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 questions because money matters—creating a budget in line with your plans ensures that you won’t fly home early because you’ve spent it all.

So these are the things that you should budget for, from visa application to arrival at destination:

Passport

You need a valid passport to even apply for a WHV. If you don’t already have a passport, applying for one should be your first priority. If you have one that will expire in a few months, renew it. In pretty much all countries, passport applications and renewals will cost some money, not counting the amount for the passport photos.

WHV application fees

If you don’t have your WHV yet, remember that many destinations charge application or processing fees. You may also have to budget for related fees like travel costs to a biometrics collection centre or consulate/embassy, and medical exam or police certificate fees if either of those are required for your destination/nationality. These fees vary significantly from destination to destination, and even nationality to nationality, so be sure to check on our destinations page.

Proof of funds

All destinations require proof of funds, i.e. a minimum savings amount to start your working holiday. Proof of funds may either be required as part of your application, or shown to the border officer upon landing in the country. These funds need to be in your name, not a friend’s or family member’s. You need to add this amount to your budget.

Here are some the requirements for some popular destinations:

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

Airfare

Unsurprisingly, you’ll need to book a plane ticket to your destination country—unless you can travel overland or by sea. Regardless, you’ll need to budget for transportation.

For more information, read the chapter on buying a plane ticket.

WHV health insurance

Private health insurance is mandatory for most WHV destinations and recommended for ALL destinations. Working holiday makers to Japan and the United Kingdom will have access to public health care, however that does not cover repatriation in case someone needs to be flown back to their home country in case of serious illness.

If you don’t have insurance coverage, healthcare costs can be very high, even for minor incidents. While accidents and illnesses don’t happen every day, no one is invincible. This is not an area to cheap out on.

Globe WHV offers competitive rates and great coverage. They’ve protected thousands of working holiday makers since 2005, all around the world.

Note that you must buy your insurance coverage before leaving home and for the entire duration of your stay—many destinations (Canada, South Korea, Argentina…) do ask for proof of coverage for the 12 months of your working holiday.

Many countries require you to purchase a full year of health insurance as a part of your application. This worries many applicants who wonder “What if my application is rejected or I decide to come home early?”. Globe WHV provides refunds in both scenarios.

Travel gear

Depending on your needs and your destination, you may need to spend some money before your trip. How about:

• A new suitcase or backpack?
• Luggage organizers and a padlock?
• A camera, an external battery (check the voltage in your destination country!) or a drone?
• Hiking gear or clothing for hot or cold weather?

Keep in mind that in most cases, you can also shop when you arrive. Travel light!

Accommodation for the first few nights

It’s wise to book a bed, a room or an apartment for the first few nights. Read the chapter on booking housing.

You may want to research the local housing market if you know you will stay for a few weeks or months in the same city. Check out the median rent and budget accordingly because it may take a little while to find a job.

Analyse your needs to create your own unique budget

Are you planning to stay in the same city for months or spend most of your working holiday on the road? Are you planning to work, travel, or both? Your budget will depend on your general plans.

Jane who is travelling around Argentina for a year, John who is working in Sydney for six months before setting off on a road trip in the Outback, and Kyle who is working a skilled job in Vancouver will have completely different budgets.

Your day-to-day lifestyle will also have an impact on the amount you need to budget. Are you more interested in hiking and outdoor activities or organized tours in remote paradise? Do you like to cook or are you addicted to takeout? Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? Do you prefer to travel by public transport or buy a car and drive?

Every working holiday maker will have different expenses. This is not a competition—the key is to budget for your unique adventure and make the most of it.

Emergency fund

Aside from expenses related to your working holiday adventures and everyday life abroad, it’s important to set aside an emergency fund for unexpected situations.

It may take you longer than planned to find a job or you may have underestimated the cost of living in your destination country. You may want to shorten your adventure or fly home for a few weeks for all kinds of reasons in which case you will have to change your original flight or book a return trip at the last minute. Health issues happen and you may have to pay a deductible or wait for your insurance claim to be processed.

Basically, life happens, even abroad—and maybe especially abroad. Having an emergency fund helps a lot during stressful times so make sure to have some leeway in your travel budget.