Internships in Germany for International Students and Graduates: § 16e AufenthG and § 15 BeschV

An internship in Germany is often the first step toward a longer career here — but for non-EU nationals it is also a genuine immigration matter. An internship is legally employment (Beschäftigung), even when it is unpaid, so it requires a residence title that permits it. Which route applies depends on whether you are already studying in Germany, studying abroad, or have recently graduated.

The Study-Related Internship (§ 16e AufenthG)

For students and recent graduates from outside the EU, the central provision is § 16e AufenthG, which implements the EU REST Directive. It allows a residence permit for an internship that is professionally related to your degree or current studies. The key conditions:

• The internship must correspond in subject matter and level to your university degree or ongoing degree programme.
• You must either be enrolled in a degree programme or have completed a university degree within the last two years before applying.There is a written internship agreement setting out the content, duration and conditions of the placement.
• The permit is issued for the agreed duration of the internship, up to a maximum of six months.
• Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) is required unless the internship falls into an approval-free category.

Approval-Free Internships (§ 15 BeschV)

The Employment Ordinance (Beschäftigungsverordnung – BeschV) exempts several internship categories from Federal Employment Agency approval in § 15 BeschV. The most relevant in practice:

• Mandatory internships that are a prescribed part of your school or university education.
• EU-funded programmes such as Erasmus+ and comparable internships financed by EU or bilateral development cooperation funds.
• International exchange organisations — internships of up to one year arranged through recognised student or exchange organisations.
• Scholarship holders funded from German public funds, EU funds or international organisations.

If you are already in Germany with a student residence permit (§ 16b AufenthG), a mandatory internship generally does not count against your annual quota of permitted working days, while a voluntary internship usually does — a point that catches many students by surprise.

Common Pitfalls

Unpaid does not mean unregulated: an unpaid internship still requires a permit that covers it. Doing an internship on a Schengen tourist stay is not permitted and can prejudice later applications. And where the German minimum wage applies to your internship, the employer's paperwork must reflect it — inconsistencies here regularly delay visa decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do an internship in Germany on a tourist or visa-free stay? No. An internship is employment and requires a residence title that permits it, even if it is unpaid. This also applies to nationals of visa-free countries.

I graduated abroad more than two years ago — can I still get an internship permit? § 16e AufenthG is then generally unavailable, but other routes may fit, such as the Opportunity Card (§ 20a AufenthG), which allows trial work, or a regular work permit if the role qualifies.

Does my internship count towards permanent residence or citizenship? Time on an internship permit can count towards the residence periods required later, but the details depend on the titles involved — worth clarifying before you rely on it.

Can the internship turn into a job? Often, yes. A subsequent switch to a skilled-worker permit (§§ 18a, 18b AufenthG) or EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG) is a common and plannable next step if you have a qualifying offer.

An internship is short — the deadlines around it are shorter. If you want the placement to fit into a longer German career plan, book a consultation and we will map the route with you. Book a consultation →

Last reviewed: August 2026 — RAin Fiona Macdonald