Working in the Netherlands as a student: hours, the TWV permit, and the orientation year

Non-EU students in the Netherlands can work alongside their studies, but the rules are specific and the responsibility for the paperwork sits with your employer, not you. Rules change, so confirm the current position with the IND and the UWV before you take a job.

How many hours you can work

As a non-EU student you may choose one of two options — you cannot combine them:

Work a maximum of 16 hours per week, year-round; or
Work full-time, but only in June, July and August.

You pick one arrangement, not both. Plan around your study load and your living costs when you decide.

The work permit (TWV)

Before you start, your employer must obtain a work permit (a TWV) from the UWV (the employee insurance agency). The TWV is free, but the employer — not the student — must apply for it. Make sure any prospective employer understands this requirement.

Health insurance once you work

Taking paid work changes your insurance obligations. Once you have a paid job — including a paid internship — you are legally required to switch from private international cover to standard Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering). See our healthcare in the Netherlands guide.

After you graduate: the orientation year

The orientation year (zoekjaar) — formally the "orientation year for highly educated persons" — is a one-year residence permit with free access to the labour market, meaning no TWV is required during that year. You can apply for it within three years of graduating. It is the main route from study to skilled work in the Netherlands; see the visas guide for how permits fit together.