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U.S. National Park Holidays 2019

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If you’re planning a trip to the closest national park, you may want to check the hours and national park service holiday schedule first. To the surprise of many, there are days the National Park Service is closed or even has altered hours. Below you’ll find all of the information you need to make a successful planned visit to an NPS park.

U.S. National Park Holidays 2019

National parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (weather permitting). However, the National Park Service (NPS) is not open every day of the year as many people would believe. In fact, there are quite a few days during the year that the NPS closes its services. The 2019 National Park Service holiday schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 1: The NPS is closed on New Year’s Day.
Monday, January 21: The NPS is open on MLK Day
Thursday, February 14: The NPS is open on Valentine’s Day
Monday, February 18: The NPS is open on Presidents’ Day
Friday, March 17: The NPS is open on St. Patrick’s Day
Sunday, April 19: The NPS is open on Good Friday
Saturday, April 20: The NPS is open on Easter Saturday
Sunday, April 21: The NPS is closed on Easter Sunday
Monday, April 22: The NPS is open on Easter Monday
Sunday, May 12: The NPS is open on Mother’s Day
Monday, May 27: The NPS is closed on Memorial Day
Sunday, June 16: The NPS is open on Father’s Day
Thursday, July 4: The NPS is closed on Independence Day
Monday, September 2: The NPS is closed on Labor Day
Tuesday, October 8: The NPS is open on Columbus Day
Thursday, October 31: The NPS is open on Halloween
Monday, November 11: The NPS is on Veteran’s Day
Thursday, November 28: The NPS is closed on Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 29: The NPS is open on Black Friday
Tuesday, December 24: The NPS is closed on Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 25: The NPS is closed on Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 31: The NPS is closed on New Year’s Eve
Wednesday, January 1: The NPS is closed on New Year’s Day 2018

National Park Service Operating Hours

It’s also important to be aware of the National Park’s operating hours. Of course, you don’t need to contact the National Park Service to plan a visit to one of its locations, but they can provide you with some valuable information.

If you want to check the NPS before heading out, you can go to the website or call (559) 565-3341 for recorded information 24 hours a day. If you’d like to speak to an NPS worker you’ll have to call between 8:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Inclement weather can shut the parks down, especially if there are issues with the road. Weather conditions can vary from park to park depending on what the elevation may be.

National Park Service Seasonal Information

Spring: Springtime in the national parks lasts from about mid-April until June. Some parks may still have snow from the winter months though so to be prepared you should equip your car with snow chains or tires.

Summer: July and August are the busiest months for the National Park Service. If you’re looking to get a campsite through the NPS during these months, you should book them well ahead of time. Obtaining a campsite during these peak months can be extremely difficult.

Fall: By September the temperature begins to cool off in most national parks. The weather can change rather quickly, with storms rolling in unexpectedly. Nighttime can get very cold as well. Many NPS facilities begin to reduce their hours during the fall.

Winter: Keep in mind that if you plan to visit a national park in the winter that tire chains or snow tires may be required to drive on the park’s roads. For the most part, however, you’ll have the park to yourself during the winter.

If you’re planning a trip to a national park, you’ll want to keep the National Park Service holiday schedule, operating hours and seasonal information in mind when making your plans. If you’ve any further questions, visit the NPS website or give them a call. Happy exploring!

If you found this article helpful, let us know! We’d love your feedback.

Photo: Joshua Tree National Park

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Save Money at Disney With These Veterans Discounts

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Vacations can be expensive, and many military members and veterans can’t afford to spend a ton to take their family to a fun destination. Luckily, there are a variety of programs that can make a trip to an exciting city, fun amusement park, or other location more affordable. Here are a few of the great discounts, including Disney, that are available to active-duty military, retirees, or veterans.

Disney Discounts for Military and Veterans

Disney isn’t just a family-friendly destination; they are military-friendly as well. As long as you have a valid military-issued ID, including those given to retirees, you can visit Disney parks for less.

While the value of the discount can change from one year to the next, the Disney military promotional tickets are usually a good deal. For example, 5-day Disney World park hopper ticket purchases through December 15, 2019, are $257 plus tax each for eligible military or retiree families. The same tickets without a discount come in at over $460 on the Disney website.

Those who qualify can get their tickets at the ticket office on base or post. Additionally, they are available at Shades of Green resort which is only accessible to military members and retirees.

