Belgium

Conditions

Au pair workers

In application of Article 9,14° of the Royal Decree of 9 June 1999, employment authorisations and work cards B may be awarded for young people working as au pairs. Article 24 of the Royal Decree clarifies what the term 'adolescent au pair' should be taken to mean: "a young person who is temporarily taken in by a host family where he/she will be given board and lodging in exchange for light everyday household tasks, to improve his/her knowledge of the language and to broaden his/her general development though a better knowledge of the country by participating in the family life of the host family."

In contrast to what is often assumed, an adolescent au pair is not a nanny, babysitter or resident servant. In the spirit of the au pair system, your cultural education and language enrichment must take precedence.

In order to avoid the employment aspect becoming the main purpose of the your stay, the legislation has imposed a number of specific conditions intended to counter or prevent any abuse. For example, your participation in the household tasks (babysitting included) must be limited to a maximum of 4 hours a day and 20 hours a week.

More information on au pair workers in the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels Capital Region.

Trainees

The term 'trainee' is defined for the purposes of this Regulation as follows: "The person who pursues practical training with an employer as the continuation of previous education attested by a diploma or certificate of study." (Royal Decree of 9 June 1999, Chapter VI, Section I, Art.20-23).

Conditions relating to the trainee:

You should be at least eighteen years old and not be older than thirty on the date when the employment permit and work permit are granted.

Note that the age condition does not apply for trainees who are recruited by a university, an institution of higher education or a recognised scientific institution. In other cases the authorised Regional Minister may permit a derogation in individual cases worthy of consideration when the applicant invokes warranted economic or social reasons.

You must not engage in gainful employment in Belgium during the training period.

More information on trainees workers in the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels Capital Region.

Procedures

Rights

No data currently available.