Can I go on holiday abroad while I receive unemployment benefit?
In short
Yes. You have the right to 24 days (4 weeks) of holiday a year, and you can spend this holiday abroad. For a longer stay, ask your payment organisation in advance.
Video transcript
You receive unemployment benefit. You want to go abroad in the summer. It depends: You are entitled to 24 days (4 weeks) of holiday a year, and may spend them abroad. For longer, ask first. The right way: Mark holiday days with 'V' on your control card. For a long stay, check with your payment body first. If you break the rule: Benefit: Must be paid back; Also: Weeks of suspension; Knowingly false statement: Social fraud.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- A person receiving unemployment benefit has the right to 24 days of holiday a year (including Saturdays), which is 4 weeks.
- You can spend this holiday abroad.
- Mark each holiday day on your control card with the letter 'V'.
- For a longer stay abroad, ask your payment organisation and the unemployment office (RVA / ONEM) in advance.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- The benefits must be paid back
Legal basis:KB 25.11.1991 (werkloosheid), art. 167, 169-170 (GwH 83/2009)
- Court / prison
- For knowingly false statements, prosecution for social fraud is possible
Legal basis:Sociaal Strafwetboek, art. 233 §1-§2
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Your benefit can be stopped for weeks or months
Legal basis:KB 25.11.1991 (werkloosheid), art. 153
- Benefits received wrongly must be paid back
Legal basis:RVA – Uitkeringen terugbetalen
- Staying abroad beyond the permitted holiday days can affect your right to benefits; ask your payment organisation first.
Legal basis:KB werkloosheidsreglementering 25.11.1991, art. 66
Why does this rule exist?
Unemployment benefit is for people who live in Belgium and are available for work. Under the rules you must actually reside in Belgium; holiday days are the exception.
Where can you go?
- The organisation that pays your benefitPension: Federal Pension Service (FPD / SFP) · Unemployment: RVA / ONEM or your payment organisation (trade union / HVW-CAPAC) · Sickness: ziekenfonds / mutualité
- OCMW / CPASQuestions about social assistance and social housing
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 9 / 9 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 9 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Yılda 24 gün (cumartesi dahil) / 4 hafta tatil
RVA – Mag u vakantie nemen tijdens uw werkloosheid? - Found in an official source
Tatil yurt dışında geçirilebilir
RVA – Moet u als werkloze in België verblijven? - Found in an official source
Tatil günleri kontrol kartında 'V'
RVA - Found in an official source
Daha uzun kalış için önceden danışın
RVA - Found in an official source
Ödeneklerin geri istenmesi
KB 25.11.1991 (werkloosheid), art. 167, 169-170 (GwH 83/2009) - Found in an official source
Haksız sosyal ödenek için kasıtlı yanlış/eksik beyan cezalıdır
Sociaal Strafwetboek, art. 233 §1-§2 - Found in an official source
Yanlış, eksik veya geç beyanda 4–13 hafta (tekrarda 26 haftaya kadar) ödenekten men
KB 25.11.1991 (werkloosheid), art. 153 - Found in an official source
Haksız alınan işsizlik ödeneği geri ödenir
RVA – Uitkeringen terugbetalen - Found in an official source
İzin verilen tatil günleri dışında yurt dışında kalmak ödenek hakkını etkileyebilir
KB werkloosheidsreglementering 25.11.1991, art. 66
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?