Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

Once you’ve been approved for a Working Holiday Visa and completed the necessary preparation for the big journey, all you have left to get ready for is your day of travel! As your travel date draws near, here is a checklist to help you stay on top of the most important things that you need to have in hand before heading to the airport.

1. Plane ticket

This is an obvious one, but make sure you have your flight details. Usually airlines will allow you to check in online 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Once you’ve done so, download your digital boarding pass on your smartphone for easy access. You’re not required to print it out, but you’re certainly welcome to do so if you prefer.

If you have problems checking in online, don’t worry – you can always do so at the airport directly.

2. Passport

You won’t be flying anywhere without your passport, so definitely make sure you don’t leave home without it! Your passport should be signed and valid for the full duration of your planned stay abroad. If there is a page reserved for your home address or emergency contact, fill that out as well.

3. Working holiday authorisation

It’s essential that you bring official proof of your approval for a Working Holiday Visa. Depending on your WHV country, this might take the form of an invitation letter, a grant notice, a visa sticker in your passport, or an e-visa. Put simply, you need to have proof that you have been granted permission to go on a working holiday in your destination country.

4. Confirmation of temporary housing

Make sure you’ve booked temporary accommodation for your first few nights or weeks of arrival, and have a copy of the address and booking confirmation. Prior to your flight, research how you will get from the airport to your accommodation.

5. eSIM

Once you land and leave the airport, you’ll lose access to wifi. If your phone plan from home is still active, data roaming could be exorbitantly expensive. In some countries you might be able to get a SIM card in the airport upon landing, but if you want a guaranteed solution even before takeoff, consider buying an eSIM online in advance for at least your first few days. It can easily be activated upon landing and will give you some peace of mind as you navigate the start of your new life abroad. Once you’re settled in, you can get a local phone plan.

6. Bank cards and cash

Remember to bring your bank cards from home because you will need a means of payment while you complete the process of opening a local bank account. Note, however, that your home bank might charge a small international transaction fee of up to 3% on purchases abroad, so read the policy in detail.

As for cash, you can bring a couple hundred dollars’ worth as a back up if you want. Don’t carry too much money. It’s generally easy to withdraw cash from ATMs abroad, even with an international bank card.

7. Travel medical insurance

Some WHV countries require you to show proof of travel medical insurance upon landing in the country so make sure you have a printed copy of the policy. If you already showed this during the visa application process, make sure you have easy access to your policy card and insurance hotline for if you ever need it. It is important to be insured because accidents can happen to anyone, even to those who are young and perfectly healthy.

As a reminder, if you are going to

• Australia or Japan, insurance is recommended but not mandatory.
• Canada, proof of insurance is mandatory upon initial entry into the country.
• France or South Korea, proof of insurance is mandatory at the time of visa application.
• New Zealand, proof of insurance is mandatory upon entry (exempt: nationals of Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, and the UK)
• the United Kingdom, private insurance is not required, as you already have to pay £776 for a year of NHS coverage as a part of your visa application.
• Other destinations

8. Proof of funds

It’s possible that upon landing, the customs agent will ask to see proof of sufficient savings (which you might have already provided as a part of your visa application). As such, it’s recommended that you bring a copy of your most recent bank statement showing your balance and name. Alternatively, the agent might simply ask you to show your real-time account balance via your mobile banking app.

Find the minimum savings required for your country here.