Belgium Working Holiday
Belgium
Residency
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See if you're a match →A temporary working-holiday route for eligible young passport holders.
- Eligible passports
- Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea
- Age
- Usually 18 to 30
- Duration
- Up to 12 months
- Main limit
- Holiday must remain the main purpose; no renewal
Summary
Belgium's Working Holiday Programme lets eligible young citizens of a few partner countries spend up to one year in Belgium. The stay should be mainly for holiday and cultural exchange, with work allowed only to supplement funds.
This route is currently for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea. It is not available to U.S.-only citizens.
Eligibility
You may be a fit if:
- You hold a passport from one of Belgium's working-holiday partner countries.
- You are generally between 18 and 30.
- You have enough funds, usually at least EUR 2,500.
- You have a return ticket or enough funds to buy one.
- You have insurance and the required medical and criminal-record documents.
- You have not already used Belgium's Working Holiday Programme.
Duration, Renewal, and Long-Term Path
- Duration: Up to 12 months.
- Renewal: The authorization cannot be renewed.
- Long-term path: A change of status during the stay is generally not accepted.
What This Route Allows
If approved, you receive a national long-stay visa and register in Belgium for a temporary residence permit. You may work during the stay to supplement your resources.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a long-term employment route or a direct permanent-residence strategy. The holiday must remain the main purpose.
Next Steps
- Confirm that your passport country is on Belgium's agreement list.
- Check the Belgian diplomatic or consular post responsible for your place of residence.
- Gather passport, funds, insurance, criminal-record, medical, and travel-plan documents.
- Apply for the national long-stay visa from abroad.
- Register with the local municipality after arriving in Belgium.