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 there is a Working Holiday Maker Alumni
association, which gives seminars and orienteering to Japanese
working holiday goers.
Countries offering working holiday visas
Argentina
- Argentina's Working Holiday Program [175845] 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.
Austria
Austria currently has a Youth Workers Exchange Program available to
Canadian graduates aged between 18 and 30. The program is called
Swap
[175846].
Australia
- Australia's Working Holiday program [175847] provides opportunities for people aged
between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Australia and to
supplement their travel funds through short-term 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. There is an optional 12 month
extension available for individuals that have completed three
months specified work in designated rural areas of 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.
- Individuals may be subject to medical checks prior to coming to
Australia particularly if seeking employment in healthcare or
teaching. Applicants will be informed by the online application
system if they require medical checks.
- The Australian working holiday visa is only available to
eligible candidates once in a lifetime, although by undertaking
work in a specified industry in regional Australia, it is possible
to gain eligibility to an additional 12 month working holiday
visa.
- Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday
maker arrangements in effect with the United Kingdom
, Canada, the
Netherlands
, Japan, Republic of
Ireland
, 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
.
Passport holders from these nations may apply for a Working Holiday
Visa subclass 417.
- Passport holders from the United States
, Chile
, Turkey
, Malaysia
and Thailand
, can apply for a work and holiday visa subclass
462, provided they have a tertiary education (except for
individuals from the United States). Bangladesh
has signed a work holiday visa agreement with
Australia, which will be included with subclass 462, this program
was implemented in October 2007. For more information, visit
www.immi.gov.au .
Belgium
- Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand who are between
the ages of 18 and 30 may be eligible for a working holiday
visa[175848][175849].
Canada
- Citizens of Australia [175850], Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech
Republic[175851], France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Republic of Korea[175852], Latvia, The Netherlands, New
Zealand[175853], Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom and the US are eligible for a Canadian working
holiday visa, so long as they fulfil certain criteria which are
specific to each country.
- Citizens of Poland between the ages of 18 and 35 will be
eligible from 2009 . Canada has also signed an agreement with
Spain
.
- Age limits are from 18-30 for most countries; 18-35 for
citizens of Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland
and Switzerland. 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.
[175854]
Czech Republic
- Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 may be eligible
for a working holiday
- New Zealand citizens between the ages of 18 and 30
visa
[175855].
Chile
Chile offers working holiday visas to citizens of Australia, Canada
and New Zealand.To be eligible a person must:
- Be aged between eighteen (18) and thirty (30) years of age,
both inclusive, at the time of application.
- Possess a valid Canadian, New Zealand or Australian
passport.
- Provide evidence of holding a medical and comprehensive
hospitalisation insurance to remain in force throughout his/her
stay in Chile.
Denmark
Denmark offers a working holiday visa to Australian, Canadian,
Chilean and New Zealand passport holders.
France
France offers a working holiday visa (Permis Vacances Travail,
usually called PVT) to Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New
Zealander and South Korean citizens. Information can be found on
the website of the French embassy of each country.
[175856] [175857]
Germany
Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and
South Korea aged between 18 and 30 may apply for a Working Holiday
Visa. Stays of up to 12 months are allowed. Working Holidaymakers
may work to finance their trip, but each job can only last up to 90
days. Evidence of sufficient funds for the first three months are
required (i.e. 250 euro per month).
Anyone wishing to take part in the Working Holiday Visa scheme
should be well aware of the extremely high unemployment rates in
the country especially in Berlin. Anyone with little or no German
language skills will find it difficult to find adequate employment.
Among other nationalities Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders
can remain in the country indefinitely if they find long-term work
they are uniquely qualified to. This is subject to approval by the
government employment office - Bundesagentur für Arbeit. (See §16
AufenthV
[175858])
Hong Kong
- Hong Kong has working holiday agreements with Australia, New
Zealand, Ireland, Germany and Japan .
- Applicants may be granted a stay of up to 12 months.
To obtain a Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa you must :
- Be an Australian, New Zealand, Irish, German or Japanese
citizen who is holder of valid passport and ordinarily resident in
their home country.
- Intend primarily to holiday in Hong Kong
- Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of application
- Have sufficient funds and return or onward ticket when you
arrive in Hong Kong
- Be of good health and of good character
Ireland
- Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, and New
Zealand [175859] , aged 18–30 (inclusive) may be eligible for
an Irish Working Holiday Visa.
- Now US citizens are eligible to apply for Working Holiday
Authorization in Ireland.
- 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 may make use of the scheme on more than one
occasion.
Italy
- Australian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 and Canadian
citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 are eligible for a working
holiday visa[175860].
[175861]
Japan
- Citizens from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, New
Zealand, Taiwan and Hong Kong 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.[175862]
- 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 which can be extended
twice and once for citizens of New Zealand and Canada.
