I recently wrote a guide to all the countries in the world that offer working holiday visas for Canadians, which has since become our most popular post of all time.

These visas allow you to live in the country for up to a year (sometimes two) and work in any type of job you choose. You can immerse yourself in another culture and earn money while you explore. They are the ultimate long term travel opportunities.

However, there is only one problem with working holiday visas – they have an age limit.

Most working holiday visas are not available if you are over 30 or 35. They are designed for young people who want to simply work in odd jobs such as bartending, hotel cleaning, fruit picking, retail or other short term entry level positions to simply fund their travels.

But why should young people have all the fun?

When I published that post, many people commented with: “I’m over the age of 35, but I want to go work abroad and travel for a while. Are there any options available for me?” It made me realise that there are many people who want to travel and see the world, but don’t fit into the youth working holiday age bracket.

But here’s the good news:

Although you are too old for a working holiday visa, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any long term travel opportunities available to you. On the contrary, if you are eager to see the world there are so many ways to make it happen, no matter what your age.

I personally believe that wanderlust isn’t age-specific and that any age is a good age to travel. I hope to make travelling a part of my life at any age and never stop exploring. 18-30 year olds are not the only ones who can have a Gap Year. Anyone can pick up and travel for a month, 6 months, a year or more at any time in their life, if that is what feels right for them.

So with that in mind, here is a massive list of travel/work/volunteer abroad options available to all ages. These are not all working abroad programs, but they are all ways to travel for as long as possible for as cheaply as possible. I will offer an overview of each program and supply you with some helpful links, so that you can do more research into the opportunity you are interested in. Of course, if you have any questions about travel and working abroad, feel free to ask me in the comments.

Without further ado, here’s the list:

Long Term Travel Opportunities For Any Age

WWOOFing

Would you be willing to get your hands dirty on a farm, if it meant that you got free accommodation, food and a chance to see your chosen destination from a perspective that not many tourists get to experience? WWOOF stands for Willing Workers On Organic Farms (or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and it is program where you can volunteer on a farm in exchange for your room and board.

You will usually be expected to work around 4-6 hours per day, but the arrangement and the particular tasks will depend on the specific arrangement you have made with your host family. You’ll live in their home and eat meals with them, offering a great opportunity to find out what daily life is like in your destination. Unless you go on trips in to the city, buy souvenirs or have other expenses, a WWOOFing adventure should cost you nothing except for your flight, making a great option for long term travel on a small budget.

There are over 100 countries to choose from in the program, from New Zealand to Argentina to France and Scotland. Providing you are fit and well enough to work for 4-6 hours per day – there is no upper age limit for WWOOFing. Many farmers welcome the maturity older WWOOFers bring, especially if you have some farming experience.

Helpful Links:

The WWOOF International Website

Top 10 Tips for WWOOFing

How to Travel and Work Around the World with WWOOF

Teaching English

English is becoming the global language. It gives people around the world a huge advantage when it comes to career and business opportunities. There is a huge demand for English teachers in many countries all around the globe.

Unlike a Working Holiday Visa, Teaching English is a working abroad opportunity that allows you to earn money while living abroad at any age. The wage of an English teacher will vary depending on the school you work for and the country you are in. However, it will always be enough to live on in your country of choosing.

Some English teaching positions simply require a Bachelor’s degree, while others will request TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training and certification. Even if you have no teaching experience at all, if you are a native English speaker you will still likely be able to find a job.

There are many English teaching jobs out there, from South America to Europe to Asia. Many people think of teaching English abroad as something that 20-something’s do, but there are no age limits to this job. In fact, your experience, wisdom and maturity can sometimes give you an advantage, especially in some cultures where elders are automatically respected.

Helpful Links:

10 Best Job Markets for Teaching English Abroad 2019

The Best Countries for Older Travellers to Teach English

Inspiring ESL Teachers Over 30

Crew on a Boat

Did you know you can find work on a sailboat or yacht and trade your labour for passage across the sea? Working as a crew on a boat can be a great way to travel to gorgeous and remote corners of the world and have the kind of far flung adventures that you have always dreamed about. Imagine feeling the salt spray in your hair and the sun on your face as you cruise into an unknown port. It’s an amazing way to see the world and gives you a chance to have unforgettable travel experiences.

It helps if you have sailing experience, but it is not absolutely necessary. Many boats are willing to take on inexperienced sailors and train them along the way. The key is to make sure that you have something of value to offer to the voyage, even if it’s just your willingness to work hard and do everything asked of you.

Helpful Links:

SailOpo.com, which stands for Offshore Passage Opportunities, is a good place to look for jobs. There is a membership fee to look for jobs, but the site is well respected and offers lots of exciting boat trips.

Workaway is a super cool website which connects volunteers with amazing projects around the world and there are often positions on different types of boats.

The Nautilus Explorer, a diving yacht which is based in Richmond, BC, is hiring for a number of positions.

To get a more in depth concept of the working-on-a-boat lifestyle, read this great article on Transitions Abroad, Around the World by Sailboat by Andy Schell.

Help Exchange

On this online network, you can find opportunities to volunteer in exchange for food and accommodation all over the world. It’s similar to WWOOFing, but the jobs are not just on farms. You might be helping to build a school or working at a community centre – or even taking care of children.

This is another way to travel long term on a very small budget, as your biggest expenses are covered. It’s also a great way to interact with the locals and give back to the local community.

