In General:
1. Your main intention is to holiday and take incidental work.
2. You must be 18 to 30 years (sometimes 18 to 35 years) inclusive at the time of your application.
3. You must be single or married without children.
4. You must prove you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your initial stay.
5. You should have a return/onward ticket or sufficient funds so you can leave at the end of your stay.
6. Each country issues a working holiday visa once in your life time. So make the most of your time. Most countries allow you to stay for 12 months. Some allow a stay of 24 months.
Work and Holiday Visa at a glance
The Work and Holiday visa is different to a 'Working Holiday' visa. It requires applicants aged 18 to 30 years (inclusive) to:
1. hold a tertiary qualification
2. speak English
3. obtain a letter of support from their Government
Argentina Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Embassy of Argentina
Level 14, 142 Lambton Quay, Wellington
Tel: (04) 472 8330
Or visit: www.arg.org.nz
Types of work for travellers: Teaching English, ski resorts, volunteering.
Austria Visa: Working Holiday (Youth Workers Exchange Program)
Available to citizens of: Canada (graduates)
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: The program is called SWAP. Visit www.swap.ca for details.
EU nationals can live, work and play in Austria without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Types of work for travellers: Mostly found in ski resorts. Check out our guide Endless Winter - your guide to working in ski resorts for employment contact details of resorts in Austria.
Australia : Australia is a hot working holiday and gap year destination and offers people from many nationalities the opportunity to live, work and play on its golden shores.
New Zealand citizens: The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between New Zealand and Australia allows New Zealand citizens to enter Australia without a visa.
US citizens: can obtain a four (4) month working holiday visa by making an application through BUNAC www.bunac.com.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
Length of stay: 12 months, 24 months if you work for at least three (3) months in the fruit and vegetable picking industry.
Age: 18 to 30 years
Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the USA
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (who hold a tertiary qualification)
Contact: www.immi.gov.au
Types of work for travellers: Lots of work ranging from office based (secretary, admin, banking, accounting, etc.), picking fruit and vegetables, hospitality in coffee shops, bars, etc.
Bangladesh Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia (graduates)
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Belgium EU nationals can live, work and play in Belgium without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact:
Australian and New Zealand citizens:
Consulate General of Belgium
12A Trelawney Street
Woolahra NSW 2025
Tel: (02) 9327 8377
Email: Sydney@diplobel.org Or visit: www.diplomatie.be/sydney
Canadian citizens:
Consulate-General of Belgium in Montreal
999 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Suite 850
Montreal, Quebec H3A 3L4
Tel: (514) 849 7394, Fax: (514) 844 3170
Email: montreal@diplobel.org
Canada Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japn, Republic of Korea, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Citizens of Poland will be eligible from 2009. Canada has also signed an agreement with Spain.
Length of stay: 12 months (24 months for Australians)
Age: 18 to 30 years (18 to 35 years for citizens of Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Switzerland)
Contact:
Australian Citizens contact: http://www.whpcanada.org.au
Citizens of The United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Finland: www.canada.org.uk
German Citizens: www.dfaitmaeci.gc.ca
New Zealand Citizens: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/newzealand
Types of work available: Most travellers head to Canada to work in one of their world-renowned ski resorts. We have a chapter on this in our guide LiveWork&Play in Canada. There is also a variety of work (accounting, office, hospitality) in the major cities such as Vancouver and Montreal.
Chile Visa: Work and Holiday
Length of stay: 12 months
Available to citizens of: Australia
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: http://www2.embachile-australia.com/en/consulates/WorkHolidayVisas.html
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: The Consular office of Chile:
19 Bolton Street, Wellington
OR
8 Spencer Street, Auckland Visa: Youth Mobility Program
Length of stay: 12 months
Available to citizens of: Canada
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: The Chile Embassy: www.chile.ca/en
Cyprus EU nationals can live, work and play in Belgium without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Cyprus High Commission
30 Beale Crescent
DEAKIN ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6281 0832
Email: cyhphicom@bigpond.net.au
Czech Republic Citizens of European (EEA) Member Countries are able to live and work in the Czech Republic without a visa or work permit.
Citizens of New EU Member Countries (Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia ) are welcome to live and work in Czech Republic on the same basis as nationals of existing EU States)
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (New Zealand citizens) and 18 to 35 years (Canadian citizens)
Denmark EU nationals can live, work and play in Belgium without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Danish Immigration Service www.newtodenmark.dk for details.
