Short answer: On application you are exempt from BAföG repayment (Rückzahlung) if your monthly income does not exceed the limit of 1,690 euros by at least 42 euros (section 18a para. 1 BAföG). The limit rises for a spouse and for children. If you are above it, you pay a reduced instalment. Last updated: October 2026, checked against the statutory text.
The BAföG law does not provide for a write-off of the remaining balance because of low income during repayment. Instead it provides for an exemption that depends on income. If you earn little during the repayment years, you do not have to pay, or you pay only a reduced instalment. This guide explains the limits, the calculation and the deadlines.
The most important points
- The exemption is granted on application (section 18a para. 1 and 3 BAföG).
- The limit is 1,690 euros of monthly income. You are exempt if your income does not exceed this limit by at least 42 euros, that is, it stays just under 1,732 euros.
- For a spouse the limit rises by 850 euros, and for each child by 770 euros, provided they are not themselves in eligible training.
- If your income is above this, you pay a reduced instalment. The Merkblatt (information leaflet) gives 42 euros as the minimum instalment.
- The exemption generally lasts one year, or two years for the first approval.
How high may your income be?
The limit is 1,690 euros a month. The exemption applies if your income does not exceed this amount by at least 42 euros. You are therefore exempt at an income up to just under 1,732 euros, because from 1,732 euros the income exceeds the limit by at least 42 euros. This reading follows the wording of the law. The Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt, BVA) decides on the relevant income.
The limit increases if relatives must be taken into account. The table below works through a few typical cases. It assumes that the relatives have no income of their own and are not themselves in eligible training.
| Situation | Limit per month | Exempt if income is below |
|---|---|---|
| You alone | 1,690 euros | 1,732 euros |
| With spouse or civil partner (+ 850 euros) | 2,540 euros | 2,582 euros |
| With one child (+ 770 euros) | 2,460 euros | 2,502 euros |
| With spouse and one child (+ 1,620 euros) | 3,310 euros | 3,352 euros |
Last updated: October 2026. The values follow the statutory text (section 18a para. 1 BAföG (gesetze-im-internet.de)). The income of a spouse and of adult children reduces the increases, so the actual limit may be lower.
Worked example: exemption or reduced instalment?
Assumption: you are on your own, have no child and earn 1,700 euros a month. Your income is then 10 euros above the limit. That is less than 42 euros, so you are exempt on application.
Assumption: you earn 1,750 euros. The excess is 60 euros, which is more than 42 euros. You then pay a reduced instalment. The BVA calculates how high it is exactly. The Merkblatt gives 42 euros as the minimum instalment.
| Assumed monthly income | Excess over the limit | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1,690 euros | 0 euros | Exemption on application |
| 1,700 euros | 10 euros | Exemption on application, as below 42 euros |
| 1,750 euros | 60 euros | Reduced instalment, minimum instalment 42 euros per the Merkblatt |
Which deadlines and conditions apply?
The exemption is granted on application and applies from the month of application. It generally lasts for one year, and for a first approval generally for two years. Retrospectively it can cover at most four months before the month of application (section 18a para. 3 BAföG). The income of the month of application applies to all months of the exemption period, as long as nothing changes.
You must prove the conditions. The BVA decides which documents it requires. The BVA is also responsible for certain declarations, such as the taking of an affidavit.
If a relevant circumstance changes after the application, the BVA adjusts the notice from the month of the change (section 18a para. 4 BAföG). Regular adjustments of statutory pensions and similar benefits do not count as a change. Report changes promptly, because the notice is only adjusted from the month of the change.
Increase of the limit on special application
The limit can also rise in certain circumstances. For disabled persons it increases by the expenses caused by the disability under section 33b of the Income Tax Act (EStG). For single parents with a child under 16 in the household, childcare costs of up to 175 euros a month for the first child and 85 euros for each further child can be taken into account (section 18a para. 2 BAföG).
These increases must be applied for and supported by evidence. They help mainly if the basic limit is only just exceeded.
Exemption and repayment at a glance
| Situation | Effect on repayment |
|---|---|
| Income below the limit plus 42 euros | Exemption on application |
| Income above that | Reduced instalment, minimum instalment 42 euros per the Merkblatt |
| Regular repayment without exemption | Equal instalments of at least 130 euros within 20 years (section 18 para. 3 BAföG) |
| Receiving BAföG again during repayment | Exemption on application for as long as benefits are received (section 18 para. 3 BAföG) |
Sources for the values: bafög.de, loan repayment guide (German). The statute itself does not set a minimum instalment for the exemption, but refers to the BVA’s calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the exemption granted automatically?
No. The exemption is granted on application. Without an application the repayment obligation continues. Apply as soon as your income situation is clear, and do not wait until the first instalment is due.
Does my partner count towards the limit?
Yes, if your spouse or civil partner is not themselves in eligible training. Then the limit rises by 850 euros. However, the partner’s income reduces this increase, so the full amount does not automatically apply.
What about children?
For each child the limit rises by 770 euros, provided the child is not themselves in eligible training. Adult children’s own income reduces the increase. Under section 18a para. 1 BAföG, the persons listed in section 25 para. 5 nos. 1 to 3 BAföG also count as children.
Can the exemption apply retrospectively if I apply late?
Only to a limited extent. The exemption can cover at most four months before the month of application (section 18a para. 3 BAföG). Older periods are not covered. If you expect to earn little, contact the BVA early.
What to do now
- Compare your monthly income with the limit of 1,690 euros, increased for spouse and children where the conditions are met.
- Apply for the exemption at the Federal Office of Administration, ideally in the month in which your income falls below the limit.
- Gather the proof of your income and of your relatives before you submit the application.
- Report changes in income promptly, because the BVA adjusts the notice from the month of the change.
Related guides
- BAföG repayment early: reduction and worked example
- BAföG repayment: start, instalments, exemption and partial write-off
- BAföG income limit 2026: how much can you earn?
- BAföG notice explained: what each line means
- BAföG and side job: which earnings are allowed
Sources: Federal Training Assistance Act, section 18a (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026); Federal Training Assistance Act, section 18 (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026); bafög.de, loan repayment guide (German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
