Working Holiday Visa Resources

Getting a working holiday visa is a great way to make long term travel affordable.

Taking the leap and doing a working holiday when I was 22 was the best decision I ever made.

If you are young, willing to work and curious about the world, I would highly recommend it.

Young people aged from 18-35 from many countries can apply for this type of visa, which will allow you to work and travel in different countries for up to two years.

(The working holiday options available depend on the country you’re from – and the agreements it has made with other countries. Citizens of Canada, Australia, UK and Ireland have the most choices, while other countries have fewer options.)

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Travel and Earn – At the Same Time

A working holiday visa solves one of the biggest issues you might be facing if you are dreaming about traveling the world – a lack of funds.

Instead of having to save up enough for a full year of travel, you only have to save up enough to get started in another country. (Usually most working holiday visa applications require you to show proof of initial funds, which will be around a few thousand dollars.)

Once you get the visa and get to your destination, you can start working right away and earn the money you need to fund your travels – while you are on the road.

That way, you can stay for much longer than you would if you were only relying on your savings. Many people on working holiday visas stay for 6 months to a year in another country – and some visas allow you to extend your stay for two years.

Plus, one of the great things about this is that it’s so flexible. How much time you spend working or traveling is up to you. Some visas have restrictions (for example, some limit the number of months you can work for one employer) but most of the time you have a lot of freedom.

There are so many ways to plan a Gap Year with the freedom that working holiday visas offer you. You could work your way around a country seasonally, picking fruit and working on farms. You could get a job in a city and take trips to nearby destinations. You could divide the year in halves or quarters and work for a few months in each different region. Or, you could work for part of the year to top up your savings, then spend the rest of the time traveling. It’s up to you!

Global Goose: Your Working Holiday Visa Guide

We have written several in-depth working holiday visa guides and other posts on Global Goose.

Why?

Because we really do believe they are one of the best opportunities for young people who want to travel. Also, we often meet people in their 20s who say, “Wow, I’d really love to travel and work abroad,” yet they don’t know these opportunities are out there.

For example, Canadians have 31 different countries where they can work abroad. Australians have 34.

That’s amazing. That means you could work abroad in a different country every year from age 18 to 30 and still not even cover half of the possibilities.

When I was 22 I left Canada to work abroad because I was curious… what else is out there?

A decade of travel later I can tell you – there’s a whole lot out there… and it’s SO worth exploring.

Here are some of our best working holiday visa guide posts. I hope you find them helpful when planning your working abroad adventure.

General Working Holiday Visa Information

What is a Working Holiday Visa?
Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas?

Working Holiday Visa Guide By Country

Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas for Americans?
Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas for Canadians?
Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas for British People?
Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas for Australians?

How to Apply

We have written a few guides for people on applying for working holiday visas. If you have recently applied for one and would be willing to contribute a post to this site. Please contact us.

How To Get A Canadian Working Holiday Visa
How to Get An Australia Working Holiday Visa
How Canadians Can Get a Working Holiday Visa for Ireland

Over 35?

Although the working holiday programs are only for people under 35, there are still options if older people want to work and travel abroad.

Too Old for a Working Holiday Visa? Travel Opportunities For All Ages