Estonia Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Consulate of Estonia.
European Union (EU) After the devastation of World War II, several European countries sought ways to make sure they would never go to war against each other again. It was decided that countries would join forces to achieve mutual benefit and lasting peace. That idea has today become the European Union (EU).
Mutual benefit is being achieved in a number of ways. Restrictions have been lifted on the movement of goods, services, capital and people between all member states. This has created several benefits: qualifications gained in one member state are recognized in another, giving citizens access to more job opportunities with terms and conditions of employment the same anywhere in the EU; travel between member states is made easier and quicker with the easing of restrictions at Customs control points; and if citizens become ill in another member state, they have access to that member state's health services via reciprocal health agreements.
There are currently 27 member states in the EU. These include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czeck Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Iceland, Norway and Leichtenstein have not joined the EU but form the European Economic Area (EEA) and citizens from these countries can live and work in EU member states. These countries are all members of The Free Movement of Workers agreement.
Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Working Holiday Visas for Australian citizens
Australia has working holiday agreements with the following EU countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Australian citizens aged 18 to 30 years inclusive can apply for a one (1) year working holiday visa to any of these countries.
Working Holiday Visas for New Zealand citizens
New Zealand has working holiday agreements with the following EU countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands and Sweden. New Zealand citizens aged 18 to 30 years inclusive can apply for a one (1) year working holiday visa to any of these countries.
Working Holiday Visas for Canadian citizens
Canada has working holiday agreements with the following EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden. Canadian citizens aged 18 to 30 years inclusive can apply for a one (1) year working holiday visa to any of these countries.
Finland Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand and Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Consulate of Finland, Sydney
Tel: (02) 9327 7904
E-mail: sanomat.syd@formin.fi
Or visit: www.finland.org.au
France EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in France without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Australian citizens: www.consulfrance-sydney.org
Canadian citizens: www.ambafrance-ca.org
New Zealand citizens: www.ambafrance-nz.org
Germany EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Germany without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
German Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Canadian citizens: http://www.ottawa.diplo.de/en/Startseite.html
New Zealand citizens: http://www.wellington.diplo.de/en/01/Visabestimmungen/Visabestimmungen.html
Australian citizens: http://www.germanembassy.org.au/en/welcome/visa/index.html
Hong Kong Visa:Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Germany
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: More details can be found at: www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_holiday.htm
Indonesia Visa:Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.immi.gov.au for more details.
The Republic of Ireland EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Ireland without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Irish Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Department of Foriegn Affairs, Ireland: http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/services/visa/
New Zealand citizens: http://www.ireland.co.nz/citizenship.asp
Australian Citizens: http://www.irlgov.ie
Italy EU nationals EU nationals can live, work and play in Ireland without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Italian Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (18 to 35 years for Canadian citizens only)
Contact:
Australian citizens: www.ambitalia.org.au
New Zealand citizens: www.italy-embassy.org.nz.
Canadian citizens:
Embassy of Italy in Ottawa
275 Slater Street, 21st Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9, CANADA
Tel: 613 232.2401
ambasciata.ottawa@esteri.it
Japan Visa:Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Taiwan.
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (18 to 25 years for UK and Irish citizens only)
Work Visa : People who arrange a job before arriving in Japan will arrive on the Work Visa. Most people obtain this visa by agreeing to work for one of the large English Language School.
Contact your nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate for information on visas or visit:
Australian Citizens: www.japan.org.au
New Zealand Citizens: www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp
Canadian Citizens: www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp
Korean Citizens: www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp
French Citizens: www.amb-japon.fr
German Citizens: www.de.emb-japan.go.jp
British Citizens: www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
Republic of Korea Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America
Length of stay: 12 months (18 months for US citizens)
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.workingholiday.or.kr.
Latvia Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Your nearest Latvian Consulate.
Malaysia Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: New Zealand citizens: www.immigration.govt.nz
Australian citizens: www.immi.gov.au
Malta EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Malta without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Maltese Consulate or Embassy or visit www.foreign.gov.mt.
The Netherlands EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Ireland without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.netherlands-embassy.org.uk
New Zealand Australian citizens
The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between New Zealand and Australia allows Australian citizens to enter New Zealand without a visa.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, United States of America and Uruguay
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (24 months for UK citizens)
Contact: www.immigration.govt.nz
Norway EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Norway without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Norwegian Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Royal Norwegian Embassy
17 Hunter Street
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6273 3444
Fax: (02) 6273 3699
Or visit: www.norway.org.au
Singapore Visa:Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Singapore High Commission
17 Kabul Street
Khandallah
Wellington
Tel: (04) 4700850
Or visit: www.mfa.gov.sg/wellington
Sweden EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Sweden without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Swedish Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.migrationsverket.se/english.html.