Moreover, while military families can take advantage of the Shades of Green resort, discounts are also available for other properties. Typically, you can save 30 to 40 percent off the normal room rates at certain Disney World and Disneyland hotels.

For those who prefer cruises, discounted rates for Disney Cruise Line are usually announced 30 to 60 days before the ship is set to leave the dock.

Other Amusement Parks

Disney isn’t the only amusement park that offers discounts to military members, veterans, retirees, and their families. In fact, there’s actually a pretty big selection.

For example, Dollywood gives active duty, retirees, reservists, disabled veterans, their spouses, and dependents 30 percent off. Through the Howling Heroes program, military families can save on a trip to a Great Wolf Lodge resort.

Kings Dominion allows active and retired military personnel to save on one-day tickets and season passes. Up to six family members can visit Kings Island for less when accompanied by a military member or veteran too.

LEGOLAND in Florida and California both have discount programs, and so does SeaWorld. Often, discounted tickets to Six Flags parks are available through base or post ticket offices, and Universal Studios even extends their military discounts to other DoD personnel.

Often, as long as one family member has a military-issued ID, that’s enough to enjoy the savings at these properties.

Events and Concerts

Founded in 2008, VetTix focuses on providing discounts to veterans, regardless of how long they served. The collect donated tickets from music performance bookers, entertainment companies, and sports teams, then distribute them through a lottery system.

The tickets themselves are actually free to veterans and their accompanying family members. All you have to pay is a small delivery fee of $14 or less.

There is a caveat to using VetTix. Since they use a lottery-style system, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the tickets. This can make planning a trip well in advance a challenge. However, for local events where travel arrangements would be simple, it’s hard to beat potentially free tickets.

Ultimately, all of these discounts can be incredibly valuable. If you are eligible, why not take advantage of them? Then, you can have an amazing vacation for less.

Do you know of any more great discounts for veterans and their families? Tell us about them in the comments below.

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This Man Escaped His Student Loan Debt By Moving to the Jungle

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Student loan debt

Just months ago student loan debt reached a high, ugly milestone of $1.52 trillion. Unsurprisingly, many people find their student debt to be overwhelming, leading to depression and suicidal thoughts in some individuals. In fact, people who are undergoing serious financial stress are eight times more likely to have suicidal thoughts – and some engage in extreme behavior to avoid paying.

Growing Student Loan Debt

Student loan debt has seen a 145% increase in the past decade with no signs of slowing down any time soon. In many cases, individuals carry more student debt than they do in auto loans or credit card debt.  For some individuals, the weight of their personal student debt is too heavy for them to carry. Chad Haag was one of those people.

Chad Haag Delt With His Debt by Fleeing the Country.

Haag considered living in a cave in the United States to escape his student debt. According to Yahoo Finance, he already knew a friend doing it. However, for Haag, this wasn’t leaving his problems far enough behind. He wanted to get as far away from his debt as possible.

After majoring in philosophy in college, he held a student loan balance of about $20,000. While that is pennies compared to many other borrowers in the U.S., Haag pointed out that not being able to a land a college-level job made his $300 monthly loan payment devastating to his finances. He was only making $1,700 per month, living with his mother, and rarely going out with friends. “I couldn’t make the math work in America,” Haag said.

Running to the Jungle to Get Away From Debt


He relocated to a jungle in India to escape his student loan debt. In an interview, he said, “I’ve put America behind me.” Now, thousands of miles away from where he once lived in constant anxiety from his debt, Haag says his loans don’t even feel real to him anymore.

His student loans are on their way to being in default and they only thing Haag has to say is, “It’s kind of like, if a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, does it really exist?” Of course, this kind of care-free attitude has not come without its trade-offs.

Where Haag is living is far from his Colorado home. He is living in a concrete house in a village in India. The house only costs about $50 per month and Haag says he sees elephants outside his home regularly. Haag also referenced the poor living conditions in some areas of India, stating, “Some toilets here are holes in the ground you squat over.”

Food quality can be a problem as well. He recently ate spoiled goat meat that landed him in the emergency room. However, dreams that would have escaped him in the U.S. because of his debt are now becoming realities for him in the jungle of India.

He has gotten married and he and his wife have plans to own a home soon. Currently, he has a five-year spousal visa and has plans to renew it when it comes time. Haag has absolutely no plans to return to the U.S. or repay his student loan debt.

student loan debt

Is This Responsible?

There is no doubt that many Americans find this type of behavior abhorrent. Student loan debt is only expected to continue to rise in the years to come with estimates projecting students will owe $2 trillion by 2022.

