Janice Lozano
If you're an international student in the Netherlands, you may be able to work during your studies. The number of hours you can work per week depends on your visa status and whether you are employed or self-employed. Non-EU/EEA international students with a study visa can work up to 16 hours per week without a work permit, but they need a work permit if they want to work more hours. Self-employed individuals, on the other hand, are not restricted by the number of hours they can work per week.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Work hours for international students from the EU/EEA or Switzerland | No restrictions |
| Work hours for international students who are self-employed | No restrictions |
| Work hours for international students with a study visa | 16 hours per week |
| Work hours for international students during summer months (June to August) | Full-time |
| Work permit requirement for international students with a study visa working more than 16 hours per week | Required |
| Work permit requirement for international students who are self-employed | Not required |
| Health insurance requirement for international students with a part-time job | Dutch public health insurance required |
| Health insurance requirement for international students who are self-employed | May be required, subject to assessment by Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) |
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What You'll Learn
Work permit requirements for non-EU students
As an international student in the Netherlands, your work permit requirements will depend on your country of origin and the type of work you intend to undertake. Here is a detailed overview of the work permit requirements for non-EU students:
- Employment by an Employer: If you are seeking employment with an employer, you will generally need a work permit. The specific type of work permit required is called a TWV (employment permit). Your employer must apply for this permit on your behalf before you start working, and it typically takes around five weeks to process. It is important to note that you cannot work until the permit has been issued.
- Self-Employment: If you wish to work as a self-employed individual, you do not need a work permit. However, you must ensure that you continue to meet the requirements for your residence permit for study. There are no restrictions on the number of hours you can work as a self-employed non-EU student.
- Voluntary Work: If you intend to do voluntary work, you do not need a work permit. Instead, you need to obtain a Volunteer Declaration (Vrijwilligersverklaring). This declaration can be found on the UWV website, but please note that the page is in Dutch.
- Internships/Traineeships: If you are interested in doing an internship or traineeship after your studies, you can apply for an Orientation Year residence permit. During this orientation year, your employer is not required to obtain a work permit for you, and you can work freely.
- Working Hours for Employed Non-EU Students: If you are a non-EU student with a residence permit for study and are employed, you are typically allowed to work up to a maximum of 16 hours per week throughout the year. During the summer months (June to August), you may be able to work full-time.
It is important to consult official government sources and immigration services for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding work permit requirements in the Netherlands.
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Work hour restrictions for students with a visa
If you are a non-EU/EEA international student in the Netherlands with a student visa or residence permit for study, you are allowed to work but there are restrictions on how many hours you can work. There are two options for working while studying:
- Work up to 16 hours per week: If you want to work part-time alongside your studies, you are allowed to work up to a maximum of 16 hours per week throughout the year. For this option, you need a work permit (called a TWV), which must be arranged by your employer before you start working.
- Work more than 16 hours per week as a self-employed individual: If you work as a self-employed individual, there are no restrictions on the number of hours you can work. You do not need a work permit for this option, but you must continue to meet the requirements for your residence permit for study.
It is important to note that only your employer can apply for the work permit, and this process can take approximately 5 weeks. As soon as you start working, you are required to have Dutch public health insurance.
After completing your programme, you can extend your stay in the Netherlands for up to 12 months by changing the status of your visa to a work visa, which may also require a work permit depending on the nature of your work.
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Self-employment and work hours
If you are a non-EU/EEA international student in the Netherlands, you can work as a self-employed person under certain conditions. Since 2017, the Dutch government has allowed non-EU/EEA students to become self-employed. This means that you can perform side jobs as a freelancer with no restrictions on the number of hours you work.
To work as a self-employed person in the Netherlands, you will need a residence permit for a self-employed person. This is issued by the IND as a sticker in your passport. The Netherlands also offers a special residence permit for foreign startups (innovative businesses). This temporary permit is granted for one year, allowing you to develop an innovative product or service.
