Whether a German internship must be paid depends on two things: whether your programme requires it, and how long it lasts. The German word to know is Praktikum. The word “voluntary” can mislead, because a voluntary internship is not the same as voluntary work.
The three types
The Minimum Wage Commission and DAAD distinguish these cases:
- Compulsory internship: required by your school, vocational training or university study regulations. The minimum wage does not apply.
- Voluntary internship alongside training or studies: your choice, taken to support what you study. The Commission lists it as exempt from the minimum wage.
- Orientation internship: a short placement to explore a field before training or studies. The Commission says orientation internships of up to three months are exempt.
Interns are otherwise entitled to the statutory minimum wage. DAAD gives the current rate as 13.90 euros per hour since January 2026.
The three-month line, and where the pages differ
DAAD’s work-placement page says the minimum wage only has to be paid for a voluntary placement lasting longer than three months. The Commission’s pages word the exceptions differently: they list voluntary internships to support training or studies and orientation internships up to three months, without spelling out how the three-month limit applies to each. Because the wording differs, do not assume a long voluntary placement can be unpaid. Ask the employer in writing what pay applies and check with your university’s career service.
The Commission separately lists voluntary work, meaning volunteering, as exempt. That is a different thing from a voluntary internship.
Unpaid does not mean unregulated
DAAD says work placements are regular work, even if unpaid. For students from outside the EU and the EEA, the same rules as for student side jobs apply: up to 140 days a year without a permit from the foreigners’ office and the Federal Employment Agency. Compulsory placements that are part of the study regulations are excepted. Our guide to working while studying covers the day limits.
Insurance changes too. DAAD says a paid internship means you need coverage with a German provider, because home-country insurance is not considered sufficient. See health insurance in Germany.
What DAAD says makes a placement worth taking
DAAD lists these standards: complex tasks and room to learn, independent work after an introduction, enough length, usually two or three months, and a named contact. It says that if you will benefit from the experience, a placement can be worth it even if it pays little.
Questions to ask before you agree
- Is this internship required by my programme, and in which module?
- How long is it, and is there any extension?
- What is the monthly pay, in writing?
- Do I need a permit, given my nationality and the 140-day limit?
- Which insurance applies to me during the internship?
SGC does not provide recruitment or placement. This page is a reading of official sources, not legal advice, and the employer, your university and the authorities apply the rules to your case.