Working as an International Student in the Netherlands in 2026
So you are an international student and you want to work in the Netherlands, but Dutch bureaucracy feels like a puzzle. Fair enough! This guide walks you through working as an international student in the Netherlands in 2026: which permit you need, what you will earn, how health insurance and tax work, and what you can do after you graduate. All the amount below come from official Dutch sources and are current for 2026.
Do you need a work permit as an international student in 2026?
Before you apply for jobs, check whether you need a work permit, called a tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV in Dutch.
- If you are from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you can work freely. No permit, no hour limits.
- If you are from outside the EU or EEA, your employer must apply for a TWV on your behalf. You cannot apply for it yourself.
If you need a TWV, there are limits to how much you may work. UWV, the Dutch employee insurance agency, states the rule plainly: a working student works a maximum of 16 hours per week, or full-time in June, July and August. You cannot combine the two, so a full-time summer job does not buy you extra hours during the academic year. The permit is valid for a maximum of one year, you need a valid residence permit for study purposes, and your employer must pay you a market-rate salary.
Your employer applies through the UWV employer portal, and UWV decides within five weeks of receiving a complete application. Plan for that, because you cannot speed up the process. You will see other websites quoting anything from two to nine weeks, but five weeks is the official decision period. Recruit a Student words with employers who already know this process, which saves you a lot of paperwork.
How much will you earn? Dutch minimum wage in 2026
The Netherlands has a statutory minimum hourly wage, and it is the same for every sector. Since 2024 there is no minimum monthly, weekly or daily wage anymore, only the hourly rate. These are the gross amounts for 2026:
| Age | Minimum wage from July 1, 2026 |
| 21+ | €14,99 |
| 20 years old | €11,99 |
| 19 years old | €8,99 |
| 18 years old | €7,50 |
| 17 years old | €5,92 |
| 16 years old | €5,17 |
| 15 years old | €4,50 |
These are minimums. Many student jobs pay above them, and collective labor agreements often set a higher rate for the sector you work in. Recruit a student is the perfect legal employer for student. We handle your contract, payroll, insurance and administration.
Do you need a BSN to work in the Netherlands?
Yes, a BSN, or citizen service number, is a nine-digit number you need for payroll, tax and health insurance. You receive it when you register in the Personal Records Database, the BRP. How you register depends on how long you stay.
- Staying longer than four months? You register as a resident at the municipality where you live, and you must do this within five days of arriving. Registering is free, and you can register at a permanent address or a correspondence address.
- Staying four months of less? You register as a non-resident through the RNI, the Registration of Non-residents, at a dedicated RNI desk rather than a regular municipal counter. You still get a BSN this way.
Your BSN stays yours forever, so you never have to apply for a new one if you return to the Netherlands later.
How does Dutch health insurance work when you start working?
This is the rule that catches most international students off guard. If you work in the Netherlands, you must take out Dutch health insurance, even if you already have a policy from your home country and even if you do not live in the Netherlands. This obligation kicks in when you have a Dutch employer, work for that employer on a regular basis, and pay payroll tax. Working just a few hours a week or on a zero-hour contract still counts.
You have four months to arrange it. In 2026, Dutch basic health insurance costs around €157 per month, which is €1,884 per year on average according to the government. On top of that there is a mandatory own risk, the eigen risico, of €385 per year. That is the amount of care you pay for yourself before your insurer starts covering costs.
Important: international student policies from providers such as AON, OOM, Cigna or Allianz are not Dutch basic health insurance. They do not satisfy the legal requirement if you are working.
Miss the deadline and you are uninsured, which means you pay your own medical bills. The CAK will send you a letter, after which you get three months to insure yourself. If you still do not get insured, you receive a fine of €529,74 in 2026. That fine can be imposed twice. After the second one, the CAK registers you with an insurer and withholds an administrative premium of €172,70 per month from your income for twelve months. Arranging your insurance the week you sign your contract is much cheaper.
How to apply for the Dutch healthcare allowance in 2026
Most students on a student income qualify for a monthly government contribution towards their premium. It is called zorgtoeslag, or healthcare allowance, and you apply for it online through the Dutch tax authority, the Belastingdienst.
| Zorgtoeslag 2026, single applicant | Amount |
| Maximum per month | €129 |
| Full amount up to an income of | €29.500 |
| No allowance from an income of | €40.857 |
| Maximum assets on 1 January 2026 | €146.011 |
From and income of €29,500 the allowance tapers off gradually, from €129 down to €6 per month, and from €40,857 it stops altogether. So a student earning a typical part-time income usually receives the full or close to the full amount. If your insurance costs €157 and you receive €129, your net cost is €28 per month. Apply as soon as your policy starts, because the allowance is not paid out retroactively for an unlimited period.