Latvia
- Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 are eligible
for a working holiday visa[175863].
The Netherlands
- Citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand between the ages
of 18-30 are eligible.[175864]
New Zealand
- Available to citizens of Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,
Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United
States of America, and Uruguay.
- Australia has reciprocal visa arrangements with New Zealand and
Australian citizens are able to live and work in New Zealand at any
time and for any duration, regardless of their age or education.
Although entry may be denied on the basis of prior criminal
convictions.
- Conditions vary between countries.
- Most travellers can enroll in one training or study course of
up to three months duration during their visit.
Norway
- Citizens of Australia and New Zealand who are between the ages
of 18 and 30 (inclusive) are eligible for a one-time, Norwegian
working holiday visa.
- Citizens of Canada who are between the ages of 18 and 35 are
eligible for a Norwegian working holiday visa.[175865].
Poland
- Citizens of Canada between the ages of 18-35 will be eligible
once the program officially opens in 2009.[175866]
- Citizens of New Zealand between the ages of 18-30 will be
eligible after the programme is ratified in late 2009. [175867]
South Korea
- Citizens of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New
Zealand and the United States who are between the ages of 18 and 30
are eligible for a South Korean working holiday visa (H-1
visa).
- The visa is valid for 12 months (18 months for the US
citizens)
- 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.
- 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.
- For more information, go to:
http://www.mofat.go.kr/westwhp/html/eng/main.jsp
Singapore
Singapore offers a working holiday visa (6 months validity) for
soon-to-be or existing undergraduates and graduates, aged between
18 and 30, from Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States to engage in
short working stints in Singapore. For more information, go to:
http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/work_pass/other_passes/work_holiday_programme.html
Spain
Spain has signed an agreement with Canada.Spain also has an
agreement with New Zealand.
Sweden
- Sweden offers a working holiday visa to Australian and New
Zealand passport holders.
- Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible
for a working holiday visa[175868].
Switzerland
- Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 are eligible
for a working holiday visa[175869].
Turkey
- Turkey's Working Holiday Program provides opportunities for
people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in
Turkey and to supplement their travel funds through incidental
employment.
- The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months and is available to
Australian citizens.
United Kingdom
On 27 November 2008, a number of youth mobility schemes were
combined into Tier 5 (Youth Mobility), as part of the Points-Based
Immigration System. The previous Working Holidaymaker Scheme for
Commonwealth nationals was
merged with other schemes: au pairs, BUNAC, the Gap Year entrants
concession, the Japan Youth Exchange Scheme and the concession for
research assistants to MPs. Participating countries must offer a
reciprocal scheme to young British nationals. The scheme has
launched with just four participating countries: Australia, Canada,
Japan and New Zealand . Hong Kong residents with British National
(Overseas) passport can also apply.
The USA decided not to participate, and with the abolition of BUNAC
there will be no general youth mobility scheme in place between the
USA and the UK, although there is an internship scheme. South
Africa, from where 17,000 young people a year came to the UK under
the Working Holidaymaker scheme, is also not taking part.
Other non-participating countries where the previous scheme was
popular include India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Ghana.
The 24 month validity period runs continuously from the date from
which the
Entry Clearance is valid.
Regardless of any time spent travelling outside the UK. This period
cannot be extended nor can it be put on hold.
Although participants can undertake self-funded study while they
are in the UK, either part-time or full-time, they cannot switch in
the UK to student immigration status. Someone who wishes to stay
longer in the UK to complete a full-time course must apply in their
home country for a student visa. If someone does complete a course
of study in the UK during their Tier 5 leave, they will not be
eligible to switch to the
Tier
1 scheme within the UK.
See also
References
External links
- Working
holiday jobs
- nextstepabroad.com - Working holiday info &
classifieds for travelers
- Details and advice about UK Working Holiday Visas
and other countries as well
- Gap
Year Work, jobs, gap year directory, teach travel abroad
- Summer Camp Jobs Work at a worldwide summer camp in
the USA or worldwide.
- 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
- How to get Working Holiday visa in Japan
- Seasonal Jobs Holiday jobs, seasonal work, working
holidays or other paid work placements.
- Gap Year
Directory Gap Year 365 is a directory of Gap Year, year out
organisations
- Summer Camp Jobs Summer camp jobs USA, Canada and
worldwide.
- TEFL TEFL
and teaching jobs.
- Visa First
24 hour advice Working holiday maker visa advice for Australia,
New Zealand, Ireland, UK and Canada
- PVTistes.net Working holiday maker ("PVTistes" in
French) visa advice for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan,
Singapore and South Korea. This website also has a forum in which
you can ask French people advice about the Working holiday visa
(PVT) in their country.
- Working Holiday Information Visa help for a variety of
nationalities.
- Working
Holiday Visa General information about the Working Holiday
Visa/Programme (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe,
Japan...)
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