Do I need a separate visa for internships during my studies in Europe?

Question

Hema A · Accepted Answer

Not always,  whether you need a separate visa for an internship in Europe depends on the country, whether it&rsquo;s paid, and if it&rsquo;s part of your degree.

In the Netherlands, if the internship is part of your academic program, no extra visa is needed. But employers often need to register it with the IND.
In France, all internships require a &ldquo;convention de stage&rdquo;. If it&rsquo;s tied to your coursework, your student visa covers it.
In Germany, your student residence permit lets you work 120 full or 240 half days per year, including internships. If the internship exceeds this, official permission is needed.
After graduation, most countries don&rsquo;t allow internships under a student visa. You may need a job-seeking visa or a separate work/internship permit.

The rules change fast, especially for paid roles. Always confirm with your university or local authorities before starting.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

In most European countries, if you're on a valid student visa or residence permit, you usually don&rsquo;t need a separate visa to do an internship, but it depends on how the internship is structured.
For example, in Germany, students can do internships for up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year without special approval. If the internship is paid or longer, it may require permission from the local immigration office or the Federal Employment Agency.
In France, if the internship is part of your course, your student status covers it &mdash; but you must sign a &ldquo;convention de stage&rdquo; (training agreement) with the company and your university. This applies even to unpaid internships.
Some residence permits clearly mention internship conditions. Paid roles, hours per week, and whether it&rsquo;s academic or voluntary all affect the rules. Always check locally before starting.

S Raghav · Answer

A separate visa for internships in Europe usually depends on the country where someone is studying. Many European countries allow students to intern on their existing study permit as long as the internship is connected to their course and the university approves it.
Germany and France generally don&rsquo;t require a new visa for curricular internships, but they do expect the internship agreement (like a contract signed by the company and the university) to be in place.
The Netherlands allows part-time work and internships under the same residence permit, but some roles need an additional work authorization that the employer handles. One thing worth checking early is whether the internship is mandatory or optional, because the rules can change based on that. Planning ahead removes most of the issues, especially if the internship hours overlap with the limitations set on student work.

Jayant M · Answer

Most students don&rsquo;t realize that Europe doesn&rsquo;t follow one fixed rule for internship visas. The requirements change by country.
&bull; Germany lets students intern on their regular study permit if the university signs off on it. &bull; France usually works fine with a standard study visa too, as long as the internship agreement is registered properly. &bull; Italy may allow internships under the study permit, but paid roles sometimes need employer authorization. &bull; Spain often asks for an internship agreement and proof that it links to the study program.
One thing that helps is checking the limits on weekly work hours, because going over the allowed time can cause problems even if no separate visa is required.