Half of the student loan borrowers haven’t paid a single dollar towards what they owe five years into repayment. Another 40% of those loans are expected in be in default by 2023.

However, moving away from the problem doesn’t make it go away. If anyone is moving away, like Haag, to escape their debt, they’ll find that if they ever return to the U.S. their debts will not be gone.  Given the structure of many loans, debts are in fact more likely to grow than be excused. Compound interest, late fees, and collection charges are all typically added to your balance if payment is not made.  In addition, late payments will impact your creditworthyness.

Not only will it not go away, but running away will make it worse. The best thing you can do is work out a debt repayment plan that works for you.

How to Keep Your Student Debt Manageable

Many people look at student loan debt as “healthy debt.” And while it is much “healthier” than, say, credit card debt, or even an auto loan sitting on your credit report, it still is a huge responsibility. If you or someone in your household is getting ready to head off to college or go back to school, consider thes money-saving tips.

  1. Go to school in-state. It has been common knowledge for years that going to school closer to home costs less money. If you aren’t getting a full-ride out of state, keep your eye on public schools closer to you. A private university’s tuition sits around $34,740 per year on average. An out-of-state public university isn’t much cheaper at $25,620. However, community colleges and in-state public universities are priced at $3,570 and $9,970, respectively. That’s much less in tuition.
  2. Stay at home to avoid room and board fees. Another great thing about going to school closer to home is that you can stay at home. This will save you thousands of dollars on room and board every year.
  3. Oh – and bring your lunches. It can also save you a ton of money on food. Instead of throwing money at a meal plan or eating on campus every day, you can bring your own lunch and save hundreds of dollars per month.
  4. Take a fast-track in your program. Depending on what your career goals are, you may consider asking someone at the university about a fast-track course for your degree. This will shorten the amount of time you’re in college, making tuition much cheaper.
  5. Avoid private loans. If you can help it, don’t take out any private loans. These are typically higher interested and begin to accrue interest while you’re still in school, unlike loans available through the U.S. government.
  6. Consider taking on work-study or paying your tuition in cash while you’re in school. It’s also possible to work while you’re in school to pay off the remaining tuition you owe. Many schools will work with you on monthly payments to remain in class and will apply funds made through work-study programs to these payments. You can also hold a job off-campus to raise additional funds. This way, you can leave school without owing any money on student loans.

Student Loan Debt Repayment

Remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed by your student debt you have options. Before taking off to India or another remote jungle, consider the options below.

  1. Get more time. Although it is not optimal, may be able to extend the repayment period on your loan to give you more time. Periods for repayment start at 10 years and go up to 30 years, depending on the amount and your ability to pay.
  2. Take a couple months off. You can get a couple months off from paying your student loan if you need it.  If you or your partner lose a job and you need a couple months to get back on your feet, you can ask for a couple of months off (most of the time) it is granted. Keep in mind, your loan will still be accruing interest during this time.
  3. Income-based payments. Talk to someone at the bank or company you received the loan through about income-based payments. If you believe your payment could (and should) be lower, talk to someone about adjusting it based on your income. They’ll do what they can to help you.
  4. Financial crisis assistance. If you or your family have faced a serious financial crisis, you can also ask for some time off. This is a bit longer of a period of time than the “couple months off” listed above and, similarly, your loans will still be accruing interest. However, it will keep your loans from going into default.
  5. Keep communication open. If you keep communication open between you and your loan officer, you will be able to work on repaying your student loans. In many cases, these individuals are understanding and will work with you based on your individual circumstances.

All in all, student loan debt is just another type of debt that can help or hurt your creditworthyness. However, it is nothing you should feel like you should run away from. Tackling it head-on and paying it down is the only thing that will truly make your debt nightmare go away.

Readers, what do you think about this man running away from his student loan debt? 

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Part 4: Hidden Timeshare Fees You Need to Know About

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How much is a timeshare

While salespeople often tout timeshares as solid investments, they typically aren’t. Purchasing rights to the unit can come with a big price tag. You also have to pay maintenance fees every year. However, these aren’t the only expenses timeshare owners face. There are also hidden fees that can make the overall cost skyrocket. This leaves many consumers to wish they hadn’t made their purchase and looking for a way out. So how much is a timeshare? And what will it really cost you?

How Much Is a Timeshare?

