Published on: October 15, 2024 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
If you’re planning to undertake an internship in one of the Schengen countries, you may be wondering whether a visa is required. The need for a visa depends on several factors, including your nationality, the length of your stay, and the specific country in the Schengen area.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries enjoy the freedom to intern without a visa, while non-EU citizens will typically need one. Visa requirements can vary depending on the country, so it’s important to be well-informed before applying
Who requires an Internship Visa?
Study-related internships are usually done during the last semester of study. Whether you need a visa to undertake an internship in a Schengen country depends on several factors, including your nationality, the duration and nature of the internship, and the specific Schengen country where you plan to intern.
If you are enrolled in an university located in a Schengen country,
- Internships with a duration of up to 90 days within a year are not usually considered as employment.
- Therefore, people who do not need a separate visa for a short stay in Schengen area won’t need a visa for a study-related internship.
- This includes students having a valid Schengen student resident permit.
- For Example: An Indian student enrolled at an University in France will have a valid French student resident permit. So, the student will not need a separate visa for an internship based in other Schengen countries such as Belgium, Italy, Germany, etc.
- However, most countries require a work permit for doing an internship and so the employer must obtain it for you.
- Internships lasting more than 90 days will require an Internship visa and a work permit.
If you are a student enrolled in an university located outside the Schengen area,
- In most cases, you need an internship visa for entering the country and doing the internship work.
- The relevant information will be available on the country’s Embassy website.
Types of Internship Visas
Short-Stay Visa (Type C)
- Duration: Up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
- Purpose: Suitable for short-term internships.
- Requirements: Proof of internship agreement, work permit, financial means, travel insurance, and accommodation details.
Lon-Stay Visa (Type D)
- Duration: For internships longer than 90 days.
- Purpose: Required for long-term internships or programs.
- Requirements: Detailed documentation including internship agreements, work permit, proof of accommodation, financial means, health insurance, and sometimes language proficiency.
Note: Some Schengen countries might offer specific visa categories tailored for interns or trainees. These may have their own requirements and benefits.
Country-Specific Information
Each Schengen country may have its own specific requirements and procedures for internship visas. Here are a few examples:
Belgium
- For an internship in Belgium, you need an authorisation (work permit) for trainee.
- This authorisation should be applied for by your employer to the competent regional government in the form of an application for authorisation to work, which will then be considered as an application for a authorisation for trainee.
- For more information including the documents required for the visa application, please refer to dofi.ibz.be/werk/trainees.
Germany
- Study-related internships (Studienfachbezogenes Praktikum) in Germany require the ‘agreement’ (Einvernehmen nach § 15 Nr. 6 BeschV) of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).
- This ‘agreement’ must be applied by the German hosting institution/company.
- For more information including the documents required for the visa application, please refer to allemagneenfrance.diplo.de.
- Please try to apply in advance because the waiting times for visa appointments are usually very long.
- For example: It is at least 16 weeks at the German Embassy in Paris.
Hello Prashant,I hope you are doing well. I am an Indian. I am 37 years old. I came to this country as a student in February 2019. I renewed my visa from APS to Carte de sejour temproraire this year in January. I was working on a CDI full-time contract. I have recently changed my job contract from 36 hours to 18 hours CDI. I am still working with the same company. My visa is going to expire in January 2025. I would like to know if I will apply for another extension with the same employer then am I going to receive a 4-year extension or not?
Hello Jeet,
During the resident permit renewal, the local prefecture decides the validity of the resident permit based on the documents submitted. It can be anywhere from 6 months to 4 years.
18 hours CDI looks like a part-time job. So, I am not sure if you will meet the minimum salary requirement of the resident permit.
Please, How do I apply for my 2025 Internship?
Hello, You can find internships via Linkedin, APEC.fr, company websites, employee referrals, job fairs, alumni, your college, etc