Is it necessary to submit a criminal record certificate?

Volare Editorial | March 20, 2026

To obtain the Belgium Working Holiday Visa, it is strictly mandatory to submit a criminal record certificate that guarantees the good conduct of the applicant. This document is essential for visa approval and must be presented during the consular appointment.

Police certificate requirements by nationality

The general and strict rule for processing the D Visa is that police certificates must be presented in original format and have a maximum validity of 6 months from their date of issuance.

The requirements regarding the type of certificate, legalizations, and translations vary depending on the country of origin:

• Taiwan and South Korea: Yes. Requires the presentation of the original police certificate (valid for 6 months). The document must have its respective Hague Apostille or consular legalization, and must mandatorily be accompanied by an official translation into English, French, German, or Dutch.

• Canada: Yes. Requires the presentation of the original RCMP police certificate with fingerprints (valid for 6 months). The document must have its respective Hague Apostille. It does not need translation as it is originally issued in English.

• Australia: Yes. Requires the presentation of the original AFP police certificate without fingerprints (valid for 6 months). The document must have its respective Hague Apostille. It does not need translation as it is originally issued in English.

• New Zealand: Yes. Requires the presentation of the original police certificate (valid for 6 months). The document must have its respective Hague Apostille. It does not need translation as it is originally issued in English.

Mandatory Supplementary Requirements

Regardless of the presentation of the criminal record certificate, 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 and updated bank statements.

Final Considerations

Consular authorities require that police certificates be presented in compliance with all the aforementioned legalizations according to nationality. Submitting expired documents or those without the corresponding apostille will result in the automatic rejection of the visa application.

For technical assistance regarding obtaining these certificates and their legalizations, you can consult the Volare Belgium WHV section.