Application guide: Belgian Working Holiday Visa for Canadians

Eligibility and program overview

The Belgium Working Holiday Program allows young Canadians to travel to Belgium for a maximum period of one year in order to experience its culture and tourism, while having the opportunity to work for one or more employers to help finance their stay.

The bilateral agreement was signed by both countries in 2005.

Eligibility

To participate in the Belgium Working Holiday Program, you must meet the following conditions:

• You must hold a valid Canadian passport. It must remain valid for at least 15 months after the start of your working holiday visa.
• You must be between 18 and 30 years old inclusive at the time you submit your application, meaning you can apply up until the day before your 31st birthday.
• You must be residing in Canada at the time of your application.
• You must not have previously participated in the Belgium Working Holiday Program.

Program Overview

Here is what you need to know about how the program works before applying:

• Participants may stay for up to one year (12 months).
• The primary purpose of your stay must be tourism; however, the working holiday visa grants you an open work permit.
• There is no official requirement to speak French, Dutch, or German (Belgium’s official languages).
• Once your working holiday visa is issued, you have three months to enter Belgium.

Application Process

There are no deadlines or invitation rounds (unlike Belgians applying to International Experience Canada), so you can apply at any time of the year without difficulty.

If you’re ready to learn about the required documents and the application process, move on to the next section.