When you buy into a timeshare, you aren’t actually purchasing the property. Instead, you pay for the right to use the unit for a specific amount of time or, as the industry calls it, an interval. Although some properties sell longer intervals, usually, an interval is one week (seven days).

In 2017, the average sale price on one interval was $22,180. However, if you finance the timeshare purchase, then you also have to contend with interest. A 10-year timeshare loan is usually set at around 14 percent. This means, for an average property, you’d pay $344 per month, or $3,400 annually, until you pay off the loan.

Annual maintenance fees are another expense owners have to contend with, and that averaged $980 for 2017. Generally, this cost goes up every year, as the property reassesses the expense on an annual basis.

However, these timeshare costs are pretty well known. On top of them, many owners also have to wrestle with a variety of fees. With many of the fees, taking owners by surprise.

Special Assessment Fees

Since timeshare owners pay maintenance fees, many assume they aren’t financially responsible for changes made to the buildings. However, some properties charge special assessment fees to complete upgrades on properties. These go above and beyond the maintenance fees.

For example, if the property wants to upgrade the building wiring to allow for faster internet speeds, they can require owners to pay more that year. Shared facility remodels, like updating a community kitchen or barbecue area, could also lead to special assessment fees.

If another company buys your property, a special assessment fee usually comes with the territory. This is especially true if profitability is an issue. Often, they will cite the need for upgrades to ensure the property meets the brand’s standards. These required upgrades leave consumers to pay up, even if they don’t agree.

In some cases, you can even end up paying for improvements at another resort. If a large parent company with multiple properties owns your property, they may spread out the improvement costs from one resort across every timeshare owner in the network. You end up paying a special assessment fee for work you don’t get to benefit from or potentially even get to see.

Repairs after a natural disaster may also financially fall on the shoulders of timeshare owners. Even if the property is insured, that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional expenses. If that occurs, properties usually issue a special assessment fee to collect the rest of the money.

Revenue Gap Fees

When other owners don’t pay what they owe, most properties work to recoup these losses elsewhere. At times, this results in a special assessment fee. However, it could also end up with another label.

Functionally, these revenue gap fees leave paying owners on the hook for the delinquency or non-payment of others. To make matters worse, even if a delinquent owner ultimately pays what they owe, you aren’t going to see a refund.

All-Inclusive Resort Fees

In an effort to make the initial cost of a timeshare look affordable, some properties use an approach that you usually see with certain hotels in areas like Las Vegas. Instead of the main price reflecting the entire cost of using the unit, they add all-inclusive resort fees in after the fact, and they can be monstrous.

For example, a property may charge an additional $150 per person per day for a stay. If a couple stays at the unit for one week, they have to pay an additional $2,100 that year for the trip. And, like most resort fees, you usually can’t get out of them as the property makes them mandatory.

Now, it’s not that you don’t get something for that money. Most all-inclusive locations provide guests with meals, beverages, and similar services in exchange for the fee. However, most couples could spend far less than $300 a day when paying for their own food and drinks. In reality, some of the cash is essentially for the convenience of not having to worry about managing such tasks.

While this approach is more prevalent in timeshare programs that have multiple properties and use floating points, it’s important to be aware of them regardless.

Contract in Perpetuity

Though contract in perpetuity isn’t technically a fee, it is a financial burden that many families don’t anticipate. If you purchase a timeshare with that phrase in the paperwork, you aren’t just obligating yourself to stick with the timeshare, but your children or spouse as well.

Even if you are the sole owner, if you sign a contract in perpetuity and pass away, a family member then becomes the timeshare owner automatically. They are then on the hook for the remaining and continuing expenses, even if they don’t want access to the unit.

Usually, their only recourse is to attempt to sell the property. Once that occurs, the new owner is responsible. However, until someone buys, your family member has to keep up with the costs or the property owner can legally come after them for the funds.

Are There Always Hidden Timeshare Fees?

Unexpected fees are common in the timeshare industry. Even if your property does not have all-inclusive resort fees or require a contract in perpetuity, special assessment fees are pretty standard. Whenever the roof needs replacing, exterior needs painting or any other upgrade or repair is necessary you are going to have to pay up.

Plus, property owners using fees to fill revenue gaps is also a fairly common practice. While those costs may masquerade as another kind of expense, don’t expect the company to take delinquency-related losses in stride. Instead, there is a decent chance they will target other owners to recoup the missing revenue in some form or fashion.

