Work and Stay in Belgium After Graduation: Student Jobs & Orientation Year

Yes, international students can work in Belgium: with a valid residence permit you may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and without that weekly limit during official holidays. After you graduate, Belgium offers non-EU graduates a 12-month orientation year to look for a job or set up a business, with full access to the labour market during that time.

This guide explains both stages, the conditions and the honest limitations. All rules come from Study in Flanders and Study in Belgium, which point to the Belgian Immigration Office for the latest details.

Working while you study

The rules are essentially the same in Flanders and the French Community:

• During the academic year: a maximum of 20 hours per week, and the work must be compatible with your studies.
• During official holidays (winter, spring and summer): you can work more than 20 hours per week.
• Not during class time: Study in Flanders states you cannot work when you are supposed to attend classes or other study activities.
• Not before your first year: you are not allowed to work during the summer before the start of your first academic year in Belgium.
• Valid permit required: you can work during the validity of your residence permit, for any employer in Belgium, once your permit lists your work rights.

Do you need a work permit?

No. Study in Belgium explains that since 2018 students no longer request a separate work permit. Instead, the municipality issues a single permit that states your work options. You must be registered in the foreigners' register and hold your residence card (A-card / CIRE). In Flanders, an electronic residence permit or an Annex 15 is enough if you are legally resident.

Can a student job pay for your studies?

Realistically, no. You must already prove €1,062 per month (2026/27) for the visa before you arrive, and the official portals do not recommend relying on a job. Treat part-time work as extra income and experience, not as your budget. See our cost of studying in Belgium guide.

Where to find student jobs

• Your institution's job service (Study in Flanders recommends contacting it first).
• In the French Community: student.be, actiris.be (Brussels) and leforem.be (Wallonia), as listed by Study in Belgium.
• Campus jobs, research assistant roles and internships linked to your program.

Many student jobs in shops, restaurants and offices expect Dutch or French. English-only students often find more options on campus or in international companies.

The orientation year: staying after graduation

After completing your studies, you can ask to extend your stay in Belgium for up to 12 months to look for work or set up a company, with a view to obtaining a residence permit for employment. Study in Flanders calls it an opportunity for non-EEA citizens to receive a 12-month residence permit.

Who qualifies

• Non-EU nationals who live in Belgium and are registered at a Belgian higher education institution, or who stayed in Belgium for studies through a mobility program.
• Graduates of a Belgian associate, bachelor's, master's, postgraduate or doctoral program.
• Holders of a foreign EU degree who completed a mobility period in Belgium, for example through Erasmus Mundus.

When and where to apply

With a Belgian diploma, apply at your municipality of residence at the latest 15 days before your student residence permit expires. With a foreign diploma and a Belgian mobility period, apply at the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence within 3 months of obtaining your diploma.

Documents (Belgian diploma)

1. 1.Valid passport.
2. 2.Proof of a recognised diploma of at least qualification level 5 (associate degree) from a Belgian higher education institution.
3. 3.Your Belgian residence permit based on studies.
4. 4.Proof of health insurance.
5. 5.Proof of solvency (sufficient means); check the current amount with the Immigration Office or your institution.

Your rights during the orientation year

• Once you apply, you receive an Annex 15, and your orientation year starts then. The Annex 15 is not an approval; it shows your application is being processed.
• With the Annex 15 you have unlimited access to the Belgian labour market and can work full-time while your A-card is pending.
• The A-card is valid for 12 months and cannot be extended.
• You must make genuine attempts to find work or prepare self-employment, and the government may ask for proof.
• You have no right to Belgian unemployment benefits, and applying for government financial support might end your orientation year early.

A practical tip: start looking for work during your last year, not after graduation. The orientation year begins as soon as you receive the Annex 15, so every month counts. Build a CV in the Belgian style, ask your professors and internship supervisors for references, and register with the regional job services listed by Study in Belgium (Actiris in Brussels, Le Forem in Wallonia) where relevant.

Further study: master's and PhD in Belgium

Many graduates continue studying instead. With a Belgian bachelor's you can apply to a master's, and with a master's you can apply for a PhD. In the French Community, a PhD requires a 300-ECTS master's with an average of 14/20, plus a thesis proposal and a supervisor's agreement. PhD fees are low: Study in Belgium gives €835 for the first year and about €50 per year afterwards in the French Community, and Ghent University charges non-EEA PhD students €2,458.40 at first enrolment and at the defence.

If you continue studying, keep renewing your A-card on time: start the renewal 90 days and no later than 15 days before expiry, and do not let it expire while you are abroad.

From the orientation year to a work permit

The orientation year is meant to lead to a residence permit for employment or self-employment. The official student portals do not describe that next step in detail, so check the Belgian Immigration Office and your future employer's HR team for the current procedure before your 12 months run out.

Timeline: from first year to orientation year

Mistakes that can cost you your right to stay

• Letting the A-card expire: you need a valid student permit to apply for the orientation year, and the deadline is 15 days before expiry.
• Working too many hours in term: going over 20 hours a week can make the Immigration Office question whether you are still mainly a student.
• Starting work too early: the summer before your first academic year is off-limits for work.
• Applying for social assistance during the orientation year: this might end your orientation year early.
• Relying on informal advice: rules change; check the Immigration Office and your institution's international office.

Tips to improve your job chances

• Learn some Dutch or French during your studies; Study in Flanders lists Dutch courses for international students.
• Choose a program with internships or company projects.
• Use your university's career service early, not in your final month.
• Plan the orientation year application before your final exams, so you do not miss the 15-day limit.

Ready to start? Read our complete guide to studying in Belgium, the Belgium student visa guide, and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.