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Guide

How many hours international students may work, country by country

The weekly limit on paid work during term for students on a study visa, from each government’s own page.

By the Studies Multiverse team · figures checked up to 26 September 2026 · how we check

A part-time job can pay for rent, but only within the hours the visa allows. Working more than the limit is one of the most common ways students lose their permit. The limits below apply during term; most countries allow full-time work in the official holidays, and each guide says so where it does.

The short answer

  • Most hours: Chile (30), Finland (30), Hungary (30) hours a week.
  • The most common limit is 20 hours a week, in 22 countries.
  • 24 countries set no weekly figure we could source, or do not let students work; their guides explain the rule.

Every country, most hours first

CountryLimit during termChecked
Chile30 hours a week24 September 2026
Finland30 hours a week24 September 2026
Hungary30 hours a week24 September 2026
Spain30 hours a week24 September 2026
Japan28 hours a week24 September 2026
New Zealand25 hours a week26 September 2026
Australia24 hours a week24 September 2026
Canada24 hours a week24 September 2026
Austria20 hours a week24 September 2026
Belgium20 hours a week24 September 2026
Bulgaria20 hours a week26 September 2026
Croatia20 hours a week24 September 2026
Cyprus20 hours a week24 September 2026
Denmark20 hours a week24 September 2026
France20 hours a week24 September 2026
Germany20 hours a week24 September 2026
Greece20 hours a week24 September 2026
Ireland20 hours a week24 September 2026
Italy20 hours a week24 September 2026
Latvia20 hours a week24 September 2026
Lithuania20 hours a week24 September 2026
Malaysia20 hours a week24 September 2026
Malta20 hours a week24 September 2026
Norway20 hours a week24 September 2026
Qatar20 hours a week24 September 2026
Serbia20 hours a week26 September 2026
South Africa20 hours a week24 September 2026
Taiwan20 hours a week24 September 2026
United Kingdom20 hours a week24 September 2026
United States20 hours a week24 September 2026
Netherlands16 hours a week24 September 2026
Singapore16 hours a week24 September 2026
Albania15 hours a week25 September 2026
Luxembourg15 hours a week26 September 2026
Sweden15 hours a week24 September 2026
Switzerland15 hours a week26 September 2026
North Macedonia10 hours a week25 September 2026
South Korea10 hours a week24 September 2026

Some countries count the limit per year or per fortnight, or give different limits by level of study; the figure here is the weekly equivalent the government states, and the country guide gives the full rule and the official source.

Questions

Can international students work while studying?

In 38 of the 62 countries we cover, yes, up to a weekly limit during term. The most common limit is 20 hours a week.

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