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Non -EEA nationals

Non-EEA students and students from Bulgaria and Romania who wish to work during the academic year are required to have a category C work permit.

Category C work permit

Students must be residing legally in Belgium and be registered as full-time students at a Belgian educational institution. In addition, they must be registered in the foreigner's register and posses an identity card. The student applies for a work permit him or herself. Students may only begin to work after the permit has been issued.
The work permit:

  • Is valid for any employer
  • Is granted for a maximum period of 12 months (limited to the duration of the person’s stay in Belgium as a student)
  • Is valid for all employment activities
  • May be renewed without restriction

Non-European international students with a category C work permit are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year. It must be possible to combine the job with one’s studies, which means the student is not allowed to work during mandatory course time.

Official school vacation periods

During official school vacation periods, a non-EEA student may work without a work permit and no restrictions are imposed.
Non-European students who were registered at a Belgian educational institution during the previous academic year may work without a work permit. This means that students who arrive during the summer vacation preceding the academic year in which they are registering are not allowed to work.
The category C work permit confers no rights to a category B permit or a category A permit, which would permit establishment in Belgium.

Special cases

  • The foreign spouse of a Belgian
    These students are exempt from the requirement to have a work permit if they reside in Belgium. They can work without further formalities. Similarly, children who have a Belgian parent may work without further formalities on the condition that they are not yet 21, live with their parent and are considered dependants for tax purposes.
  • The spouse of a non-EEA student
    They must have a category B work permit to work in Belgium. This work permit is only issued if it can be proven that no qualified Belgian can be found for the job. The category B work permit is only valid for the employer requesting it. The chance that a spouse of a non-EEA student will be granted this permit is relatively small.
  • Students who are taking a traineeship in Belgium within the context of their study programme are not required to possess a work permit. It is advisable to draw up an agreement with the company where the student is a trainee; this will avoid any difficulty with the inspectors if there is dispute about the trainee’s presence in the company.
  • Most students are entitled to reside temporarily in Belgium for study purposes. Some students, however, have a special residency status, such as political refugees, international students married to a Belgian or other EEA national, etc. For these students, an inquiry must be carried out to see if their residency status allows them to work and/or whether additional formalities must be met.

More information about the work permit can be obtained from the VDAB office or the regional migration office.