Do you want to explore another country for a longer period of time and have a deeper experience than a packaged two week holiday? Why not spend up to a year living and working abroad with working holiday visas?

Working holiday visas generally allow a traveler to be employed in the country during their visit as a way of supplementing their travel funds. A working holiday gives you the chance to live in a foreign country for a longer period of time than you would on a vacation because you will be able to earn money while you are there.

This type of visa also gives you a chance to experience day to day life beyond the tourist zones, make friends with locals and gain a deeper insight into the culture. It’s a fantastic way to travel and going on a working holiday will be an experience you will never forget.

Most working holiday visas schemes are under reciprocal agreements between two countries, because these countries want to encourage travel and the exchange of culture between their citizens. The requirements for each scheme vary between countries but are often quite similar.

Working holiday visas are usually limited to visitors between the ages of 18-30, although some will accept applicants as old as 35. Some of the working holiday visas place limits on the types of jobs that travelers can take or the amount of time they can be employed during their visit. The usual types of jobs that young people get on working holiday visas are in the tourism and hospitality, retail or seasonal industries, but there are plenty of other options available.

Don’t worry about how taking a year off to work abroad will affect your career. Most employers will actually look upon your working holiday favorably, as it shows that you have initiative and that you are capable of adapting to different situations.

In order to qualify, you will need to prove that you have enough funds saved up to cover your expenses while you are first looking for employment. You might also need to purchase health or travel insurance in some countries.

Which Countries Offer Working Holiday Visas?

The list of countries which offer working holiday visas is huge, so you will have a lot of choice when it comes to where you can go. New Zealanders and Australians have the most choice, whereas Canadians and British are a close second.

Handy Tip: Use the “Find” tool in your browser to search through this page for your country, so you can quickly see which Working Holiday Visas you are applicable for.

You can also check out our more specific Working Holiday Visa lists for Canadians, Americans, Australians and British citizens.

Remember that these working holiday visas requirements are subject to change and before applying for any working holiday visas you should always do your own research.

Please note, Passport holders of EU member countries do not need permission to work in each other countries, these countries are. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Argentina

Duration: 12 months

Age Limit: 18-30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, New Zealand

More Information: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Argentina

Australia

Duration: 12 months (but no more than 6 months working for one employer)

Age Limit: 18- 30 years (35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Taiwan, Estonia, Belgium, Italy, France, Cyprus, Finland, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Malta, Republic of Korea, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, Canada, United Kingdom

Passport holders from Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Iran, Indonesia, Chile, Bangladesh, Argentina and the USA need to apply for a subclass 462 visa and are required to have a tertiary education.

New Zealand citizens of any age can work in Australia indefinitely.

More Information: Everything You Need to Know About Your Working Holiday in Australia

Austria

Duration: 6 -12 months

Age Limit: 18-30 years

Countries Accepted: New Zealand, Hong Kong, Israel, Taiwan and South Korea (as well as an exchange program for Canadian students.)

More Information: The Austrian Foreign Ministry

Belgium

Duration: 12 months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan

More Information: Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs

Canada

Duration: 12 months

Age Limit: 18- 30 years for most countries, 18- 35 years for Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Chile and Australia.

Countries Accepted: United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Latvia, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Estonia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Chile, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Ukraine and Australia.

More Information: Government of Canada

Chile

Duration: 12 months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada

More Information: The Chilean Department of Foreign Affairs (Click the Union Jack flag to switch to English, then submit your application)

China

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: New Zealand

More Information: The Republic of China Consular Affairs

Czech Republic

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30/35 years

Countries Accepted: Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Chile

More Information: Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Denmark

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Argentina

More Information: The Official Portal for Foreigners and Integration

Estonia

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 19 – 30 years (18-35 For Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada

More Information: Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Finland

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand

More Information: Finnish Immigration

France

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (35 for Canadians, 31 for Australians)

Countries Accepted: Uruguay, Taiwan, Russia, Mexico, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Colombia, Chile, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia

*Citizens of Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Taiwan, Uruguay and the Vatican City, as well as British Nationals (Overseas), of any age can work in France for up to 90 days without a visa.

