Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

Healthcare

You should notify your national healthcare insurance system before leaving your home country, especially if coverage is offered on a residence-based system.

Your national healthcare insurance system generally does not cover your healthcare needs abroad and working holiday makers aren’t usually eligible for free or subsidized healthcare in their destination country either, so it’s mandatory (or highly recommended) to buy travel insurance.

Note that in New Zealand, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) covers anyone who suffers an accident or an accident at work. You still need travel insurance, though!

Insurance is MANDATORY for almost all WHV destinations. Only Japan does not require working holiday makers to take out insurance because they are covered by the healthcare system—however, repatriation isn’t included, and it can cost thousands if you need it.

Most destinations will not issue a WHV or let you enter the country if you don’t have proof of insurance.

To find out more about insurance, read Everything you need to know about Insurance for working holiday.

Unemployment benefits

Different countries have different rules about unemployment benefits but, generally speaking, you will lose your benefits when you’re abroad. Find out the details before your trip for a smooth return back home at the end of your working holiday.

Taxes

Find out what you need to do to file your taxes while abroad—assuming you worked before going on your working holiday, you will have to file your taxes as usual.

If you work during your adventure abroad, you will file taxes in your working holiday destination.

Then after coming back from your working holiday, you may have to declare income earned abroad, depending on how the tax year works with your dates.

Other benefits

If you’re receiving social benefits, find out if you can still collect them while abroad and what you need to do to be eligible again after your return.