Is it mandatory to have travel insurance to apply for my Belgium WHV?

Volare Editorial | March 19, 2026

To obtain the Belgium Working Holiday Visa, it is strictly mandatory to have health and travel insurance that complies with Schengen Area standards and Belgian immigration regulations. This document is essential for visa approval and must be presented physically during the consular appointment.

Technical insurance requirements

The contracted policy cannot be generic travel insurance; it must contain specific clauses detailed in the certificate of coverage:

• Minimum coverage amount: The policy must guarantee a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros for emergency medical expenses, accidents, and hospitalization.

• Medical and Funerary Repatriation: It must cover the transfer of the insured to their home country in the event of serious illness or accident preventing the continuation of the trip, as well as the transfer of remains to the country of origin in the event of death.

• No deductibles: It is recommended that the policy has no excesses or deductibles to ensure immediate care without additional payments by the young traveler.

Coverage period and regulations by nationality

Travel insurance must be contracted for the entire duration of the stay permitted by the visa. The geographical scope of coverage must be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen Area member states.

Additionally, consular regulations establish specific requirements depending on the applicant's country of origin:

• South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand: The policy must remain valid uninterruptedly for the exact 12 months of the stay.

• Taiwan: In addition to maintaining Schengen coverage throughout the stay, it is mandatory to present a copy and the official certificate of the Taiwanese insurance, which must be written in English.

• Australia: Although the general rule of Schengen insurance for the entire stay applies, as an exception, consular authorities accept the presentation of a copy of a valid Australian Medicare card.

Mandatory Supplementary Requirements

Regardless of contracting medical insurance, 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 funds for initial support through official bank statements.

Final Considerations

Consular authorities require the certificate of coverage to clearly state compliance with the aforementioned amounts and repatriation clauses. Insurance provided by credit cards is not accepted unless they issue a certificate explicitly detailing these regulations.

For technical assistance regarding the choice of policies that meet these legal requirements, you can consult the Volare Belgium WHV section