Student job in Belgium in 2027: the 650 hours, contributions and what you need to know

Who can work as a student worker?

You are a student in the sense of social security if you follow recognised studies in secondary, higher or university education, and if these studies remain your main activity: the job must be a secondary activity.

You can work as a student from age 15 if you have completed the first two years of secondary education. Without this, only "light student jobs" from an official list are permitted at age 15.

• You lose student status with an employer if you have a 12-month or longer employment contract with them (you can still work as a student elsewhere).
• Evening classes and part-time education do not grant the status.
• Part-time students are only entitled to it under certain conditions, for example if they are not receiving unemployment or integration benefits.

The quota: 650 hours per calendar year

From 1 January 2025, you can work 650 hours per year with reduced social contributions. The counter resets to zero each 1 January: unused hours do not carry over, but you get a full quota each year.

Only hours actually worked are counted. Paid public holidays are not. You can check your hours balance at any time in the "My Student at work" online service or the Student@work app, and download a certificate there to show a new employer.

Beyond 650 hours, you can continue to work on a student contract, but the extra hours are subject to ordinary social contributions. Student associative work (sociocultural and sports sectors) adds up to 190 hours per year; beyond that, hours are deducted from your 650-hour quota.

How much in contributions? 2.71% instead of 13.07%

Within the quota limits, you only pay a solidarity contribution of 2.71% of your gross salary, instead of 13.07% in ordinary contributions. Your employer pays a solidarity contribution of 5.42% on their side. This is what makes the student job attractive for both parties.

Your salary is not freely set: it depends on the joint commission for your sector (the number appears on your contract) and rates set by collective agreement. Without an applicable agreement, it is based on the guaranteed average monthly minimum income. The salairesminimums.be database from FPS Employment allows you to check the minimum for your sector.

The student employment contract

A written contract is mandatory, fixed-term, signed by you and the employer, and you must receive a copy. It lasts at most one year with the same employer.

• It states at minimum your identity, a brief description of the work, start and end dates, daily and weekly hours, and the salary or how it is calculated.
• The first three days are a trial period: either party can end it without notice or compensation.
• If you stop, notice is 1 day for a contract of maximum one month and 3 days beyond that. If the employer stops, it is 3 days, or 7 days for a contract of more than one month.
• Notice begins on the Monday following the week in which it was given.

Family allowances: limits depend on your region

Until age 18, you keep your family allowances regardless of the number of hours worked. From age 18 onwards, the limit depends on the region paying the allowances, that is usually your place of residence, not where you work.

• Wallonia: 650 hours per year under a student contract, plus a maximum of 240 hours per quarter under an ordinary contract. Mandatory internship hours do not count.
• Brussels: a maximum of 240 hours per quarter, all work hours included. This limit does not apply in July, August and September if you continue your studies after summer.
• Flanders: 650 hours per year under a student contract, plus 80 hours per month under an ordinary contract.
• German-speaking Community: no annual limit under a student contract (only the first 650 hours benefit from reduced contributions); 175 hours per quarter maximum outside a student contract.

Exceeding these limits may cause you to lose family allowances for the quarter or period concerned. If in doubt, request written confirmation from your family allowance fund before accepting extra hours.

Taxes: remaining a dependent of your parents

With only the solidarity contribution, you generally do not pay tax on your salary, but you must still file a tax return if you had income.

The real question for many families is whether you remain a tax dependent of your parents. This is calculated based on your net income for the year, and part of student work income is not counted. The thresholds are indexed each year: check the amounts for the income year concerned on the FPS Finances website (fin.belgium.be) or use its simulator, rather than relying on a figure you read on a forum.

Finding a student job and choosing it well

The sectors that hire the most students are retail, hospitality, logistics, events, tutoring, and increasingly, roles closer to your studies: administrative support, communication, web development, or customer support in an SME.

Before signing, check three things: the gross hourly rate compared to the sector standard, the actual hours (compatible with your classes and exams), and the number of hours, so you don't use up your quota too early in the year if you plan to work in summer.

On COLLABme, companies indicate for each student job the hours, period, time slots, and hourly rate. You create your profile once, free of charge, and apply with one click.