Foreign students

Side job

Foreign students who are interested in a side job are largely subject to the same rules as foreign workers. Free movement of workers applies to most European students; they are allowed to work in the Netherlands. Non-European students require a 'No employment restrictions' (Arbeid is vrij toegestaan) endorsement or a work permit. Employers can apply for a work permit at the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency). The application should include the number of hours the student is to be deployed. During the term of the permit, a student may:

• work full-time only in the months of June, July and August
• or a maximum of 16 hours per week.

Work placement

In some situations, a work permit is required:

Work permit sometimes required in case of a training course abroad

In some cases an employer has to apply for a work permit for the trainee if the trainee comes from abroad to do a traineeship. Trainees holding a passport from 1 of the EEA countries or Switzerland have no employment restrictions in the Netherlands. Trainees of other nationalities need a work permit or single permit.

• If the traineeship lasts less than 3 months, the employer applies for a work permit to the UWV.
• If the traineeship lasts longer, the employer applies for a single permit to the IND. A single permit is a combined work and residence permit.

No work permit required in case of a training course in the Netherlands

Is the trainee studying in the Netherlands? And is the traineeship relevant to that training course? If so, the employer doesn't need to apply for a work permit as the trainee already have a residence permit for their study. However, arrangements must be made with the student, the educational institution and the employer, outlined in a traineeship agreement. The Netherlands Labour Authority may ask the employer for the agreement.