working holiday visa
working holiday visa

Going on a Working Holiday Visa: Conditions, Budget & Information

What is a Working Holiday Visa?

Wondering what the difference is between a Working Holiday Visa , a Working Holiday Permit (WHV), or a Working Holiday Visa ? There simply isn't one! Three names for the same opportunity: obtaining a one-year visa in Australia, Canada, South Korea, or New Zealand to travel and work when necessary to finance your stay and support yourself.

The program offers young people aged 18-30 (at the time of application for the Working Holiday Visa) the opportunity to discover a country while financing their trip through one or more jobs there. Every year, several thousand young Belgians embark on this adventure. The reason? This type of stay offers genuine language immersion, bringing them into close contact with populations accustomed to welcoming young people from all over the world, regardless of the destination .

To find a job in these countries, you must obtain a Social Security number in addition to your visa; this will be provided by Job Assistance at the start of your Working Holiday Visa. Except in Australia, where you cannot work for the same employer in the same location for more than six months (except in the agricultural sector), there are no particular restrictions for the other two destinations during your Working Holiday Visa stay. Discover the recent changes to the Working Holiday Visa in Australia here .

What are the requirements for a Working Holiday Visa?

MUST BE BETWEEN 18 AND 30 YEARS OLD inclusive (not 31) AND BE OF BELGIAN NATIONALITY

Or of another nationality that is a signatory to the Working Holiday Visa agreement (France, Italy, etc.)

NO HEALTH PROBLEMS

before entering the destination country PVT (no medical certificate required to obtain your PVT).

MUST HOLD A VALID PASSPORT

(passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the return date)

PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE

Before entering the country, it's a must. Visavacancestravail.be won't let you leave without proper medical insurance. Read our page dedicated to Working Holiday Visa insurance in the toolbox.

HAVE A RETURN TICKET

or prove you have sufficient resources to buy one locally at the end of your working holiday.

DO NOT BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHILD(REN)

You cannot have dependent children to participate in the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) program.

MAINTAIN A MINIMUM RESERVE OF €1000

This is to help you meet your needs while you look for paid work and receive your first paycheck. Some countries, like Australia, require proof of sufficient funds. Each country requires an amount ranging from €2,000 to €3,000, which you can use to purchase one of our packages.

NOT HAVING ALREADY OBTAINED A WORKING HOLIDAY VISA FOR THE SAME COUNTRY

You can obtain a Working Holiday Visa for each of the countries with which Belgium has signed the Working Holiday Visa agreement, and this is available to those aged between 18 and 30 inclusive. Under certain conditions, it is sometimes possible to extend your stay. We will tell you more.

HAVING A CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD

Or almost. Consult us about it. A youthful mistake can happen to anyone.

What budget is needed for a Working Holiday Visa?

Official websites will recommend that you have a certain budget while you're looking for your first job and earning your first paycheck. The equivalent of €1000 to €1500 is generally sufficient as a reserve when you subscribe to Job Assistance .

Only Canada will require proof that you have a certain amount of money (less than €2000), which will be specified during the online working holiday visa application process.

Which Working Holiday Visa should you choose? A sedentary lifestyle, a nomadic lifestyle… or both!

The rule regarding travel during your Working Holiday program is that there is no rule! Some Holiday Visa holders choose to limit travel as much as possible during their stay, for reasons of money or desire, while others constantly travel from city to city with a backpack.

Another option is to plan a mix of these two types of travel during your Working Holiday Visa . This involves settling down for a period in a place you particularly enjoy, and then planning an itinerary—a "road trip," as Working Holiday Visa holders call it —to explore other destinations. This approach is suitable for both novice adventurers and seasoned travelers!

The typical profile of a Working Holiday Visa holder? It's someone who works a lot at the beginning of their stay to save money so they can afford a road trip at the end of their Working Holiday Visa stay.

Discover through this film the testimonies of several young people who set off with a VVT (Vehicle for Working Holiday).

FAQs - Everything you need to know about the Working Holiday Visa in Belgium

A Working Holiday Visa (WHV) holder, known as a "WHV holder," is primarily a traveler granted a temporary permit allowing them to stay for up to one year in the partner country. This visa gives them the opportunity to work locally to finance their stay, without any requirement for prior employment.

The Working Holiday Visa, or Working Holiday Program, is a type of visa that allows young people (up to 35 years old) to travel to a partner country while having the right to work there to finance their stay.

The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is available to young people aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 for some nationalities) who wish to experience travel and work abroad. Applicants must also be citizens of a country that has signed a WHV agreement with their chosen destination, such as Belgium .

The Working Holiday Visa aims to promote cultural exchange and personal discovery. It allows young people to travel abroad while having the opportunity to work locally to finance their stay and experience a unique immersion in a new country.

After age 30, options for obtaining a Working Holiday Visa are more limited. However, some countries like Australia and Canada accept French citizens up to age 35. For Belgians, the limit generally remains at 30. Beyond that age, other types of visas ( work, study, long-term tourism ) will need to be considered.

All our destinations

Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance

Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance

Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance

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