More Information: The Official Visa Website for France

Germany

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 for Canadian Citizens)

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea,Taiwan, Brazil, Uruguay, Israel, Chile. (Canadian applicants must be enrolled at a post-secondary institution.)

More Information: Deutschland.de

Hong Kong

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom.

More Information: Hong Kong Immigration

Ireland

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18 – 35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Chile, Canada, Australia, Argentina.

Citizens of Taiwan may also apply, but they have a separate application form.

Ireland also has a Working Holiday Visa scheme for US students or recent graduates.

More Information: Ireland Department of Justice and Equality

Israel

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: New Zealand, South Korea, Germany, Austria, Australia

More Information: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Italy

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea

More Information: Canadians apply at the Italian Embassy in Ottawa, Australians apply at the Italian Embassy in Canberra and New Zealanders apply at the Italian Embassy in Wellington. Further info can be found at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Japan

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-25 for Australian, Canadian and Korean applicants, with some exceptions for over 25. 18-26 for citizens of Iceland.)

Countries Accepted: Iceland, Chile, Czech Republic, Argentina, Spain, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Korea, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

More Information: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Latvia

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Canada, New Zealand, Australia

More Information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

Lithuania

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Canada, New Zealand

More Information: For Canadians: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada, For New Zealanders: Ministry of Social Security and Labour

Malta

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand

More Information: EU Immigration Portal, Identity Malta

The Netherlands

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina, South Korea

More Information: Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service

New Zealand

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 in some cases)

Countries Accepted: Argentina, Hong Kong, Philippines, Austria, Ireland, Poland, Belgium, Israel, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Canada, Japan, Slovakia, Chile, Korea, Slovenia, China, Latvia, Spain, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Taiwan, Denmark, Malaysia, Thailand, Estonia, Malta, Turkey, Finland, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, USA, Germany, Norway, Uruguay, Hungary, Peru, Vietnam.

Australians of any age may work in New Zealand indefinitely.

New Zealand is our favourite working holiday visa destination. Learn why New Zealand is a great choice for a working holiday.

More Information: New Zealand Immigration

Norway

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Argentina

More Information: Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

Poland

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: Taiwan, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada

More Information: Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

South Korea

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 25 years

Countries Accepted: USA, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Sweden, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Netherlands, Mexico, Italy, Israel, Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Belgium, Austria, Australia.

More Information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea

Singapore

Duration: 6 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Working holiday visas only for graduates and undergraduates from Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, United States

More Information: Singapore Ministry of Manpower

Slovakia

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Japan, Taiwan

More Information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic

Slovenia

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: New Zealand

More Information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenia

Spain

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years (18-35 for Canadians)

Countries Accepted: New Zealand, Canada, Australia

More Information: Embassy of Spain in Ottawa (For Canadians), Consulate of Spain in Melbourne (For Australians), Embassy of Spain in Wellington (for New Zealanders), Embassy of Spain in Tokyo (For Japanese Citizens)

Sweden

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Uruguay, South Korea, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Chile, Canada, Australia, Argentina

More Information: The Swedish Migration Agency

Switzerland

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 35 years (Must have completed post-secondary studies or be currently studying.)

Countries Accepted: Canada

More Information: Swiss Federal Council

Thailand

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand and must have certain qualifications. (3 years full time study)

More Information: Working Holiday Visas for Australians

Turkey

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand

More Information: How to Get the Turkish Working Holiday Visa

UK

Duration: 24 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Korea, Hong Kong, British Overseas Territories

More Information: Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Uruguay

Duration: 12 Months

Age Limit: 18 – 30 years

Countries Accepted: New Zealand, Australia, France, Sweden

More Information: For Swedish Citizens, For New Zealanders, For Aussies

Are you excited to go on your travel adventure yet? Read more Working Holiday Resources and get started on your application today.