Taiwan and Belgium to launch working holiday programme

Taiwan and Belgium have signed an agreement on a reciprocal working holiday programme for young adults, which will start this month, Focus Taiwan reports. Under the programme, which will take effect on March 29, each side will provide an annual quota of 200 visas for citizens aged 18 to 30, said Hsu Mien-sheng, director-general of the ministry’s department of European affairs. This will allow young people from Taiwan and Belgium to work, travel and study in each other’s country for up to a year, Hsu said. “This program serves as a good opportunity for young Taiwanese adults to learn more about Europe,” he said. Taiwan is the first Asian country to create such a pact with Belgium, which has similar agreements with Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Belgium is the fourth European country to sign a working holiday agreement with Taiwan, after Germany, the UK and Ireland.