Working Holiday: an increasingly popular passport to learning English!
More and more Belgians are taking extended stays of several months outside of their home country. As evidenced by the latest figures published by the Australian government's immigration department, the Working Holiday Visa, which allows holders to travel for a year in Australia, New Zealand, or Canada while working there, is certainly a major contributing factor. With 13.5% more applications than in 2013, Belgium, for example, ranks second in Europe for this increase in the number of visas applied last year.
The Belgians, tireless travellers, largely favor the formula of Working Holiday VisaSince its inception and the agreements signed with New Zealand and Australia in 2004, as well as with Canada, the Working Holiday Visa has already attracted several thousand applicants. The only requirements to obtain this coveted visa are being between 18 and 30 years old and having sufficient funds to cover the first three months of the trip. And above all, having the goal of discovering another culture. In Canada, however, the number of visas is subject to quotas (750 permits issued in 2014).
The Working Holiday Visa is popular in Australia… as well as in New Zealand and Canada
The Working Holiday Visa scheme is popular with Belgians, according to the Australian government's Department of Immigration. From 2013 to 2014, the number of applications increased by more than 13%, placing Belgium second in Europe behind Finland (+18%) and ahead of Denmark (+10%). In June 2014, more than 1,000 Belgians were in Australia on this type of visa, an 18.6% increase compared to 2013. Australia is a top destination, especially since the number of places is unlimited, just as in New Zealand.
A good way to supplement your holiday budget
The primary objective of these various agreements is to allow participants to discover a new country. Young people who travel on a Working Holiday Visa do so as much to experience the local culture as to find employment and supplement their income. However, be aware that restrictions apply to the duration of training, language courses, and so on. In Australia, for example, you cannot work for the same employer for more than six months. In New Zealand, you can only take courses during the first three months of your stay.
L&T: guaranteed paid employment from the very first weeks
As specialists in Working Holiday Visas, our Brussels-based language travel agency, Languages and Travel, has developed a unique program with the help of its local partner: "Job Assistance." This service allows those who wish to do so to quickly find employment in Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Depending on the destination, certain sectors are particularly in need of additional staff at different times of the year. With its "Job Assistance," Languages and Travel takes care of finding a job in your chosen country… in a maximum of two weeks!
Related article:
– tax refund following a Working Holiday Visa
– how to complete a second Working Holiday in the same country
As a bonus, here's a presentation video: