Already in Berlin? Work rights and help
For people who are already in Berlin and unsure whether their job, their hours or their pay are legal. This is general information, not advice on your individual case.
What your permit allows
| Permit | Work |
|---|---|
| Study (§ 16b) | 140 days or 280 half days a year, employment only. Self-employment only with LEA permission. |
| Job search after studies (§ 20) | Any employment allowed (§ 4a), if you can support yourself. |
| Opportunity Card | Up to 20 hours a week on average; trial work up to 2 weeks per job. |
| Blue Card, skilled-worker permit | Tied to your qualified job. Changing employer or job type may need approval, ask LEA first. |
| Spouse, asylum, Duldung | Not verified in this guide. Ask a counselling centre. |
Warning signs
- Cash pay, no contract or no payslip. Pay below the minimum wage of €13.90 an hour.
- Someone calls you "self-employed" but decides your hours and gives you the car and the app.
- Deductions, "deposits" or fees for the job; an agent keeps your passport.
- You are asked to work more days than your permit allows. The consequences for your permit are not verified in this guide; get advice before you decide.
Free help in Berlin
- BEMA, counselling on migration and fair work (Arbeit und Leben Berlin-Brandenburg, Lorenzweg 5): free, anonymous, independent of your residence status, appointment needed. Languages include English and German. Hindi is not on its list.
- DGB "Fair Integration" and "Fair Mobility", ver.di working group on undocumented work: free counselling; languages and current opening times not verified.
What to keep
Contract, payslips, bank statements, screenshots of chats and app earnings, a log of days and hours. Keep copies of your passport and permit yourself.
See also: Avoiding scams and After arrival in Berlin.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.