I often talk about how beneficial I think it is, both on personal and professional levels, for people to get out of the comfort of their daily habits and settle in a foreign country for at least, a couple of months.
Read my post on 5 good reasons to work abroad.
There are three programs that I know of, that enable young workers to be employed abroad.
THE WORKING HOLIDAY VISA
What is the Working Holiday Visa?
A residence permit that will allow you to work in the country issuing the visa. Most Working Holiday Visas are under reciprocal agreements between countries to promote cultural exchange.
Who can apply?
Sixty countries have signed mutual agreements that allow individuals between 18 and 30 or 35 years old to work in the country issuing the visa.
How long is it valid?
A year, most of the time, although some countries allow two years.
Which countries offer Working Holiday Visas?
I have listed below all the countries that offer a WHV, who can apply, how long can you stay in the country issuing the visa, the age bracket allowed and some additional notes.
Note 1: I’ve struggled with how much information I should put on this post, without boring you to death. There details such as medical insurance requirement, visa obtention fees, that I have not added, but you should be able to find this out quite easily online. 🙂
COUNTRY | WHO CAN APPLY | DURATION | AGE RESTRICTION | SIDE NOTES |
Andorra | Citizens of Australia | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Argentina | Citizens of Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, New Zealand | Up to 1 year | 18-30 (inclusive) | |
Australia | Citizens of the UK, South Korea, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan, Republic of Ireland, Malta, Denmark, Norway, Hong Kong, Finland, the Republic of Cyprus, France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland, Greece, Andorra, Estonia, Slovakia, Latvia, the USA | Up to 1 year (with an optional 12-month extension for those who have done specified work in given rural areas of Australia.) | 18-30 | – Passport holders from Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Spain, Thailand and Turkey can apply for a WHV, provided that they have a tertiary education.
– Working for more than 6 months with the same employer is not allowed – WHV holders can study in Australia for a maximum of 4 months |
Austria | Citizens of Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan | 6 months or 1 year | 18-30 | |
Bangladesh | Australia | No info | ||
Belgium | Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan | 1 year | 18-30 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Brazil
|
Citizens of France, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Canada | Citizens of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, UK | 1 or 2 years depending on the country of citizenship.
U.S full time students are eligible for 12-month WHV through the organization SWAP. |
Citizens of Poland, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland: 18-35 years old
Citizens of Ukraine: 18-25 years old
For the other countries the age restriction is 18-30 years old |
– The Canadian WHV is also known as International Experience Canada visa.
|
Chile | Citizens of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
China | Citizens of New Zealand | 18-30 | ||
Colombia | Citizens of Chile, Mexico, Peru | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Costa Rica | Citizens of Canada | 1 year | 18-35 | |
Croatia | Citizens of Canada, New Zealand | Up to 1 year | 18-30 | |
Cyprus | Citizens of Australia | Up to 1 year | 18-25 | |
Czech Republic | Citizens of Canada, Chile, South Korea, New Zealand | 2 years | 18-35 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Denmark | Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Estonia | Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand | Up to 1 year | 18-30 | |
Finland | Citizens of Australia and New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
France | Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand | For citizens of Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Russia (4 months)
Canadians (2 years)
The rest, 1 year |
18-30 or 35 | |
Germany | Citizens of Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Taiwan | 1 year | 18-30 (35 for Canada) | |
Greece | Citizens of Australia and Canada | 18-30 | ||
Hong Kong | Citizens of Australia, Austria, Canada, France, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Hungary | Citizens of South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Iceland | Citizens of Australia | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Indonesia | 1 year | 18-30 | ||
Ireland | Citizens of Australia, Argentina, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and the USA | 1 year | 18-30 | US citizens applicants must:
– Be currently enrolled in post-secondary education or graduated within the past 12 months – Have valid US passport that wil be valid for the entire stay in Ireland – 2 identical passport photos with name on the reverse – CV – Original bank statement proving you have €1,500 and a return ticket – Originals of any qualifications obtained or letter from school/college/university – The relevant fee of €250 – Certificate of medical/travel insurance valid for duration of the trip |
Israel | Citizens of Germany, South Korea, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Italy | Citizens of Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Canada | 2 years | 18-30 (Australia, South Korea, New Zealand)
18-35 (Canada) |
Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Japan | Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Belgium | 1 year (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, UK)
6 months, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. Can be extended twice and once for citizens of Canada and New Zealand. |
18-30 | |
Latvia | Citizens of Canada, New Zealand, Australia | 1 year | 18-30 (NZ, Australia)
18-35 (Canada) |
|
Lithuania | Citizens of Canada, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 or
35 |
Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Malaysia | Citizens of New Zealand, Australia | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Malta | ||||
Mexico | Citizens of Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, Chile, Colombia, Peru | 1 year, up to 2 years | ||
Monaco | Citizens of the UK | 2 years | 18-30 | |
The Netherlands | Residents of countries within the EU can reside in the Netherlands without a permit.
Australia, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the USA |
2 years | 18-31 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
New Zealand | Citizens of Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Singapore (6-months-work exchange programme), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vietnam.
No WHV required for Australians.
|
Citizens of Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, The Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, the UK and the US can work in New Zealand for 23 months and 24 months on a working holiday visa; citizens of other countries can work up to 12 months. | 18-30 | |
Norway | Citizens of Australia, Japan, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 (35 for Canadians) | |
Peru | Citizens of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Philippines | Citizens of New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Poland | Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan | 2 years | 18-30 (35 for Canadians) | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Portugal | Japan, South Korea | 2 years | 18-30 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Romania | South Korea | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Russia | France | 4 months | 18-30 | |
Singapore | Applicants must have been enrolled in universities ranked among the top 200 for overall academic performance in any of the following international rankings at least once within the past five years: Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Academic Ranking of World Universities and Times Higher Education World University Rankings | |||
Slovakia | Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan | 1 year | 18-30 (or 35) | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Slovenia | Citizens of New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
South Africa | Canadians, through the exchange program SWAP. | 1 year | ||
South Korea | Citizens of Australia, Canada, The UK, The USA, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Taiwan | 1 year (extendible for an additional year) | There is no quota for citizens of Australia, Chile, Denmark, Germany and Sweden | |
Spain | Citizens of Australia and New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Sweden | Europeans, citizens of Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Aland Islands, Faroe Islands do not need a permit to live/work in Sweden.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand can apply for a WHV |
Up to 2 years | 18-30 | Visa holder can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. |
Switzerland | Canadians | 1 year | 18-35 | |
Taiwan | Citizens of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the UK | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Thailand | Citizens of Australia and New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | Applicants must have studied at least three years post high school.
Australian applicants must have a valid passport for at least 6 months. Applicants from New Zealand must have a valid passport for at least 12 months, a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one, and funds of at least A$5,000 or NZ$7,000, and must be in good health and hold comprehensive medical insurance.
|
Turkey | Citizens of Australia and New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Ukraine | Canadians | 1 year | 18-25 | |
UK | ||||
USA | Full time Canadians students can get a year long WHV through the organization SWAP
The Exchange Visitor Pilot Programs allows a stay of up to 2 year in the U.S. and is available to citizens of Australia, Ireland, South Korea, New Zealand |
|||
Uruguay | Citizens of New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 | |
Vietnam | Citizens of Australia and New Zealand | 1 year | 18-30 |
Did you find this post helpful? I’m always eager to read your feedback. I would really appreciate you taking the time to rate it below, thank you so much! 🙂
[yasr_overall_rating]