Helpful Links:

Help Exchange

My HelpX Experience from TheBraveDame.com

HelpX – Pros, Cons and Tips

Working Abroad in the EU

Although you might be out of the age range for a Working Holiday Visa, if you want to work in Europe there are still possibilities. You can work abroad in Europe with an EU Work Permit, which is slightly more complicated to obtain than a working holiday visa, but not impossible. You will need to have a job offer in advance so that your company can sponsor you.

It might be a little bit of a pain to obtain the EU work permit, but if you really want to work in the EU it is worth doing. Remember, the work permit will be bound to the company that hires you and will not be valid for a job elsewhere.

(Of course, if you are from the UK you are super lucky and can go work in Europe whenever you want!*)

*For now… I’ll update this post if this changes due to Brexit.

Helpful Links:

How to Get an EU Work Permit

How to Find Paying Work While Travelling in Europe

Information About Non-EU-Nationals Working in the EU

House Swapping

This option is where being a little bit older might actually come to your advantage. If you are in your 20s, you might not necessarily own a property, whereas when you are in your 30s, 40s or 50s there is a better chance that you do. This means that you can take advantage of house-swapping.

Imagine this scenario – you are a family or a couple with a house in Vancouver, Canada and you fantasise about taking wine tours in Provence. Across the world in Southern France, there is a French family who have always dreamed of seeing the beautiful green wilds of British Columbia.

You contact each other, via one of the many established house swap website, and you simply switch homes for a while. You both get to save a huge amount of money on accommodation, explore each other’s locations and enjoy the comforts of staying in a home.

Helpful Links:

Why and How to Do a Home Exchange Vacation

House Swapping Tips from Rick Steves

Home Exchange How To

House Sitting

Another great way to travel for the long term while saving a lot of money on accommodation is house sitting. Many home owners leave their house for several weeks or months of the year while they go on holiday and they need someone trustworthy and reliable to take care of their plants and pets and to keep their home secure.

There are many house sitting websites that will connect you with home owners. This can be anything from a farmhouse in Scotland to a villa in Arizona to or a home on the beach in Thailand. You will not only be getting free accommodation, but you’ll also enjoy all of the comforts of home during your stay (as well as perhaps the company of a friendly dog or a cat.)

Helpful Links:

How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation

The Globetrotter Girls – Guide to House Sitting

How to Find House Sitting Jobs Consistently

Working on a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships are enormous floating cities, with restaurants, casinos, art galleries, beauty salons, spas, children’s play areas, theatres, swimming pools and so much more. These ships need hundreds of employees to keep them running – so why not you?

There are jobs available for lifeguards, chefs, entertainers, childcare providers, hairdressers, sales people and more. The general contract of employment is at least 3-6 months, but there is the possibility to stay on longer.

You’ll get to travel to countless exotic ports, while enjoying free accommodation and food. Plus, you won’t need to worry about visas because the cruise ship company will take care of all paperwork for you.

Helpful Links:

AllCruiseJobs.com

The Cruise Ship Recruitment Process

The Types of Jobs Available on Cruise Ships

Couch Surfing

If you’re outgoing and looking for a cheap and fun way to travel the world and make new friends, you’ll love Couchsurfing. This hospitality network has over a million members around the world. Travelers connect with local hosts, who offer up their spare beds for free.

Couchsurfing is a wonderful phenomenon, the kind of thing that really restores your faith in humanity. Since no money is exchanged, your host will be welcoming you to their location out of the pure joy of meeting someone new and sharing the place they live. (Of course, good Couchsurfing etiquette says you might want to bring a gift or buy them a meal to thank them for letting you stay.)

Despite the name, you won’t necessarily be sleeping on a couch. Many people have spare rooms or comfortable futons they offer out to their guests. Since you arrange your stay you only have to stay somewhere you feel comfortable. The website also has a very reliable safety system, with a review feature so you can see comments from your host’s previous guests.

If you are looking to travel long term on a small budget, this option allows you to eliminate one of your largest costs – accommodation, while also giving you a great local perspective.

Helpful Links:

Couchsurfing.org

How to Crush It On Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing for Grownups – A guide for older couchsurfers

Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering gives you the chance to have a travel experience with a deeper meaning. You’ll not only get to see your destination, you’ll make an impact on the lives of others. Volunteering abroad can be a truly life-changing experience. It’s a great way to use your skills and experience to benefit a developing community.

There are many travel opportunities available, from building a well in a village in Africa or taking care of children in an orphanage in India. Whatever you do, your contribution will make a difference and the memories that you make there will be unforgettable.

Many volunteer experiences are not free, as they will often charge a fee to cover your room and board while you are staying in the community. However, there are many which have low fees.

Helpful Links:

How to Volunteer Abroad For Free

Voluntary Services Overseas

Best Volunteer Abroad Programs for Grown Ups

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

The Appalachian Trail is one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of the Eastern USA, running over 2100 miles through 14 different states. Travellers come from all over to hike it, but you could explore this legendary wilderness for free.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is looking for volunteers to help with maintaining and building parts of the trail. For your work you will receive food and basic accommodation. They will also provide your tools and safety equipment, all you have to do is show up. What could be a better reason to strap on your hiking boots and go for it?

Helpful Links:

Appalachian Trail Website

Appalachian Trail Travel Guide

How the Appalachian Trail Works: Volunteering Safely

These are just a few of the many opportunities out there for anyone of any age who wants to travel abroad. If you really want to think outside the box, shift your perspective and have an adventure that changes your life – look into one of these opportunities.

No matter what age you are, you’re never too old to try something new, challenge yourself, see the world and make new friends. Why let the 20-somethings have all the fun?

Let us know about your travel plans in the comments below!

