Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

How much money will I need for my working holiday? This is undoubtedly one of the most asked and important questions. Creating a budget in line with your plans is the key to making sure you won’t have to fly home early because you’ve run out of money.

Part I: How much it costs to obtain a WHV

Before you can move abroad, here’s how much money you should have in your bank account in order to cover expenses and requirements related to obtaining your visa.

1. Obtain a valid passport

Estimate: US$90-300

If you don’t have a passport, or have one that is near expiration, you need to apply for a new passport. Here are the passport fees for a few countries.

• Canada: CA$120 for five-year passport, CA$160 for ten-year passport. Source
• Australia: AU$412 for ten-year passport. Source
• New Zealand: NZ$215 for an adult passport. Source
• United Kingdom: £94.50 for a standard adult passport. Source
• Ireland: €75 for a standard ten-year passport. Source

2. Visa application fees

There can be several types of expenses that your visa application may necessitate, including:

• Consular and visa fees; anywhere from $0 to a few hundred of dollars, depending on your destination
• Travel to and from a visa processing centre if you don’t live near one
• Miscellaneous expenses related to ID photo, photocopies etc.
• Depending on your destination, you may also be required to pay for biometrics, medical exams, or police certificates when preparing your application.

Find the application guide (and fees) for each country by going to our destinations page.

3. Travel medical insurance

Estimate: US$500-900 for 12 months

Many WHV destinations require you to present proof of travel medical insurance as a part of your application. Even if it’s not mandatory, it is still highly recommended. You should purchase it for the entire duration of your stay. For 12 months of coverage, it typically costs US$500-900, depending on where you’re from, where you’re going, and the level of coverage. Travellers have a lot of questions about insurance, and we answer it all in FAQs about working holiday travel insurance.

Here are the insurance requirements for a few popular destinations:

• Australia: Recommended but not mandatory
• Canada: Mandatory upon initial entry
• France: Mandatory at time of application
• Japan: Recommended but not mandatory
• New Zealand: Mandatory upon entry (exempt: nationals of Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, and the UK)
• South Korea: Mandatory at time of application
• United Kingdom: Mandatory to pay £776 for a year of NHS coverage as a part of your visa application; no supplementary insurance required

4. Minimum savings

This is not an expense per se, but it is still money that you need to have in your bank account in order to be approved for a WHV. All destinations require proof of funds, i.e. a minimum savings amount to start your working holiday. Proof of funds may be required as part of your application, or you may need to show it to the customs agent upon arrival.

Here are the requirements for some of the most popular WHV destinations, in the local currency or the equivalent in your home currency:

• Australia: AU$5,000
• Canada: CA$2,500
• France: €2,500
• Japan: varies by nationality
• New Zealand: NZ$4,200
• United Kingdom: £2,530

Unless you already have a return flight booked when applying for your visa, your WHV country might require you to have some extra savings on top of this minimum as proof that you have the means to purchase a return or onward flight at the end of your stay.

Part II: Budgeting for your move abroad

Once you’ve obtained your visa, you’ll need to think about the actual move. The budget required will depend mainly on your destination, your desired lifestyle, and if or when you plan to find a paid job. Naturally, if you don’t plan on working at all, then you’ll need to have enough savings to cover the entire duration of your stay.

The following list contains the largest expenses to budget for. We provide general estimates as a starting point, but remember that they might be different for your own situation. Our recommendation is to have enough savings to cover yourself for 3-6 months of life abroad without income, as it may take longer than expected to find a job.

Upfront expenses

1. Airfare

Estimate: US$400-800

Obviously the price of your plane ticket depends on your point of origin and destination, as well as the time of year, but for a one-way international flight, most travellers end up spending between US$400-800. The number one tip is to be flexible about your travel date. For more information, read the chapter on buying a plane ticket.

2. Temporary accommodation

Estimate: US$500-1,200 for first two weeks

You should book temporary accommodation for the first week or two, since you shouldn’t sign any long term leases without visiting in person. Try to pick accommodation that is well located, since you will need to spend your first few days running around and setting up your new life. Hostels are the cheapest, and traditional hotels are typically the most expensive, with Airbnb somewhere in between. Read the chapter on booking housing for more info.

3. Insurance

Estimate: US$500-900 for 12 months

If you already bought insurance as a part of your WHV application, then you can skip this. Otherwise, remember that for many WHV destinations, insurance is either required or at least recommended. You should purchase it for the entire duration of your stay. Travellers have a lot of questions about insurance, and we answer it all in FAQs about working holiday travel insurance.

Here are the insurance requirements for a few popular destinations:

• Australia: Recommended but not mandatory
• Canada: Mandatory upon initial entry
• France: Mandatory at time of application
• Japan: Recommended but not mandatory
• New Zealand: Mandatory upon entry (exempt: nationals of Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, and the UK)
• South Korea: Mandatory at time of application
• United Kingdom: Mandatory to pay £776 for a year of NHS coverage as a part of your visa application; no supplementary insurance required

4. Vehicle

Estimate: US$6,000-12,000 for a used vehicle

If you want to buy a vehicle for a road trip or van life, then that will require a large upfront payment. To learn more, check out one of the following guides:

• Buying a vehicle in Australia
• Buying a vehicle in Canada
• Buying a vehicle in New Zealand

Ongoing expenses

1. Food

Estimate: US$150-400 per month

Everyone needs to eat, and you’re no exception! The food budget obviously varies from place to place and also depends on how often you eat out. While it’s generally true that cooking your own meals will cost less than eating out, in some Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, you may find that the opposite can be true. Regardless of where you are, know that eating like the locals will save you money, compared to eating foreign cuisines and imported foods.

2. Long term housing

Estimate: US$500-1,300 per month

We recommend against signing a lease before you arrive, but you should still estimate the cost of longer-term accommodation. Shared housing is cheaper than solo, and suburbs are cheaper than city centres. Look for accommodation that comes furnished to avoid buying furniture and appliances—sublets can be a great option. If you know which city you want to be based in, start researching the average rents there. Read the chapter on booking housing for more info.

3. Other ongoing expenses

Estimate: US$120-250 per month

In addition to the major expenses above, there are also some smaller things to budget for. These include:

• Home utilities and internet
• Phone bill
• Public transportation
• Gym membership (if applicable)
• Car insurance (if applicable)

For more details on these items for your specific destination, check out our destinations page, where we link to in-depth resources for each WHV country.

4. Travel and leisure

You’re going abroad to have a good time, so budget for fun! That can mean weekend trips, museums, outdoor excursions, road trips etc. We can’t provide an estimate for this, as it depends entirely on your own interests. However, remember that you don’t need to break the bank to have a good time; every place has its own fun things to do for free.