Thailand Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.immigration.govt. nz /migrant/ stream/work/ working holiday / thailand whs.htm
Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia (must have a tertiary qualification)
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: http://thaisydney.idx.com.au/HoliWorkvisa.html
Taiwan Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.workingholidaytaiwan.org.tw
Turkey Visa:Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Turkish Embassy
6 Moonah Place
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6234 0000
www.canberra.emb.mfa.gov.tr
The United Kingdom EU nationals
If you have a British Passport, Dual Citizenship or a Passport of any EU member country, you are eligible to work in the UK without obtaining any further visa or paperwork. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
In 2008, the UK revamped its immigration system to consolidate the many existing visas into five tiers. Each tier represents a points-based category through which you can gain a visa to work in the UK.
Visa: Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa (formerly known as the working holidaymaker visa)
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan
Length of stay: 2 years
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Your nearest British High Commission or www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Visa: UK Ancestry Visa
Available to citizens of: The Commomnwealth
Length of stay: 5 years
Age: 17 or over
Eligibility: Must have a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Mann or you have a grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland prior to 31 March 1922.
Contact: Your nearest British High Commission or www.ukvisas.gov.uk
United States of America Visa:Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in a post-secondary course or have graduated from a post-secondary course in the last 12 months.
Contact: Neartest American Embassy
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Nearest American Embassy
Programs
A number of companies run programs to the USA where they will sponsor you for a certain period of time to work on the program. Programs include working in a summer camp as a camp counselor, ski resort positions and nanny positions.
Green Card Lottery
Every year the USA issues a number of Green Cards which allow non-US citizens to work in the USA. You can apply to go in the Green Card Lottery.
Uruguay Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Consulate of Uruguay
C/- Kingett Mitchell
Level 3, 79 Cambridge Terrace
Christchurch
Tel: (03) 374 6773
1. Your main intention is to holiday and take incidental work.
2. You must be 18 to 30 years (sometimes 18 to 35 years) inclusive at the time of your application.
3. You must be single or married without children.
4. You must prove you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your initial stay.
5. You should have a return/onward ticket or sufficient funds so you can leave at the end of your stay.
6. Each country issues a working holiday visa once in your life time. So make the most of your time. Most countries allow you to stay for 12 months. Some allow a stay of 24 months.
Work and Holiday Visa at a glance
The Work and Holiday visa is different to a 'Working Holiday' visa. It requires applicants aged 18 to 30 years (inclusive) to:
1. hold a tertiary qualification
2. speak English
3. obtain a letter of support from their Government
Argentina Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Embassy of Argentina
Level 14, 142 Lambton Quay, Wellington
Tel: (04) 472 8330
Or visit: www.arg.org.nz
Types of work for travellers: Teaching English, ski resorts, volunteering.
Austria Visa: Working Holiday (Youth Workers Exchange Program)
Available to citizens of: Canada (graduates)
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: The program is called SWAP. Visit www.swap.ca for details.
EU nationals can live, work and play in Austria without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Types of work for travellers: Mostly found in ski resorts. Check out our guide Endless Winter - your guide to working in ski resorts for employment contact details of resorts in Austria.
Australia : Australia is a hot working holiday and gap year destination and offers people from many nationalities the opportunity to live, work and play on its golden shores.
New Zealand citizens: The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between New Zealand and Australia allows New Zealand citizens to enter Australia without a visa.
US citizens: can obtain a four (4) month working holiday visa by making an application through BUNAC www.bunac.com.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
Length of stay: 12 months, 24 months if you work for at least three (3) months in the fruit and vegetable picking industry.
Age: 18 to 30 years
Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the USA
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (who hold a tertiary qualification)
Contact: www.immi.gov.au
Types of work for travellers: Lots of work ranging from office based (secretary, admin, banking, accounting, etc.), picking fruit and vegetables, hospitality in coffee shops, bars, etc.
