Netherlands Student Work Hours: What 16 Hours a Week Allows

TL;DR: International students from outside the EU who hold a Dutch residence permit for study can work up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August. The employer, not the student, must get a work permit called a TWV from the UWV before you start. Once you take a job, you must also take out Dutch public health insurance. Work helps with living costs, but it does not replace the funds you must show for your permit.

A part-time job is part of many students' plans for the Netherlands, whether they apply from Sri Lanka, India or elsewhere. The rules are short, but they work differently from the UK or New Zealand. The permission sits with your employer, the hours are lower, and a job brings an insurance duty many students do not expect.

Here is what the 16-hour rule allows, what your employer has to do and what to budget for.

Planning a Dutch master's and wondering how work fits your budget? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

The 16-hour rule

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) says, in its guidance updated on 13 July 2026, that a student with a residence permit for study is allowed to work at most 16 hours per week, or full-time in June, July and August.

That gives you two patterns:

Sixteen hours is lower than the 20 hours a week allowed during term in the UK, and the 25 hours a week in New Zealand. If you are comparing destinations, our guides to UK student work hours and New Zealand student work hours set out those rules.

Want help checking whether your budget works before you rely on a part-time job?

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Your employer needs a work permit, not you

This is the part that surprises most students. In the Netherlands, the work permit for a non-EU student is a TWV, short for tewerkstellingsvergunning. The IND says the employer must get it from the UWV, the Dutch employee insurance agency, before employing a student with a study residence permit.

So when you apply for a job, tell the employer early that you are a non-EU student and that they will need a TWV. Some small employers have never applied for one. Do not start work, even for a trial shift, until the permit is in place.

The Dutch Labour Inspectorate checks that employers hold a valid TWV and that students stay within their hours. The IND says breaches lead to fines and the IND being informed, which can put your residence permit at risk.

A job means Dutch public health insurance

Study in NL, the official study portal run by Nuffic, says you are required to have Dutch public health insurance if you have a part-time job. The private student insurance many students buy on arrival is no longer enough once you start work.

Utrecht University's guidance adds that going without it can lead to a fine and backdated premiums. The upside is that Dutch public insurance may make you eligible for a healthcare allowance, called zorgtoeslag, through the Dutch Tax Office, which can offset part of the cost.

Budget for the insurance from the month you start work, and switch policies before your first shift.

Do not count work towards your funds

The money you show for your residence permit has to be in place before you arrive, so future wages cannot count towards it. Plan your study budget on your savings, sponsor or loan, and treat part-time income as a help with day-to-day costs. Our guide to Netherlands proof of funds explains how much to show and how.

Sixteen hours a week also means study comes first. Many taught master's programmes in the Netherlands are short and intensive. A job that leaves you behind in a short programme costs more than it earns. After you graduate, the orientation year is the stage where full-time work opens up.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Your funds evidence from a Sri Lankan bank or sponsor must cover your full study budget on its own. Do not include expected part-time income in your planning.
• Travel insurance or student insurance bought before you leave Sri Lanka stops being enough once you start work. Switch to Dutch public health insurance before your first shift.

FAQ

How many hours can international students work in the Netherlands?

Non-EU students with a study residence permit can work up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August.

Do I need a work permit to work as a student in the Netherlands?

Your employer needs a TWV work permit from the UWV before you start. You do not apply for it yourself.

Do I need Dutch health insurance if I work part-time?

Yes. Once you have a part-time job, you must take out Dutch public health insurance. You may then qualify for the healthcare allowance.

Can students from Sri Lanka count part-time income as proof of funds?

No. The funds you show for your residence permit must be in place before you arrive. Future wages do not count.

What happens if I work more than 16 hours?

The Dutch Labour Inspectorate checks hours and permits. Breaches can lead to fines and the IND being informed, which can affect your permit.

PS: Sixteen hours a week can cover part of your living costs, but the plan has to work without it. If you want help choosing a Dutch programme and budget that fit, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›