Student Visas
Part-time work while studying: where to find the official rules for each country
Work limits for students change often and differ by country, course and visa. Where to check the current rules, and the common mistakes that can risk a visa.
Admission Mantra Editorial Team. Published . 6 min read.
Most popular study destinations let international students work part-time, but the limits are set by immigration rules that change regularly. A figure you read online last year may already be out of date. This guide does not quote hours; instead it shows where each country publishes its current rules, and what to check.
What the rules usually cover
- How many hours you may work in term time, and whether the limit is per week or per fortnight.
- Whether you may work full-time during official holidays.
- Which kinds of work are not allowed, such as self-employment or certain jobs.
- Whether the limit depends on your level of study or type of institution.
- When work is allowed to start, for example only once your course has begun.
Where to check, country by country
- United Kingdom: the 'What you can and cannot do' section of the Student visa page on GOV.UK. Your hours are also printed on your visa document.
- Australia: the Department of Home Affairs page for the Student visa (subclass 500) and its visa conditions.
- Canada: IRCC's pages on working as an international student, on and off campus.
- Ireland: Irish Immigration Service Delivery's information for non-EEA students on Stamp 2 permission.
- New Zealand: Immigration New Zealand's information on work rights for student visa holders.
- Germany: the Make it in Germany portal and the rules of your local foreigners' authority.
- Netherlands: the IND's pages for international students and the rules on work permits for students.
Your university's international student office is usually the best place to confirm how the rules apply to your course and your term dates.
Mistakes that can put a visa at risk
- Working more hours than allowed, even for one week.
- Treating your own vacation as an official holiday. Only the university's published vacation periods count.
- Taking cash-in-hand work without a contract or payslip.
- Starting work before the course begins, where the rules do not allow it.
- Self-employment or freelancing where it is not permitted.
Do not plan your budget around part-time work
Visa authorities usually ask you to show that you can pay tuition and living costs without relying on future earnings. Part-time work can help with day-to-day expenses and give you useful experience, but jobs take time to find, especially in the first months. Plan your finances so that you can manage even if work is slow to arrive.
Tax and paperwork
Wherever you work, you will usually need a local tax number or social security number and a bank account, and your employer should give you a contract and payslips. Keep these safely. They help if you are ever asked to show that you kept to your work limits, and they are needed for any tax refund you may be due.
Balancing work and study
Courses abroad expect a lot of independent study. Students who work long hours often find their grades suffer. Look at your timetable, assessment deadlines and travel time before committing to regular shifts.
During counselling we point you to the official rules for your destination and help you build a budget that does not depend on part-time income.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Student visa, what you can and cannot do (opens in a new tab)
- Australian Department of Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Work while you study (opens in a new tab)
- Irish Immigration Service Delivery (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration New Zealand (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany (opens in a new tab)
- IND (Netherlands) (opens in a new tab)
Rules and fees change. Always check the official source before you act.