Hospitality/catering, farm work, fruit picking (fruit picking or packaging), construction/work, resort work, office work... Jobs under the Working Holiday Visa are rarely high-responsibility positions, but thanks to these jobs, we guarantee you will learn to manage, you will gain experience, you will know how to bounce back in any circumstance, you will gain maturity, in short, you will return from your experience abroad a better person.
This question comes up frequently, so we felt it was our duty to answer it with complete transparency. Taking English classes isn't mandatory, but it's highly recommended. The Working Holiday Visa aims to help you discover one (or more) destinations and improve your English. Depending on your starting level and whether you're looking to find a job quickly (the better your English, the wider the range of jobs available; working at a hotel reception, for example, requires good English skills), taking English classes can be a real advantage. It will also help you become familiar with the local accent, allowing you to communicate with locals, your landlord, or even buy a car. You can also use the initial period of your English classes to start looking for work, with the help of our Job Assistance service, of course. You'll make new friends, and it's highly likely you'll travel with them later.
At VisaVacancesTravail.be, we believe that two weeks is the bare minimum to improve your English. Ideally, you should solidify your level by taking four weeks of classes before embarking on your adventure. This also gives you time to settle in and meet people from all over the world.
Your visa is valid for one year, but you are of course not obligated to stay for the entire period. While it is possible to extend your Working Holiday Visa in Australia and New Zealand under certain conditions, be aware that once you have obtained the visa, you will not be eligible for a second one. You have one year to travel to the country once your Working Holiday Visa is granted. It's more a matter of planning ahead, considering your studies, available budget, and, of course, your attraction to the destination, which will lead you to stay for 3, 6, or 12 months. Since return tickets to Australia and New Zealand can be changed once free of charge (a second change incurs a fee), there's no need to fix your return date at all costs (except for any potential surcharge for changing your booking class if the "youth" fare becomes unavailable).
These three destinations require no special vaccinations or treatments, either upon arrival or for entry. Only a few standard precautions are necessary, particularly for Australia where ultraviolet rays are very strong. The country has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Remember to pack a hat/cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and make it a habit once you're there. Also, bring insect repellent. The good news is that, regardless of the country, the healthcare systems are of very high quality. A tetanus booster is recommended if you plan to work with animals (farms, ranches, national and private parks, etc.).
The New Zealand dollar, the Australian dollar, and the Canadian dollar do not have the same value. Currency exchange rates fluctuate constantly, making it impossible to determine fixed exchange rates. With the Euro, you benefit from a strong currency that will give you quite acceptable purchasing power in these three countries. Note that as of June 20, 2017, the exchange rate for 3 US dollars was between €0.60 and €0.70.
Whatever your travel plans, the answer is yes. Very few people find work on the day they arrive or before they even leave. In any case, all three countries recommend that you have some money to cover your expenses during the first few weeks. In fact, only Canada conducts checks when you obtain your working holiday visa. While the job assistance included in our packages greatly facilitates your job search, it is still essential to be able to support yourself during the first few days/weeks. We recommend ideally having between €1000 and €1500. Some of you have left with less than €500... and managed just fine!
While locals are used to communicating with young people from all over the world, it goes without saying that the better your English, the greater your chances of finding a job. And a better one at that. For working in the fields picking fruits or vegetables, a fairly basic level will suffice. In the hotel and restaurant industry, any applicant must be able to understand customer requests and take orders. For sales work, your level will need to be high enough to converse with the locals. Some of you have left knowing only "yes" and "no" and have done very well. It's up to you!
Which city should I fly into? Should I buy a round-trip ticket or just a one-way ticket? What type of visa do I need? Do I need to take courses? What about my bank account? VisaVacancesTravail.be offers two packages: the "basic" package and the complete package. While it's possible to handle the process on your own, it can be quite tedious. Insurance, plane tickets, school bookings, job search assistance... These packages are primarily designed to provide you with invaluable support so you don't encounter difficulties at any stage, waste too much time, or constantly worry about the many questions surrounding your trip. Do the math yourself: in terms of time spent, speed in finding a job, and peace of mind, you'll be a winner with Job Assistance!
Yes, an international driving permit is mandatory if you wish to drive in these three countries. To obtain one, go to the town hall of your place of residence. Simply present your identity card, your driver's license, and a recent passport photo, and the authorities will issue it to you. The international driving permit is valid for three years from the date of issue. It costs approximately €25.
An agreement between Australian and Belgian health insurance funds has made healthcare in Australia accessible to Belgian policyholders. Thanks to Medicare, you are entitled to free hospital care in public hospitals if you indicate that you wish to be treated as a Medicare patient. As a private patient, you are responsible for the costs. When purchasing medication, you may still have to pay a co-pay in some cases. For consultations with a general practitioner or specialist, you can either request reimbursement at a Medicare office, or the doctor can send the bill directly to the Medicare office, and you will only pay any co-pay.
Please note, he will not be involved in the following services:
- Ambulance transport
- Dental care
- Repatriation
Hence the importance of taking out insurance for the cases mentioned above!
It's simple, regardless of the country, just send a letter to the address we will provide and send the following supporting documents, within a maximum of 3 months following the expiry date of the contract:
- Your contract number (noted in your contract)
- Original invoices from doctors and medical facilities
- Prescriptions listing the corresponding medications
In the event of urgent hospitalization and for higher amounts, there is contact between the hospital and the insurance company which will pay all the costs (in the case of Australia, Medicare in principle takes over first and private insurance covers everything that Medicare would not cover).
For any questions about this contract, for the handling of your guarantees, for your reimbursement requests, you can contact the insurance company by email or telephone.
Homestay accommodation (or guesthouse accommodation) is only available when you are enrolled in a language course (and only for the duration of those courses) in New Zealand and Canada. If you are not enrolled in a course, you are responsible for finding your own accommodation, except for the first four days, which will be booked in a hostel if you have chosen to travel with our job assistance service. In Australia, however, we can book homestay or shared accommodation for you even if you are not enrolled in a language course.
Yes! To apply for a working holiday visa, you must be between 18 and 30 years old. This means you must have already turned 18 and cannot be 31. In practical terms, you have until the day before your 31st birthday to apply. Be mindful of the time difference! Yes, you will celebrate your birthday earlier in the Pacific time zone, in the case of Australia and New Zealand.
The requirements and procedures for obtaining a Working Holiday Visa vary from country to country. We can only handle your Working Holiday Visa application for stays in Australia.
For Canada and New Zealand, this is a process you must undertake yourself. But don't panic! Not only will we be happy to provide you with information on the visa application process, but we've also created tutorials to guide you through this step.
The working holiday visa allows you to work in many different sectors. While there are no specific restrictions on the type of profession under this agreement, it's worth noting that finding work in the medical and paramedical fields is unlikely.
Keep in mind that you will need to remain realistic in your job search and therefore take into account your level of English and experience in the sector when applying for a job.
We also advise you to remain open-minded in your job search and not to focus on a particular sector.
