Cost breakdown for the Belgium WHV application

Manuel Moreira
Mar 19
2 min read

Volare Editorial | March 19, 2026

To obtain the Belgium Working Holiday Visa, it is strictly mandatory to meet a series of financial requirements that guarantee the applicant's solvency. Planning a detailed budget is essential for visa approval and to cover the required consular fees.

Consular and administrative fees

The application process involves mandatory fixed costs that must be paid during the application. These values may vary slightly depending on the country of origin and the corresponding embassy:

Visa processing fee (Visa D): Generally, applying for a long-stay visa has a base consular cost of approximately 180 euros.
Administrative fee (Redevance/Retributie): Depending on the nationality, payment of an additional administrative contribution to the Belgian Immigration Office may be required, which usually ranges between 200 and 240 euros.
External service fees: In some countries, document reception is delegated to visa centers (such as VFS Global), which can add an additional service cost of approximately 30 to 40 euros.

Proof of maintenance funds

In addition to the processing costs, the Belgian government requires proof of financial solvency to ensure that the traveler can support themselves during the first months of their stay:

Minimum required funds: It is mandatory to demonstrate possession of at least 2,500 euros (or its equivalent in the applicant's local currency) through official and updated bank statements.

Additional preparatory expenses

There are fundamental indirect costs for preparing the consular file that must be considered in the general budget:

Schengen Travel Insurance: Mandatory contracting of a 12-month policy (the value varies depending on the chosen insurance company).
Translations and Legalizations: Expenses derived from obtaining the Hague Apostille for the criminal record certificate and its possible official translation into French, Dutch, German, or English, as required by the embassy.
Medical Certificate: Costs associated with medical examinations at centers approved by the Belgian consular representation.

Mandatory Supplementary Requirements

Regardless of the payment of fees and the demonstration of initial maintenance funds, the approval of the application is subject to the presentation of the following documents:

Ticket Documentation: It is a mandatory requirement to present a return ticket already purchased at the end of the 12-month period. If it has not been acquired, the applicant must reliably demonstrate possession of additional and sufficient financial funds to purchase a return ticket at the end of the stay.
Financial Solvency: Demonstration of the funds mentioned in the previous section through supporting bank documentation.

Final Considerations

Consular authorities require that fee payment receipts and bank statements be presented clearly and officially. Consular fees are non-refundable in the event that the visa application is rejected or canceled by the applicant. For technical assistance regarding the application and to plan your budget, you can consult the Volare Belgium WHV section.