However, it’s important to note that many of these expenses are only hidden because buyers don’t review all of their paperwork. Before you sign anything, read all of the fine print. The contract outlines your responsibilities. This includes wording related to additional fees.

If you see something in the contract you don’t like, then don’t sign. Otherwise, if you do, you are legally responsible for these costs, even if you didn’t see them coming.  If you have already bought your timeshare and now feel like it’s not the right decision, Call 1-888-549-4154 today. The team at Newton Group Transfers is standing by to help.

Have you encountered hidden timeshare fees? Tell us about them in the comments below.

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8 Valuable Credit Card Benefits You Might Not Know About

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Based on the most recent Census Bureau estimates, there are more than 180 million credit cardholders in America. Together, they have around 1.3 billion cards. These are split between the major general use credit cards, store cards, and gas cards. Many come with extra perks and credit card benefits you might not know about.

What Types of Credit Card Benefits are Available?

While each card is different, the majority come with a benefit or perk. Common credit card perks like cash back and rewards points are fairly well-known. You might also get extra discounts at specific stores, access to exclusive sales, and coupons.

However, numerous other credit card perks fly under the radar. Many people miss out on these benefits, simply because they don’t know they are available. Not every card issuer actively markets every credit card benefit that they offer. You have to dig into your credit card agreements and the issuer’s website to learn about them.

If you want to make sure you get the most out of your credit card, here are some credit card benefits you should look for.

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

Once only available on credit cards with steep annual fees, refunds for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees are increasingly common on credit cards, particularly those with other travel benefits.

Since TSA PreCheck and Global Entry can make getting through airport security easier, it’s worth exploring whether your card offers this perk. Usually, to access the benefit, you need to charge your application fee to the card. Then you might need to request your refund, or it could appear as a statement credit. However, the effort pays off big since the TSA and Global Entry fees are $85 and $100, respectively.

Airline Baggage Fees

A substantial number of airline-branded credit cards allow customers to check one bag for free. It’s free if they purchase their airline tickets on the card and from that airline. In some cases, this travel-oriented credit card perk also extends to your travel companions. However, you may need to purchase their tickets with your card as well.

In some cases, certain additional charges, like in-flight food and beverage purchases, are also eligible for refunds or discounts. There might be limitations, but it’s still an easy way to save a little money.

Purchase Protection

In the land of credit card benefits, purchase protection is fairly common. If an item is damaged or stolen during a specific time window and the cardholder files a claim, the issuer will reimburse you for the purchase as long as it was made with the card.

Typically, cardholders have 90 or 120 days after the purchase to use this perk. However, coverage maximums usually apply, so you may not receive a reimbursement for the full cost depending on the item’s purchase price.

Cell Phone Replacement

Replacing a damaged smartphone can easily run a few hundred dollars. But some card issuers will cover that expense as long as you use their card to pay your monthly cell phone bills.

Generally, cell phone replacement works a lot like insurance. You’ll need to cover a small deductible and file a claim. Additionally, there is usually a benefit maximum per incident, as well as an annual cap and claim limit.

Identity Theft Assistance

While not being liable for fraudulent charges on a credit card is standard practice, some card issuers go a step further and provide cardholders with additional identity theft assistance. These programs help ID theft victims with anything from completing necessary forms (like police reports) to contacting other creditors to begin mitigating the damage.

Additionally, many card issuers provide customers with credit monitoring tools, including the ability to receive alerts regarding changes on your credit report. In most cases, these tools also give you access to your credit score for free.

However, not every issuer displays your FICO score. Instead, you may see your Vantage score, which isn’t as commonly used in credit decisions. But, that doesn’t mean the information doesn’t provide value, as changes in your Vantage score could indicate your FICO score may have shifted as well.

Secondary Rental Car Insurance

When renting a car, the car rental company typically offers additional insurance to the driver. Saying no to the collision protection service can save you up to $30 a day, but leave you financially liable if you are responsible for an accident.

However, many credit card issuers provide cardholders with some secondary rental car insurance coverage if they use the card to pay for the rental. A few credit card companies even offer primary insurance coverage, allowing you to use their benefit before your personal auto insurance policy.

The nature of the coverage can vary dramatically, so it’s wise to check with your issuer to see exactly what is available.

Travel Insurance

If your travel plans go a bit awry, your credit card issuer may be able to help. In some cases, you can request refunds on specific expenses that directly relate to the incident as long as you bought them with the card.

