your training.

The Minijob option

The most popular route is a Minijob - marginal part-time work where you can earn up to roughly €538–€603 a month free of income tax. Think weekend shifts in retail, hospitality or delivery. At Germany's 2026 minimum wage of €13.90/hour, that's around 10–11 hours a week of work for tax-free extra income.

The honest reality: most trainees don't need it

Here's the part other articles skip. As we covered in our budget guide, a trainee stipend of €1,000–€1,300 comfortably covers living costs in most German cities, with savings on top. Most candidates who ask about part-time work at the start find, by Year 1 or 2, that they don't actually need it. A side job is a genuine option for those with real financial commitments at home - but it shouldn't be the reason you choose Ausbildung, and it should never crowd out the training that's the whole point of being there.

The takeaway

Yes, you can work part-time during your Ausbildung in Germany - up to 20 hours a week in 2026, with your employer's consent and within the law. But the smarter way to see it is this: the stipend is designed to cover your life, the side job is a bonus, and your training always comes first. As always, no one can promise a visa - but understanding these rules helps you plan your German life realistically.