Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

1. 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 subsidised healthcare in their destination country either.

You will also need to inform any healthcare services that you have regular appointments with (e.g. your family doctor or GP, your dentist or hygienist, chiropractor or osteopath, etc.) about your departure.

A note on insurance

Insurance is MANDATORY for almost all WHV destinations—they will not issue a WHV or let you enter the country if you don’t have proof of insurance. Even if your WHV destination does not require working holiday makers to take out insurance, repatriation isn’t included in any local healthcare plans you may qualify for, and it can cost thousands if you need it.

To find out more about insurance, read What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad.

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!

2. 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 need to check if you are expected to file taxes in your working holiday destination. You may be required to file as a tax resident in both countries.

Then, after coming back from your working holiday, you may have to declare income earned abroad, depending on how the tax year(s) work with the dates you were away.

3. 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 of what you need to do or who you need to notify before your trip to ensure a smooth return back home at the end of your WHV.

4. Other benefits and government services

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.

If you are part of any government repayment schemes (e.g. student loans), find out if you need to keep paying while you’re abroad, or if you can put your payments on pause while you are out of the country.