Hi, I’m looking for advice on moving to Belgium. I have known my boyfriend for 10 years (we have email communications dating back to 2004 at least), though we only met about 1 year ago. We have been in a relationship (long distance) for the last 1 year, he lives in Brussels, and I live in Canada. We have done trips to and fro and have spent about 55 days together in the last year. I want to move to Belgium in July/August this year. I am planning to move on a Working holiday maker visa (which allows me to live and work in Belgium for 1 year, without the need for a work permit). After 6 months of living together, I was planning to apply for the cohabitation visa, and then get my work permit C (on the basis of cohabitation). My visa related questions are: - how difficult is it to get the cohabitation visa? - how long does it take to process? It says up to 2 months on the website, but I have heard nightmare stories about Belgian beaurocracy! My other questions are: - I only speak English. I’m trying to better my French, but its gonna take a while yet.. im still at beginner level. What are my chances of getting a professional job? (I don’t want to be a receptionist etc.. I have a great career here and im hoping to further it in Belgium). - Do belg companies hire foreigners? They wont need to do any paperwork for me.. but are they receptive to hiring foreigners? - What is it like living in Brussels? I don’t know anyone there (the closest people I know are in paris!).. so it is easy to make friends and mingle? Any help you can provide would be much much appreciated! I’m also at ellaenglish@y-a-h-o-o-.-c-a (sorry don’t want to type it out properly due to spam!) Hi Dr House, Thank you for your reply! Really appreciate the time. My boyfriend will be moving here in about 2 years, but in the meantime, we have to figure out a solution! Currently, I don’t really have a problem getting work permit (because of the working holiday maker visa, which buys me a year!), just a job! So I’m trying to get an understanding of what the job market is in Belgium. Thanks v much for your input on that front. I know my language (in)capability is a huge handicap. I have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and am a business analyst, so I am hoping that this qualification will help. Sorry to trouble you further, but would you know whether there are good placement agencies that are able to help foreigners find jobs? My boyfriend is not knowledgeable about all of this, because he has lived in Belgium all his life and has never had to do any paperwork! Thank you yet again. Hi Bloemkool, Thanks for the answer. :-) My boyfriend is completley billingual so he never has a problem getting around, but I wanted to see what it would be like for an expat, in terms of meeting new people (not job related etc!), when you dont speak any language except English! Either way, it will be interesting :-) Thank you all for your answers! It has been incredibly helpful. I am understanding better what challenges I will face. I think my game plan will be to go there, take whatever job I get for some income, try volunteering/doing an internship, and keep looking for the dream job. This way, my language skills should also increase, I hope! PS, I have been to Verviers! I liked it very much, very different from Toronto :-)
Belgium - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Hi Ella Here is my advice: 1. Come to Belgium on a tourist visum and get married (civil marriage). Fourteen days later you will be a full blown Belgian, with carnet de marriage, carte d'identité, carte Sis, medicaid almost free and no problem whatsoever to get a job (from a legal standpoint only of course) 2. Brussels being the seat of the Executive of the EU , and the NATO, the ambiance is very international and you will meet scores of foreigners. The language prevailing in the EU and Nato watering holes is English. 3. A job: this is a totally different can of sardines! Belgium has a 12% rate of unemployment and most Belgians speak 3 to 4 languages. If you would like to apply for a receptionist job --which you generously do no want-- you should at least speak 4 languages.So I leave you to draw your own conclusions. 4. Belgian companies certainly hire foreigners provided they have the right qualifications and language knowledge. 5. How is Brussels: in one word: expensive. So think twice if you should have to live on one salary. PS Why dont you try the opposite? I'm sure your BF speaks English and French and would qualify for the points qualification system in Quebec for ex. There are hundreds of jobs to be had in locations between Montreal and Quebec ville. All the best.
2 :
There is something strange in your story: You like to know how it is Brussels! your BF lives there, and i hope you have already been once. Your friend can't he help you ? Does he inform you about everything in Brussels ? Do you have the canadian identity ? The belgian bureaucracy helps also to avoid illegal immigration
3 :
In all honesty Dr House have the best answer.! I lived in Belgium (7) years.But I was in Verviers wich is near Liege and very small city. so easier to make friends etc (altough) Belgium people don't have the time to socialise with foreigners if they don't know you. but when you make a friend in Belgium you have a friend for life!
4 :
If I would be in your place I would stay in Canada and let the partner come over to Canada. Why change beautiful Canada for Belgium? Sorry, If have to disappoint you with this answer but it's the truth. The work finding is almost impossible for a foreigner who don't speak Dutch. You have a small chance if you speak French in Brussels, but even over there the Belgium people don't find a job who speak the French and Dutch.
5 :
There is a weekly named The Bulletin edited for the English speaking expatriates living in Belgium. They also have a website. Your BF might get you one copy and scan/fax you the classified sections, they often have job offers for English-speaking professionals. Another option is www.pagesjaunes.be which is a professional directory. Use it to get contact addresses of international (as in English-speaking) businesses where to send resumes. If you have marketable skills, you might find it is easy to land a job. Check the jobs available on www.leforem.be; www.monster.be; www.efinancialcareers.be. Also check by googling business analyst with filters on language (English) and country (Belgium). Welcome to Belgium.
