Sideline activities for non-EU/EEA citizens
Non-academic free time activities as a private person
Non-academic free time activities you take part in as a private person, as a rule, are not considered as work. Some activities do however require a permit for sideline activities depending on the type of your main permit.
Type 1: Researcher permit, guest researcher permit and PhD permit. Unpaid voluntary work in your free time does not require a permit for sideline activities.
Type 2: Guest PhD permit, Pay Limit permit, Positive List Permit, Trainee Permit. Several free time activities are characterized as work and will require a permit for sideline activities.
Voluntary work in an association
Type 1: No permit is normally required.
Type 2: A permit is required.
What is an association?
An organization is a group with:
- a common purpose
- public financial support
- an elected board
- people employed
- membership fee
Voluntary work in an interest group
Type 1: No permit is normally required.
Type 2: A permit is required.
What is an interest group?
An interest group is a group of people who meet around a common interest with:
- No public financial support (small tokens of appreciation by members and members paying for specific activities is ok)
- No people employed
- No membership fees
- No elected board
Other types of activities
- Coach, teach, etc. in your child’s sports club
- Be a professional board member
- Help-out in NGO shops
Type 1: No permit is normally required.
Type 2: A permit is required.
Examples of non-accepted activities – permit is needed
- Join a class trip with your child’s school
- Volunteer in your child’s sports club or school (set up for events, launder sports uniforms, stand in booths at events, etc.)
- Be active in a student association and organize Friday bars or debate clubs
- Be on the school board in your child’s school/institution or house-owners’ association
- Volunteer collector in an NGO
Please note that these are only examples and not a complete list of types of activities that do not require a permit for sideline employment.