Bangladesh Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia (graduates)
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Belgium EU nationals can live, work and play in Belgium without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact:
Australian and New Zealand citizens:
Consulate General of Belgium
12A Trelawney Street
Woolahra NSW 2025
Tel: (02) 9327 8377
Email: Sydney@diplobel.org Or visit: www.diplomatie.be/sydney
Canadian citizens:
Consulate-General of Belgium in Montreal
999 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Suite 850
Montreal, Quebec H3A 3L4
Tel: (514) 849 7394, Fax: (514) 844 3170
Email: montreal@diplobel.org
Canada Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japn, Republic of Korea, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Citizens of Poland will be eligible from 2009. Canada has also signed an agreement with Spain.
Length of stay: 12 months (24 months for Australians)
Age: 18 to 30 years (18 to 35 years for citizens of Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Switzerland)
Contact:
Australian Citizens contact: http://www.whpcanada.org.au
Citizens of The United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Finland: www.canada.org.uk
German Citizens: www.dfaitmaeci.gc.ca
New Zealand Citizens: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/newzealand
Types of work available: Most travellers head to Canada to work in one of their world-renowned ski resorts. We have a chapter on this in our guide LiveWork&Play in Canada. There is also a variety of work (accounting, office, hospitality) in the major cities such as Vancouver and Montreal.
Chile Visa: Work and Holiday
Length of stay: 12 months
Available to citizens of: Australia
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: http://www2.embachile-australia.com/en/consulates/WorkHolidayVisas.html
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: The Consular office of Chile:
19 Bolton Street, Wellington
OR
8 Spencer Street, Auckland Visa: Youth Mobility Program
Length of stay: 12 months
Available to citizens of: Canada
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: The Chile Embassy: www.chile.ca/en
Cyprus EU nationals can live, work and play in Belgium without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Cyprus High Commission
30 Beale Crescent
DEAKIN ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6281 0832
Email: cyhphicom@bigpond.net.au
Czech Republic Citizens of European (EEA) Member Countries are able to live and work in the Czech Republic without a visa or work permit.
Citizens of New EU Member Countries (Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia ) are welcome to live and work in Czech Republic on the same basis as nationals of existing EU States)
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (New Zealand citizens) and 18 to 35 years (Canadian citizens)
Denmark EU nationals can live, work and play in Belgium without restrictions. For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Danish Immigration Service www.newtodenmark.dk for details.
Estonia Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Consulate of Estonia.
European Union (EU) After the devastation of World War II, several European countries sought ways to make sure they would never go to war against each other again. It was decided that countries would join forces to achieve mutual benefit and lasting peace. That idea has today become the European Union (EU).
Mutual benefit is being achieved in a number of ways. Restrictions have been lifted on the movement of goods, services, capital and people between all member states. This has created several benefits: qualifications gained in one member state are recognized in another, giving citizens access to more job opportunities with terms and conditions of employment the same anywhere in the EU; travel between member states is made easier and quicker with the easing of restrictions at Customs control points; and if citizens become ill in another member state, they have access to that member state's health services via reciprocal health agreements.
There are currently 27 member states in the EU. These include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czeck Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Iceland, Norway and Leichtenstein have not joined the EU but form the European Economic Area (EEA) and citizens from these countries can live and work in EU member states. These countries are all members of The Free Movement of Workers agreement.
Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
For more information on the European Union visit www.europa.eu.int.
Working Holiday Visas for Australian citizens
Australia has working holiday agreements with the following EU countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Australian citizens aged 18 to 30 years inclusive can apply for a one (1) year working holiday visa to any of these countries.
Working Holiday Visas for New Zealand citizens
New Zealand has working holiday agreements with the following EU countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands and Sweden. New Zealand citizens aged 18 to 30 years inclusive can apply for a one (1) year working holiday visa to any of these countries.
Working Holiday Visas for Canadian citizens
Canada has working holiday agreements with the following EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden. Canadian citizens aged 18 to 30 years inclusive can apply for a one (1) year working holiday visa to any of these countries.
Finland Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand and Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Consulate of Finland, Sydney
Tel: (02) 9327 7904
E-mail: sanomat.syd@formin.fi
Or visit: www.finland.org.au
France EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in France without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Australian citizens: www.consulfrance-sydney.org
Canadian citizens: www.ambafrance-ca.org
New Zealand citizens: www.ambafrance-nz.org
Germany EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Germany without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
German Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Canadian citizens: http://www.ottawa.diplo.de/en/Startseite.html
New Zealand citizens: http://www.wellington.diplo.de/en/01/Visabestimmungen/Visabestimmungen.html
Australian citizens: http://www.germanembassy.org.au/en/welcome/visa/index.html
Hong Kong Visa:Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Germany
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: More details can be found at: www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_holiday.htm
Indonesia Visa:Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.immi.gov.au for more details.
