Information about Working Holiday Visa

A working holiday visa is a travel permit which allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds.

Most working holiday visas are offered under reciprocal agreements between certain countries, to encourage travel and cultural exchange between their citizens.

There are often several restrictions on this type of visa:

• many are intended for young travellers, and as such have an age restriction (usually 18-30)
• there are usually limits on the type of employment taken, or the length of time the traveller can be employed
• the visa holder is expected to have sufficient funds to live on while they seek employment

The original participating countries in this were Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

It allows young people to experience living in a foreign country, without undergoing the usual costly expenses of finding work sponsorship in advance, or going on expensive university exchange programmes.

In Japan it is highly organized, and there is a Working Holiday Maker Alumni association, which gives seminars and orienteering to Japanese working holiday goers, while it tends to just be perceived as just an easy visa to get to Japan for Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians.

Despite the popularity among Japanese to go on working holidays, many have less than the "ideal" foreign experience, and end up working in unskilled labour jobs not even requiring ESL acquisition in Japanese restaurants and souvenir shops. In contrast, native English speakers from the aforementioned countries can often leap frog traditional business requirements such as college degrees, certification or many years of experience, just because they can speak English. Although stories have slowed since the economic slow-down of the 1990s, it is not uncommon to hear of foreigners reaching great levels of success in Japan in business, the arts, and education, where they might not have had the same opportunities back home. This is not to say that native English speakers have an easier time with language acquisition while in Japan, however; many find accommodation in guest houses intended for foreign travelers and are employed as English teachers and return to their country with only a cursory understanding of the Japanese language.

Countries offering working holiday visas

Argentina

• Argentina's Working Holiday Program http://www.arg.org.nz/consular/visas.htm provides opportunities for people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Argentina and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
• The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months and is available to New Zealand Citizens.

Australia

Main article: Working Holidays in Australia

• Australia's Working Holiday Program http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/index.htm provides opportunities for people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Australia and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
• The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months from the date of first entry to Australia, regardless of whether the holder spends the whole time in Australia.
• Any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature is allowed, but work for more than six months with any one employer is not permitted.
• Working Holiday Visa holders are entitled to study or embark on a training course for a maximum of four months.
• A medical is required for anyone seeking employment in healthcare or anyone seeking employment in the teaching profession. If you have spent more than 3 consecutive months in the last 5 years in a country considered to be of high health risk, you will be required to have a medical exam.
• The Australian working holiday visa is only available to eligible candidates once in a lifetime, although by undertaking work in a prescribed agricultural occupation, it is possible to earn the right to an additional 12 month WHM visa.
• Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday maker arrangements in effect with the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Republic of Ireland, INDIA, Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China, Finland, the Republic of Cyprus, France, Italy, Belgium, Estonia and Taiwan.

Canada

• Citizens of Australiahttp://www.whpcanada.org.au/, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Koreahttp://www.international.gc.ca/korea/new-announcement-ko.asp, The Netherlands, New Zealandhttp://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/whp/intro-en.asp, South Africa, Sweden, the UK and the US are eligible for a Canadian working holiday visa, so long as they fulfil certain criteria which are specific to each country.
• Age limits are from 18-30 for most countries; 18-35 for citizens of Italy. Some countries' programs specify that the applicant must be a full-time student; others do not, and some have separate programmes for students and non-students.
• The type of work allowed and the maximum duration of stay depends on the applicant's country of residence.

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Germany

Japan

• Citizens from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, and New Zealand who are between the ages of 18 and 30, and citizens from the United Kingdom and Ireland who are between the ages of 18 and 25 may apply for a Working Holiday Visa. British and Irish citizens over 25 years of age are in some cases allowed to apply for the visa.
• A one-year visa may be granted to citizens of France, Germany, Korea, Ireland, and the UK -- with no extension possible. A six-month visa may be granted to citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, which can be extended twice.

New Zealand

• Available to citizens of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay.
• Conditions vary between countries.
• Most travellers can enrol in one training or study course of up to three months duration during their visit.

South Korea

• Only citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand who are between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible for a South Korean working holiday visa (H-1 visa).http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_usto/ee_a04/ee_b06/1187401_23448.htmlhttp://www.workingholiday.or.kr/working-eng/sub1_1.asp
• The visa is valid initially for six months and may be extended for another six months.
• A working holiday visa holders cannot be employed in certain job such as receptionist, dancer, singer, musician, acrobat, or in places of entertainment where they may endanger good morals and manners.http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_caca/ee_a04/ee_b09/working_holiday.jsp
• To teach a foreign language the same qualification requirements as a "E-2 Language instructor visa" applies and permission must be granted by the chief of immigration office.

Turkey

United Kingdom

• Commonwealth citizens, aged between 17 and 30, may be eligible to enter the United Kingdom as Working Holidaymakers.
• Employment should be seen as incidental to the holiday and therefore work is not allowed for more than 12 months out of the permitted 24 months.
• The 24 month validity period will run continuously from the date from which the Entry Clearance is valid - this is set by the Entry Clearance Officer. Regardless of any time spent travelling outside the UK. This period cannot be extended nor can it be put on hold.

Ireland

• Citizens of Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand, aged 18-30 (inclusive) may be eligible for an Irish Working Holiday Visa.
• Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves for at least the initial part of the holiday or in the event of failing to secure employment. Immigration officials may request evidence of sufficient funds at the point of entry to Ireland.
• No one person many avail the scheme on more than one occasion.

See also

• Gap year

External links

• Gap Year Worldwide Volunteer for free, browse our gapyear directory, teach, work, study or travel abroad
• Tesl JOBS Worldwide
• Summer Camp Worldwide Work at a worldwide summer camp in the USA or worldwide.
• See full list of participating countries on nextstepabroad.com
• Find people, products, services & jobs for your working holiday
• Canada (International Youth Programs)
• UK Visas (Home Office website)
• Working Holiday Maker Visas for Australia
• A Working Holiday in New Zealand
• MOFA The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan