3. From outside the EU: work during and after your studies

Working while you study

Under the EU directive on students and researchers, international students with a student residence permit may work at least 15 hours a week outside their studies. Each country sets its exact limit – some allow more – and some require the employer or the student to notify the authorities. Check the rules on your permit and on the national immigration website before you sign a contract.

After graduation: time to find a job

When you finish your studies, the same directive gives you the right to stay for at least 9 months to look for work or set up a business. You usually need to apply for this extension before your student permit expires, so plan ahead.

Permits for work

• EU Blue Card – for highly qualified workers with a job offer or contract of at least 6 months and a salary above a national threshold (set between 1 and 1.6 times the country’s average gross annual salary). It makes it easier to move to another EU country later.
• National work and residence permits – each country has its own schemes, for example for skilled workers, researchers, seasonal workers or graduates.
• Single permit – in most EU countries, work and residence are granted in one procedure.

Note: Denmark and Ireland do not apply the EU rules on students and the EU Blue Card – they have their own national schemes. Outside the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom also have their own rules.

The EU Immigration Portal explains the rules country by country, in several languages. Studying first? Studying in Europe – 35 countries »

Sources: Directive (EU) 2016/801 on students and researchers · Directive (EU) 2021/1883 – EU Blue Card · EU Immigration Portal Checked: 3 October 2026.