Working part-time in Antwerp as an international student

Everything you need to know about working as a student in Antwerp.

  • Many students take on part-time jobs to earn extra money, gain valuable work experience, and expand their social network.
  • However, your studies should always come first. A fulltime international programme at KdG means a commitment of up to 40 hours per week. So if you do plan to work, it’s essential to manage your time.
  • To help you with this, KdG recommends working no more than 12 hours per week and reminds students that part-time work should never interfere with your mandatory course time.
  • At Student At Work you'll find more advice and information about student jobs. Here you can also create a profile and track your hours.

As a fulltime student in Belgium, you are allowed to work a maximum 650 hours per year. However, we recommend a 12-hour weekly limit for all students (EEA and non-EEA) to ensure you prioritise your studies.

  • Non-EEA students
    • Are you from outside the European Economic Area? You must have a valid residence permit to work. Your electronic residence permit card will indicate your working allowance.
    • Labour Market Limited: Most non-EEA students receive a residence permit marked 'labour market limited'. This means you can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. This is a strict condition of your study visa. However, you may work unlimited hours during official university holidays.
    • Labour Market Unlimited: Some non-EEA nationals receive a 'labour market unlimited' residence permit based on their individual residency rights. Examples include long-term residents or family members of EEA nationals. If your permit states 'labour market unlimited,' you can work under the same conditions as EEA students, with no restrictions on working hours.
    • Good to know: When you graduate as a non-EEA national with a valid residence permit, you can apply for a stayback visa. You may seek fulltime work during this orientation year.
  • EEA students
    • Students who are nationals of one of the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) and students with the Swiss nationality do not require a work permit.
    • You will also have a yearly work package of 650 hours but without restrictions on the number of hours per week you may work during the academic year.
  • The typical average rate of pay for student jobs in Antwerp is around 13 euros per hour (before social contribution).
  • If you start work under a student agreement and stay within your hours package, you’ll only have to pay a solidarity contribution to social security. The solidarity contribution amounts to 2.71% of your gross wage. Your employer must also pay a contribution, equal to 5.42% of your gross wage.
  • International students registered in Belgium will receive a tax form in April or May each year.
  • You are required to complete this tax form even if you did not earn an income, or if your income is below the taxable allowance.
My job involves organizing events for children around gaming, movie culture, arts and more! We organize workshops for schools, businesses and other institutions. I found my job online through www.student.be. I work typically around 3-4 hours a week, and usually on a Sunday. I earn around €12.57 on most jobs, but some workshops pay more. It depends on the company that pays for our services.
MJ, 2nd year student of Applied Computer Science
MJ
EEA student, 2nd year Applied Computer Science

Antwerp is a busy international city with 50000+ students so there are always vacancies for student jobs. English is widely spoken so that is also to your advantage, if you are not a native Dutch speaker. But students also use this opportunity to learn a little Dutch which definitely comes in handy.

It is common for students to find work in:

  • Bars
  • Cafes
  • Restaurants
  • Supermarkets
  • Shops
  • Warehouses

But you never know what you may discover in Antwerp!

I work in 2 places; as a dishwasher at a restaurant and an order picker at a warehouse. The warehouse job pays €14,92/hour & €2,91/shift for maaltijdcheques (meal vouchers) The restaurant pays €14,1/hour. As an international student from outside the EEA, I can only work 20 hours a week during the academic year but during the Winter break and Summer vacation I can work more hours.
Uju, Non-EEA student, 2nd year Multimedia & Creative Technologies
Uju
Non-EEA student, 2nd year Multimedia & Creative Technologies

These are useful websites that our students use to look for part-time work: 

One of the best ways to find a job is through your network of friends and classmates once you arrive in Belgium. You can also chat with a student now to ask them if and how they manage a student job alongside their studies.

MJ’s Tip: Use your connections as much as possible; the people you meet in Antwerp. Networking is key and there are always people who know about companies looking for students.

Uju’s Tip: Keep applying, even when you don't get any response. In my case, I never had a part-time job till now and it felt like every place needed someone with experience. If your friend works somewhere, ask them if there are extra positions. Restaurants are the popular choice for part-time jobs but keep an open mind.

William’s Tip: One way I found to earn a little cash, meet other people, and gain some skills has been volunteering as a student ambassador. This means offering my insights, as I am now, to help future students like you. I’ve chatted with prospects and attended info sessions. I’ve shown people around Antwerp. And although it is by no means a regular income, it’s been a valuable experience and one I recommend.