Internship as part of a Dutch program
If non-EU students undertake an internship as part of a Dutch educational program, employers do not need to apply for a work permit (TWV). There is also no need for a change in the study residence permit. However, the Aliens Employment Act stipulates that a tripartite agreement must be signed by the student, the internship employer, and the higher education institution.

This is required because the university or college is an recognized sponsor and thereby applies for the study residence permit for the non-EU student. The recognized sponsor has certain rights and obligations, such as monitoring the study progress of the non-EU student.

Together with the higher education sector and the relevant government agencies, a standard format has been developed, which is in line with the legislation for the requirement of the tripartite internship agreement: Standard internship agreement for non-EU/EEA-students (120.12 kB)

There must always be a (digital) copy of the internship agreement available with the internship employer and the higher education institution.

Internship allowance
An employer can provide the intern with an internship allowance. The employer decides whether an allowance is offered and how much it is. More information about the internship allowance in English can be found on the Study in Holland website. How to employ an international student as an intern is clearly explained in this toolkit

Internship as part of a foreign program
If you hire an intern who is a non-EU national and follows a foreign educational program, you must follow the following legal procedures.

Residence permit
Whether the intern needs a residence permit depends on the nationality and the duration of stay. We recommend consulting the toolkit where all options are described.

Work permit
A work permit (TWV) is also known as a work authorization and is usually required if a non-EU citizen wants to do an internship in the Netherlands. A work permit (TWV) is never required if:

• the intern is from the EU/EEA/Switzerland;
• the intern participates in a European action program, such as Erasmus+.

The employer applies for the TWV at UWV. Here, you must demonstrate that the intern has sufficient financial means. This is 50% of the minimum wage and may consist of:

• the intern's own resources;
• scholarships;
• internship allowance.

If you do not apply for a TWV for your intern when it is required, you risk a fine. The Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate (SZW) checks whether you comply with the rules.

Internship allowance
As an employer, you decide whether to provide an internship allowance and how much it is. There are no rules for this. However, an internship allowance can be a way to demonstrate that the student has sufficient financial means. This is a condition for obtaining a residence and work permit (see above).

Internship plan
An internship plan is usually drawn up by the foreign educational institution and describes the tasks and learning objectives. If the foreign educational institution does not provide an internship plan, the employer prepares an internship plan with the intern. The UWV determines, partly based on the established learning objectives, whether it is disguised labor.

BSN
If the intern receives an internship allowance, they must have a BSN. 
More information about applying for a BSN in English can be found on the Study in Holland website.