All AnswersCan I work part-time on a student visa in countries like France, Germany, or Ireland?
Asked by Riya Ashok Sharma 11 days ago
Content Writer
Yes, international students are allowed to work part-time in Europe, but the limits depend on the country — and you must be actively enrolled in a full-time course at a recognized institution.
- In France, students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during breaks. No separate work permit is required as long as the student residence permit is valid.
- In Germany, the 120 full days or 240 half days rule applies to all paid work — including part-time jobs, internships, and freelance gigs. Anything beyond this needs special permission from the local immigration office.
- In Ireland, students on Stamp 2 status can work 20 hours per week during term and 40 hours during holidays, but only if their course is on the ILEP-approved list.
Whichever country you're in, make sure part-time work doesn’t conflict with your study obligations. Immigration authorities can check if it’s affecting your academic progress.
Yes, you can work part-time on a student visa in France, Germany, and Ireland, but each country has its own rules , and you must be enrolled in a recognized full-time program for it to be legal.
In France, international students can work up to 964 hours per year, which averages 20 hours per week during the academic term and full-time during holidays. No extra permit is needed if your residence card is valid, but your studies must remain the priority.
In Germany, the rule is 120 full days or 240 half days per year — and that applies to all kinds of employment, including paid internships. If you want to exceed this, prior approval from the Ausländerbehörde is required.
In Ireland, students on Stamp 2 can work 20 hours/week during term and 40 hours/week on holidays, as long as they’re studying in an approved full-time program from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).