How does tax work for international students in 2026?
You pay income tax like everyone else, but the Dutch system is fairly student-friendly. In 2026 the first bracket of box 1 is 35,75% on taxable income up to €38.883. Two tax credits then reduce what you actually pay: the general tax credit, worth up to €3.115 in 2026, and the labor tax credit, which is worth more the more you work up to a point. On a typical student income these credits mean you pay little of no income tax in practice, and any payroll tax already withheld usually comes back to you.
You file your taxes once a year for the previous year. The regular filing season runs every year from March 1 to May 1. So in March 2027, you file your 2026 income.
One important exception for internationals. If you did not live in the Netherlands for the entire calendar year, which applies to almost everyone in their year of arrival or departure, you file an M-form instead of the standard form. The online M-form only opens on May 1, not on March 1. Do not panic if you cannot find your form in March: check whether you need the M-form first.
Can you stay and work after you graduate?
Yes, the orientation year for highly educated persons, often called the orientation year visa or zoekjaar, lets you stay in the Netherlands for twelve months after graduating to find work. During that year you may work freely: no TWV is required, and there is no our limit.
- The permit is valid for one year and cannot be extended.
- You must apply within three years of finishing your studies, your PhD or your research. This is a common misunderstanding, since many sources claim it is three months.
- The IND fee in 2026 is €254 for a first application or a change of residence purpose.
Many international students who start with a part-time job through Recruit a Student stay on with the same employer after graduation, which makes the transition a lot smoother.
Why find a job through Recruit a Student?
Recruit a Student is the specialist in flexible student work in the Netherlands, and finding a job as an international student does not have to be complication.
- Active since 1999, with a pool of more than 25.000 students.
- Nationwide coverage with local branches, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Tilburg, Den Bosch, Breda and Leeuwarden.
- New vacancies every week for international and Dutch students.
- Jobs across every field from marketing and finance to IT, logistics and hospitality.
- Flexible hours that fit around your class schedule.
- We are your legal employer so your contract, payroll, insurance and administration are taken care of.
- Often a suitable match within a few days.
Do you have a question about Dutch employment rules, your permit or your contact? Get in touch and we will walk you through it!
Frequently asked questions about working in the Netherlands
Can international students work full-time in the Netherlands?
If you are from outside the EU or EEA and you need a work permit, you may work full-time only in June, July or August. During the rest of the academic year the limit is 16 hours per week. Students from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland can work without a permit and without an hour limit.
How long does Dutch work permit take?
UWV decides on a TWV application within five weeks of receiving a complete application. Your employer submits it through the UWV employer portal, and for a working student no supporting documents need to be sent with the application. Start the process well before you want to begin work.
Do I need a BSN to work in the Netherlands?
Yes, you need a BSN for payroll, tax, and health insurance. You receive one when you register in the Personal Records Database. If you stay longer than four months you register as a resident at your municipality within five days of arriving. If you stay four months or less you register as a non-resident through an RNI desk, and you still get a BSN.
Do I need Dutch health insurance if I only work a few hours a week?
Yes, the obligation applies as soon as you have a Dutch employer, work on a regular basis and pay payroll tax, regardless of how many hours you work. A zero-hour contract counts too. An international student policy from a provider such as AON or OOM is not Dutch basic insurance and does not meet the requirement.
How much health insurance allowance can I get in 2026?
A single applicant can receive up to €129 per month in zorgtoeslag in 2026. You get the full amount up to an income of €29.500 per year, after which it tapers off. From €40.857 per year you no longer qualify. You assets must stay below €146.011 on January 1, 2026.
When do I file my Dutch tax return?
The regular filing season runs from March 1 tot May 1 for the previous calendar year. If you did not live in the Netherlands for the whole year, you file an M-form instead, and the online M-form only becomes available on May 1.
Can I stay in the Netherlands after graduating?
Yes, through the orientation year for highly educated persons (zoekjaar in Dutch). It gives you twelve months of residence to look for work, during which you may work without a permit. You must apply within three years of finishing your studies, and the IND fee in 2026 is €254.
Are you ready to start working in the Netherlands?
Working as an international student is not just about earning extra money. It is a chance to gain extra money. It is a chance to gain experience, practice your Dutch and build a career here. Whether you are looking for a flexible weekend job or a position related to your studies, Recruit a Student connects you with employers across the country.
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