Working Holiday Program (Visa D - long stay more than 90 days)

Young people combining tourism and short-term employment

The Working Holiday Program between Belgium and the Republic of Korea entered into force on July 1^st, 2016. This program enables young Koreans to have an extended holiday of one year in Belgium and supplement their funds with short-term employment. The main focus of the agreement is however the “extended holiday”, so to focus on discovering life and culture in Belgium. The Working Holiday visa is valid for a period of 12 months. A limit of 200 participants per year has been set.

It is possible to take up employment or to study in accessory capacity, but for a maximum of 6 months. The purpose of the stay cannot be subject to any change during the stay.

The applicants who take up employment will be exempt from the obligation to hold a working permit. The total employment period within the stay may not exceed 6 months. They will be subordinate to the Belgian laws regarding terms and conditions of work, remuneration, safety and hygiene. Participants and employers will also have to comply with the regulations in matters relating to social security.

The eligibility criteria for the Working Holiday applicants are the following:

• being between the age of 18 and 30 years (inclusive)
• not having participated in the Working Holiday Program for Belgium before
• residing in the Republic of Korea at the time of the application
• travel without dependents
• have sufficient financial resources at the time of departure, i.e. a minimum of 2.500 €
• possess a valid return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket

Documents to be submitted by each applicant:

Visa applicants must schedule an appointment online (click) after filling in the application form on https://visaonweb.diplomatie.be

1. A passport valid for more than 15 months.

2. One application form, duly completed in French, Dutch, German or English, personally signed and dated.

3. Two recent passport-size colour photos.

4. Proof of the payment of the visa fee of 234.000 KRW.

Bank: KEB Hana Bank
Account number: 174-890002-35301
Beneficiary: Embassy of Belgium
Details of payment: name of applicant (written as on passport)
 
We kindly request you to make the payment in the same month of your application, to avoid delays.

5. Proof of the payment of the processing fee of 350€.

IBAN: BE57 6792 0060 9235
BIC: PCHQBEBB
Bank: BPOST NV, Muntcentrum (without nr.), 1000 Brussels
Beneficiary: FPS Home Affairs, Service for Foreigners, Antwerpsesteenweg 59B, 1000 Brussels

It is important that the mention on the payment is clearly structured as follows (the date being the date of birth of the applicant): LastNameFirstNameNationalityDDMMJJJJ.
 
We kindly request you to make the payment in the same month of your application, to avoid delays.

6. Proof of the possession of at least 3.250.000 KRW by submitting a bank statement or by submitting their credit card (valid for the period of stay in Belgium), together with the last credit card statement.

7. Proof of your subscription to an “all risk” insurance covering your entire stay.The coverage should be for occupational accidents, medical expenses, repatriation and the expenses resulting of death, and has to be at least 30.000 euro for each of those risks.

8. Return plane ticket or proof of sufficient funds to purchase the return ticket later.

9. Non-criminal record, issued in English by a police office in Korea or any competent authority from the country of provenance. The certificate should be legalised by apostil through the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.0404.go.kr) and cannot be older than 6 months. 

10. Medical certificate. Every visa applicant should have the Embassy form completed, signed and sealed by a doctor. The certificate cannot be older than 6 months. You can go to the visa section of one of the following hospitals:

• Severance Hospital Seoul : International Health Care Center, Visa Physical Section TEL) 02 2228-5815  (Dr. YOO Bora, Dr. PARK Chanshin, Dr. LINTON John, Dr. KIM Kyuyeon or Dr. KIM Sue) Directions and more information can be found here. 
• Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital Seoul : TEL) 02-3779-1406  (Dr. KIM Minhee) Directions and more information can be found here. 
• Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital Busan : TEL) 051-797-0372 (Dr. KIM Daehwan, Dr. SUNWOO Yueun, Dr. RYU Jiyoung) Directions and more information can be found here.

In case you choose another doctor, that is possible. However, in that case, the medical certificate needs to be legalised by apostil through the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.0404.go.kr). In case the Apostil Service asks for a notarisation of the certificate prior to apostil, only the notarisation based on the signature will be accepted by the Embassy. The certificate cannot be older than 6 months.