If you are a non-EU/EEA student, you will need a long-stay visa (MVV) to work in the Netherlands as a self-employed person. You can apply for an MVV and residence permit through the Entry and Residence Procedure (TEV) at a Dutch embassy or consulate-general outside the Netherlands.
As a self-employed person in the Netherlands, you must meet certain conditions. For example, your work must make a contribution to the economy. You must also pay taxes and will build up pension entitlement.
If you are an international student with a residence permit for study, you are free to do self-employed work without needing a work permit. However, it is important to note that there are rules and regulations regarding self-employment. You should be aware of the criteria for entrepreneurship set out by the Employment Relationships Deregulation Act (DBA Act). If you do not meet these conditions, you may be considered ''false self-employed',' which can have serious financial consequences.
As an international student in the Netherlands, you may also work for an employer. However, you will need a work permit, which your employer must apply for before hiring you. There are restrictions on how many hours you can work: a maximum of 16 hours per week throughout the year, or full-time during the summer months (June to August). Additionally, as soon as you get a job, you will be required to take out Dutch public health insurance.
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Work permits and employer applications
If you are a non-EU/EEA international student in the Netherlands, you are generally allowed to work but there are some rules and regulations to be aware of.
Firstly, you will need a work permit (TWV) to work in the Netherlands. This is not the case for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who have the same rights as Dutch students to work without a permit and with no restrictions on their working hours.
As a non-EU/EEA international student, you can work up to a maximum of 16 hours per week throughout the year, or full-time in the summer months (June to August). You can also do an internship, as long as it is relevant to your studies, and you can work on a self-employed basis without a work permit and with no restrictions on your working hours.
Your employer must apply for your work permit before hiring you. This must be done at the UWV Werkbedrijf and the procedure takes approximately five weeks. You cannot start working before the work permit has been issued, and if you do, your employer may be fined and you may lose your residence permit.
There are some documents that need to be included with the application for a work permit, which can be checked on the UWV website. The procedure is fairly uncomplicated as it is not necessary to demonstrate that the job position cannot be filled by a Dutch or EU/EEA citizen.
If you are doing voluntary work, you do not need a work permit, but a so-called Volunteer Declaration (Vrijwilligersverklaring) is now sufficient.
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Health insurance and employment
If you are an international student in the Netherlands and you wish to work, you will need to take out Dutch public health insurance. This is a legal requirement. If you are in the Netherlands to study only and have no plans to work, then you cannot apply for Dutch health insurance. If you are paying for private health insurance, you will need to switch to a standard Dutch health insurance policy when you start working.
If you are a non-EU/EEA student, you can work during an orientation year, and your employer does not need to apply for a work permit for you. However, you will need to take out Dutch health insurance. If you are an EU/EEA student, you may be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which you should check with your insurer at home.
If you are an international student with a residence permit for study, you are free to do self-employed work in the Netherlands without a work permit, and there are no restrictions on the number of hours you can work. If you work for yourself, you should contact the SVB and request an assessment of your Wlz position. The SVB will decide whether you need to take out Dutch public health insurance.
If you are an international student with a residence permit for study and you want to work for an employer, you will need an additional work permit. Your employer must apply for this permit for you. There are restrictions on the number of hours you can work: a maximum of 16 hours per week or full time during the summer months (June to August).
Standard Dutch health insurance costs around €1,500 a year. International students working alongside their studies are often entitled to financial aid from the Dutch government to compensate for the costs of health insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
Students from the EU/EEA or Switzerland can work an unlimited number of hours in the Netherlands without a work permit.
Non-EU/EEA international students can work up to 16 hours per week with a study visa. If they want to work more hours than this, they need a work permit from their employer.
Non-EU/EEA international students can work an unlimited number of hours as self-employed individuals without a work permit, as long as they meet the requirements for their residence permit for study.
After completing your programme, you can extend your stay in the Netherlands for up to 12 months by changing the status of your visa to a work visa. You may also need to get a work permit depending on the nature of your work.
