The 90-Day Rule for Working in Germany

What the rule means

As a rule, a student enrolled at a university in Turkey can work full time in Germany for a maximum of 90 calendar days within a 12-month period. Full time usually means around 40 hours per week, often in shifts in production or logistics. The limit is counted over a 12-month period, not per calendar year, so it does not simply reset on 1 January; the work must also fall within your university's official semester breaks.

As of 2026, this frame is also the basis of your visa process. Your employer applies for the ZAV approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), and your visa application builds on that approval.

Who it applies to

The rule applies to students who are enrolled at a university in Turkey and want to work in Germany during their semester or summer break. Your student status is central, so keep your enrollment documents up to date.

Be careful with information you find online: many articles describe the rules for students enrolled at a German university. Those regulations are different. For you, the relevant frame is up to 90 full-time calendar days within a 12-month period.

Planning your 90 days

Ninety days roughly equal three months, and you do not have to use them in one block. Most students place the largest part in the summer break and keep a margin for exams and travel days.

• One long block in the summer break
• Optionally a shorter block between semesters
• A safety margin before exams and your return date

How Amit-AI supports you

At Amit-AI, registration, the MONA video interview and matching run as one process. After the interview and a document check, AI matching suggests suitable jobs, and the employer applies for the ZAV approval.

One final note: pay and conditions always depend on the concrete job offer. For current rules, check the official pages of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and the German missions.