For example, if a weather event prevents your flight from leaving on time, causing you to need a hotel for the night, that expense may qualify. If you lose your luggage during the trip, you may be eligible for a reimbursement to help cover the cost of the missing items.

Again, this one of many credit card benefits that can vary dramatically between issuers who offer it, so you need to check with yours directly to see what coverage may be available.

Currency Conversion Services

If you travel overseas, converting your currency into the local one can be expensive. Many currency exchanges charge high fees and use unfavorable exchange rates as a means of generating profit. But some credit card issuers help mitigate these costs by allowing you to bypass the need to obtain local currency entirely.

Certain credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees and may use more favorable exchange rates. If you use your card to pay for goods and services instead of converting cash to the local currency, you can actually come out ahead.

Does My Credit Card Provide These Benefits?

Often, you can find information regarding any available credit card benefits on the issuer’s website. You can also reach out to customer service if you can’t find the details you need.

Ultimately, no two credit cards are completely alike. Even two cards offered by the same issuer typically have access to different perks, so you need to check with the company to see what is available to you.

Do you have any favorite credit card benefits? Tell us about them in the comments below.

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How To Obtain A Belgium Working Visa

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Belgium is known as one of the toughest countries to get a working VISA from, but sometimes all it takes is having the right information at your disposal in order to make the right moves, and that’s what we‘re here to help you with.

If you’re a non-EU citizen looking for info on how to get a Belgian working VISA, you’ll probably find the following guide both helpful and insightful.

How to Obtain a Belgium Working VISA

As you’ll see below, your ability to obtain a working VISA in Belgium is largely predicated on your residence status in the country. A lot of the time you need to have secured work already before you can apply for the VISA in the first place.

Entrepreneurs who setup businesses in Belgium also qualify to apply for a Belgian working VISA under certain conditions. In any case, there are three types of work VISAs available in Belgium for non-EU citizens, namely:

  • A Permits: A permits specifically apply to non-EU citizens that have been residing in Belgium for five consecutive years, as well as the non-EU spouses of EU citizens.

In order to apply for this permit, you need to have been staying in Belgium for a period of 10 years and working with a B Permit for a minimum of 4 years.

The completed application form for an ‘A Permit’ needs to be accompanied by your residence permit, your payslips and certified copies of your B Permit, which you will submit at your local immigration office.

It’s important to note here that if you’re a national of Bosnia, Kozovo, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey and Herzegovina, then your residency requirement can be reduced to 3 years for an A Permit.

  • B Permits: Belgian employers are usually required to apply for this permit on behalf of their employees. Reason being that the employer needs to prove that they were unable to find a suitably qualified local to perform the job, hence the necessity to hire a non-national. So if your employer is the one organizing your Belgian work permit then it probably falls under this legislation and will be valid for one year with the option to renew.

Your application for this permit will have to be accompanied by your latest medical certificate as well to prove that you’re in good health. If you’ve been hired in a clerical position or as a manual worker, your application should also be accompanied by a prescribed contract of employment which will be signed by both you and your Belgian employer.

Just make sure to follow the rules and stay in your home country until your work permit has been issued, as staying in Belgium before that can jeopardize your chances of getting a B Permit.

  • C Permits: Similar to B permits, C permits are valid for only one year with the difference being that they do not come with an option to renew. Also, C permits are exclusively meant for domestic helpers, au pairs, agricultural workers, students and anyone who’s staying and/or working in Belgium for a temporary period of time.

Tips for Obtaining a Belgium Working Visa

working visa Belgium

Here are some extra tips to help you obtain your Belgium working Visa.

  • Learn the Local Language: Be sure to learn French before you start looking for work in Belgium as that will serve you in good stead with employers and officials alike.
  • Get an Internship: Those in the know say that working as an intern or trainee in Belgium for 6 to 12 months will increase your chances of obtaining a B permit, as your experience in said company will give your employer stronger ground to argue that you’re more suitable for the job even though you’re a non-EU citizen.
  • Study at a Belgian University: As a University student with a student VISA, you’ll have a better chance of obtaining part-time work which you can then leverage to apply for an A permit later on.

If you’re familiar with how a Belgium work visa works then it’ll be easier for you to understand the process of obtaining a Belgium working VISA.

Nevertheless, unless you’re a citizen of an EU or EEA country as well as Switzerland, you will need a working VISA in order to legally stay and work in Belgium. We hope this little guide has helped you to understand the requirements of getting a Belgium working VISA and that you will now be able to obtain the right working permit for your needs.