Working while you study

The conditions described here concern students with a Dutch study residence permit. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or hold another kind of residence document, the work rules may differ. Read the conditions for your own status before using a general student checklist.

Your residence document and the IND study page explain the link between your studies and permission to stay. A job offer does not change the conditions on that permit. Ask your institution or the IND if you are unsure which rules apply.

For many non-EU students, an employer must arrange a work permit before paid employment begins. The IND also describes limits on when or how much a student may work. Check the current options on the official page instead of relying on an old hours figure.

Tell a prospective employer that you have a study residence permit and ask whether they will arrange the required permission. Agree on a start date only after the employer has checked the rule that applies to the proposed job and work pattern.

Your study permit is for education, so paid work should be planned around your programme and permit conditions. If your course, institution or study progress changes, ask the institution what that means for the permit before making a long-term work commitment.

Different rules can apply to an internship or work as a self-employed person. Do not assume that permission for one kind of activity covers another. Use the IND guidance for the specific activity and discuss unclear cases with the institution.