The Republic of Ireland EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Ireland without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Irish Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Department of Foriegn Affairs, Ireland: http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/services/visa/
New Zealand citizens: http://www.ireland.co.nz/citizenship.asp
Australian Citizens: http://www.irlgov.ie
Italy EU nationals EU nationals can live, work and play in Ireland without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Italian Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (18 to 35 years for Canadian citizens only)
Contact:
Australian citizens: www.ambitalia.org.au
New Zealand citizens: www.italy-embassy.org.nz.
Canadian citizens:
Embassy of Italy in Ottawa
275 Slater Street, 21st Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9, CANADA
Tel: 613 232.2401
ambasciata.ottawa@esteri.it
Japan Visa:Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Taiwan.
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (18 to 25 years for UK and Irish citizens only)
Work Visa : People who arrange a job before arriving in Japan will arrive on the Work Visa. Most people obtain this visa by agreeing to work for one of the large English Language School.
Contact your nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate for information on visas or visit:
Australian Citizens: www.japan.org.au
New Zealand Citizens: www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp
Canadian Citizens: www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp
Korean Citizens: www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp
French Citizens: www.amb-japon.fr
German Citizens: www.de.emb-japan.go.jp
British Citizens: www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
Republic of Korea Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America
Length of stay: 12 months (18 months for US citizens)
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.workingholiday.or.kr.
Latvia Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Your nearest Latvian Consulate.
Malaysia Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: New Zealand citizens: www.immigration.govt.nz
Australian citizens: www.immi.gov.au
Malta EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Malta without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Maltese Consulate or Embassy or visit www.foreign.gov.mt.
The Netherlands EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Ireland without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.netherlands-embassy.org.uk
New Zealand Australian citizens
The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between New Zealand and Australia allows Australian citizens to enter New Zealand without a visa.
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, United States of America and Uruguay
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (24 months for UK citizens)
Contact: www.immigration.govt.nz
Norway EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Norway without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Norwegian Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Royal Norwegian Embassy
17 Hunter Street
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6273 3444
Fax: (02) 6273 3699
Or visit: www.norway.org.au
Singapore Visa:Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Singapore High Commission
17 Kabul Street
Khandallah
Wellington
Tel: (04) 4700850
Or visit: www.mfa.gov.sg/wellington
Sweden EU nationals
EU nationals can live, work and play in Sweden without restrictions. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
Swedish Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.migrationsverket.se/english.html.
Thailand Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.immigration.govt. nz /migrant/ stream/work/ working holiday / thailand whs.htm
Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia (must have a tertiary qualification)
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: http://thaisydney.idx.com.au/HoliWorkvisa.html
Taiwan Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: www.workingholidaytaiwan.org.tw
Turkey Visa:Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Turkish Embassy
6 Moonah Place
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6234 0000
www.canberra.emb.mfa.gov.tr
The United Kingdom EU nationals
If you have a British Passport, Dual Citizenship or a Passport of any EU member country, you are eligible to work in the UK without obtaining any further visa or paperwork. For more details on the European Union visit the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.
In 2008, the UK revamped its immigration system to consolidate the many existing visas into five tiers. Each tier represents a points-based category through which you can gain a visa to work in the UK.
Visa: Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa (formerly known as the working holidaymaker visa)
Available to citizens of: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan
Length of stay: 2 years
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Your nearest British High Commission or www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Visa: UK Ancestry Visa
Available to citizens of: The Commomnwealth
Length of stay: 5 years
Age: 17 or over
Eligibility: Must have a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Mann or you have a grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland prior to 31 March 1922.
Contact: Your nearest British High Commission or www.ukvisas.gov.uk
United States of America Visa:Work and Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in a post-secondary course or have graduated from a post-secondary course in the last 12 months.
Contact: Neartest American Embassy
Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Nearest American Embassy
Programs
A number of companies run programs to the USA where they will sponsor you for a certain period of time to work on the program. Programs include working in a summer camp as a camp counselor, ski resort positions and nanny positions.
Green Card Lottery
Every year the USA issues a number of Green Cards which allow non-US citizens to work in the USA. You can apply to go in the Green Card Lottery.
Uruguay Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years
Contact: Consulate of Uruguay
C/- Kingett Mitchell
Level 3, 79 Cambridge Terrace
Christchurch
Tel: (03) 374 6773
