Australia Working Holiday Visa for Belgians

What is the Australia Working Holiday Visa?

For Belgians, the visa in question is the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). This is an Australian visa for young adults who want to spend a long stay in Australia while having the right to work there on a temporary basis.

This programme does not amount to a job guaranteed before departure. It is a legal framework that allows you to enter Australia, travel there, take temporary jobs to help fund your stay and follow short courses of study, for example English courses.

Who can apply for an Australia Working Holiday Visa with a Belgian passport?

The programme is open to Belgian citizens aged 18 to 30 inclusive. In practice, the application must be submitted before your 31st birthday.

To submit an application, you must in particular:

• hold a valid Belgian passport;
• meet the age limit set by Australia;
• meet the criteria for the subclass 462 visa;
• meet the requirements set by the Australian authorities regarding documents, health, character and eligibility;
• meet the additional criteria specific to the subclass 462, in particular regarding studies and English.
  
  

How long can you stay in Australia?

The first Australia Working Holiday Visa for Belgians allows you to stay for 12 months in Australia.

During this period, you can:

• travel all over Australia;
• take temporary jobs to fund your stay;
• study or follow a short training course;
• enter and leave Australia while the visa is valid.

Can you work on the Australia Working Holiday Visa?

Yes. The very principle of the programme is to allow young travellers to work during their stay in order to help fund the trip.

In Australia, Working Holiday Visa holders often find temporary jobs in sectors such as:

• hospitality;
• tourism;
• retail;
• seasonal work;
• agriculture and harvesting.

It should be understood, however, that this visa remains a mobility visa and not a permit intended for settling permanently with a single employer. As a general rule, the maximum length of work is 6 months with the same employer.

Can you take English courses in Australia?

Yes. The Australia Working Holiday Visa also makes it possible to combine travel, work and learning English. With this visa, you can study for up to 4 months.

That is precisely what makes this programme so attractive for many young Belgians: starting with a few weeks of English courses in Australia, then looking for a job on the spot and continuing the stay in immersion.

Does the Australian programme work with a quota for Belgians?

Yes. For a first subclass 462 visa, Australia applies an annual quota to certain countries. Belgium is one of the countries subject to an annual quota.

This means you should not wait unnecessarily if you have a serious plan to go. Availability can change during the year depending on the number of visas already granted.

Unlike some other subclass 462 countries, Belgians do not go through a ballot system. The application is made directly when applications are open, within the limit of the quota.

Can you obtain a second or a third Working Holiday Visa?

Yes, in certain cases. Australia allows holders of the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) to apply for a second and then possibly a third visa, provided they comply with the applicable rules and have completed specified work that is eligible.

Specified work covers certain types of job defined by the Australian authorities. The exact conditions depend on the visa applied for and on the length of eligible work completed.

What does a Working Holiday project in Australia look like in practice?

For many young Belgians, the project unfolds in several stages:

1. preparing your departure and checking your eligibility for the subclass 462 visa;
2. submitting your official application to Australian immigration;
3. planning a realistic starting budget;
4. booking your arrival in Australia;
5. possibly taking English courses at the start of the stay;
6. looking for a temporary job on the spot;
7. travelling across Australia while the visa is valid.

This programme appeals particularly to young people who want a strong international experience, to make progress in English in a 100 % English-speaking environment and to gain their first professional experience abroad.

Why go to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa?

Australia remains one of the most sought-after destinations for a working holiday visa thanks to its combination of quality of life, mobility, temporary jobs, language immersion and freedom to travel.

For a young Belgian, the Australia Working Holiday Visa is therefore a very attractive option for:

• improving your English day to day;
• spending a year abroad;
• working legally during the stay;
• discovering Australia independently;
• adding value to your personal and professional record.
  
  

Australia Working Holiday Visa and Belgium: the key points

The Australia Working Holiday Visa for Belgians corresponds to the subclass 462. It allows a stay of 12 months, permits temporary work, allows you to study for up to 4 months and can, subject to conditions, open access to a second and then a third visa.

As Belgium is subject to an annual quota, it is important to check the availability of the programme at the time of the application and to prepare your project carefully before departure.