Have you ever dreamed of living outside the United States? Is getting visa sponsorship too complicated or seem impossible?? Or you don’t have one of those special sought after skills like being a doctor or an engineer. I have great news! If you’re 18-30 and hold a United States passport, you may qualify for one of the best visa programs, the Working Holiday Visa!
What is a Working Holiday Visa, you might ask? It’s a special visa for young people, ages 18-30 (some countries go up to 35) that allow you to travel for up to one year while being able to obtain legal employment. So you get to travel and work in the local economy to support yourself! Like what??? It’s honestly almost too good to be true. You also don’t have to work if you just want to travel the entire time. Having the option though makes it much easier to support yourself!
Typical jobs for this visa are in the hospitality and tourism industry, so think restaurants, cafes, and hotels. There are other options such as retail, construction or farm work. If you’re looking for something in the professional world, this will be harder to get as you’re competing with that country’s citizens. You might not be able to do certain work at all!
The United States has agreements with six different countries for the working holiday visa program. Each one has different requirements and rules. If this interests you, it’s better to start younger because you’re able to do more than one! If you’re on the older end, your options might be more limited, but don’t let that dissuade you.
You typically can’t get a country’s visa more than once, so make sure you’re serious when you apply! It should go without saying, but a valid United States passport is a requirement for all of these!
Australia
Visa Name: Work and Holiday Subclass 462
Age Eligibility: 18-30 (inclusive)
Requirements: Apply from outside Australia, not be accompanied by dependent children, apply on your own (you can’t include family members in your application), not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 462 or 417 visa, have a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent (high school diploma)
Proof of Funds: AUD5,000
Work Limitations: Can’t work for an employer longer than 6 months, must change jobs
Renewable: Yes, second year requires 3 months of specified work and a third year requires 6 months of specified work
Application Cost: AUD650
How to Apply: Online through the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
Please note that Australia has two different Working Holiday types: 462 and 417. The difference boils down to what passport you hold. The 462 also has an education requirement, while the 417 does not. US citizens must apply for the 462 subclass!
Canada
Visa Name: Open Work Permit
Age Eligibility: 18-35
Requirements: Health and background check, biometrics, sponsorship letter from Recognized Organization, health insurance
Proof of Funds: CAN$2,500
Work Limitations: Yes (Open Work Permit – Banned Employers)
Renewable: Yes
Application Cost: $1,500+ USD
How to Apply: Recognized Organization (RO)
Canada is a unique situation as on the official International Experience Canada (IEC) program page the United States is not listed as a qualifying county. However, the US citizens can participate if they’re sponsored by a government-authorized program provider. This provider will submit your application, but also provides additional services for your working holiday. If Canada interests you, make sure to compare providers, as they offer different experiences and support. Not all ROs will sponsor US citizens, so check thoroughly.
Ireland
Visa Name: US Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA)
Age Eligibility: 18+
Requirements: Evidence that the applicant is currently in full-time post-secondary education or has graduated within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application, return airline tickets, certificate of medical/travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip
Proof of Funds: $1,500
Work Limitations: No
Renewable: No – However, you can be approved for the visa multiple times as long as you meet the requirements and have at least one year in between visas
Application Cost: $270 + Return Postage Fee (if applicable)
How to Apply: Relevant Consulate General or Embassy via paper application
The Ireland working holiday application is a two part process. For further details, here’s the page from the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, DC.
New Zealand
Visa Name: USA Working Holiday Visa
Age Eligibility: 18-30
Requirements: full medical insurance for the length of your stay, plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay, must not have been outside your country for more than 2 years immediately before applying, passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires
Proof of Funds: NZD $4,200
Work Limitations: Cannot accept a permanent job
Renewable: Three month extension available if you’ve completed 3 months of seasonal work in the viticulture or horticulture industries
Application Cost: NZD $770
How to Apply: Online through New Zealand Immigration
New Zealand will only ever issue you one visa, even if you don’t use it! So make sure, when you apply, you’re serious about using it.
Singapore
Visa Name: Work Holiday Programme
Age Eligibility: 18-25
Requirements: undergraduate or graduate of a university and your university is recognized by the government
Proof of Funds: N/A
Work Limitations: N/A
Renewable: No, but can hold the pass again if you apply 12 months after the last day it was held
Application Cost: $175
How to Apply: Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
The Work Holiday Programme has a capacity of 2,000 pass holders at any one time! Unlike some other working holiday visas, Singapore’s is only valid for up to six months.
South Korea
Visa Name: H-1 Working Holiday Program Visa
Age Eligibility: 18-30 (inclusive)
Requirements: U.S. participants should be bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates (within 1 year after graduation) and provide evidence of status from his/her post-secondary institution, be in your country when you apply for this visa and when your visa is granted, have a valid return flight ticket or evidence of financial ability to afford a return flight, have appropriate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Korea (minimum coverage: KRW 40,000,000), and submit travel plans
Proof of Funds: KRW 3,000,000
Work Limitations: Yes – H-1 visa holders are not permitted to be employed as receptionists, dancers, singers, musicians, or acrobats at places of entertainment that might endanger good morals and manners, or as medical doctors, lawyers, professors, pilots, language instructors, or other professional services which require certain qualifications in accordance with domestic laws
Renewable: No, but can be extended up to six months
Application Cost: $45
How to Apply: Relevant Consulate General or Embassy via paper application
The South Korean working holiday program only has 2000 slots for US citizens each year. For further details, here’s the page from the Consulate General in New York.
Working Holiday Programs
Though I firmly believe you can apply for all of these on your own and be successful, if you’d like more structure or assistance with your working holiday there are some programs out there that can help with applications, accommodations, job placements, excursions, and more. These will usually have their own fees and could set you back a few extra grand, so that’s something to keep in mind.
If you’re interested in one of these programs, here are a few you can look into!
InterExchange: Canada and Australia
Global Work & Travel: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland
Welcome to Travel: Australia (specifically Sydney & Melbourne)
JENZA: Australia, New Zealand, Canada
Final Thoughts
A working holiday is an amazing opportunity for young people! You can do Singapore during or right after college, then South Korea or Ireland within a year of graduating. After that, you can do Australia for up to three years, then move on to New Zealand for a year!
If you take full advantage and start early, you could spend four to five years abroad on these visas alone! How amazing would that be?? 9-5 who??
All information was pulled directly from the official application pages through their respective government websites. This information can change at any time. Be sure to verify any and all requirements before proceeding with an application.
