Part-time work rules for international students in 8 European countries

Non-EU students can work part-time in all eight of our focus countries, but each one sets its limits differently: some count hours per week, some per year, and Germany counts working days. Sweden tightened its rules in 2026. Part-time work is valuable for experience and extra income, but it never replaces the proof of funds your visa requires.

The rules at a glance

This table summarises the general rules for non-EU students in higher education, as published by official sources when we checked. Your residence permit and your university's international office have the final word for your situation.

Country notes

Germany

German law limits student employment to 140 full working days a year. Days with four hours of work or less count as half days, which gives 280 half days. Jobs as a student assistant at a university or research institution are not counted against the allowance. Read the conditions printed on your residence permit, because they are what the immigration office will check.

Luxembourg

Guichet.lu sets the limit as an average of 15 hours a week over one month or four weeks, which equals 60 hours a month. During school holidays, students may work up to 40 hours a week. The EU Immigration Portal adds that bachelor's and BTS students cannot work in their first two semesters. See our post on why Luxembourg is an overlooked option.

France

Service-Public.fr sets the limit for most non-EU students at 964 hours a year, described as 60% of annual legal working time. The 12-month period runs from when your residence card is issued or your long-stay visa is validated. Exceeding it can lead to withdrawal or non-renewal of your permit.

Belgium

The EU Immigration Portal states that students can work up to 20 hours a week during the academic term, provided it does not interfere with their studies, and without a weekly limit during school holidays. Check the wording on your residence card and with your employer.

Italy

The EU Immigration Portal sets the limit at 20 hours a week, with a maximum of 1,040 working hours within 52 weeks.

Spain

Under Spain's immigration regulation in force since 20 May 2025, work alongside a study stay is allowed if it is compatible with the studies, and as a general rule may not exceed 30 hours a week. Breaking that limit is grounds for ending the study authorisation. Compare public and private options in public versus private universities in Spain and Italy.

Sweden

This is the biggest recent change. Migrationsverket announced that for decisions made from 11 June 2026, students on a residence permit for higher education are no longer allowed to work without limits. The starting point is a maximum of 15 hours a week during semesters, with no limit in June, July and August. Work connected to your education, such as student representation or traineeships at your university, is not capped.

The same rules introduce higher study-progress requirements for extensions. If your permit was granted before 11 June 2026, the new limits apply when you apply for an extension. Read Sweden or Finland for tech for how this affects the comparison.

Finland

Migri allows students to work an average of 30 hours a week, which it also expresses as 120 hours a month or 1,560 hours a year. Individual weeks can be longer if the average stays within the limit. Internships and thesis work that are part of the degree, agreed in advance for credits, are not counted.

Part-time work and your visa

Part-time income cannot replace proof of funds. Every one of these countries asks you to show sufficient money for your stay before the visa is issued, for example through a German blocked account. Our proof of funds guide explains the options.

It is also unwise to plan your budget around part-time work. Jobs take time to find, language matters for many of them, and your studies come first. Count on it as a supplement.

Make your part-time job count for your career

The best part-time jobs build your CV. Working-student roles, research assistant positions and internships related to your field are worth far more later than unrelated shifts, even if the pay is similar. Read what European employers look for to see why.

Talk to us about working while you study

If part-time work is part of your plan, book a free 30-minute call. We will check the rules for the countries on your list and help you build a budget that does not depend on income you cannot be sure of.