What’s a Working Holiday Visa? How Do I Get One?

You must have heard of something called the “Working Holiday Visa,” “Working Holiday Permit,” “Working Holiday Scheme,” “Working Holiday Program” or even the “WHV”—all these names refer to the same thing, i.e. a one- or two-year work permit available to young citizens from some 60 countries.

In this article, we’ll use “Working Holiday Visa” to be consistent throughout.

Don’t miss out, read on for a complete overview of this feels-too-good-to-be-true visa!

What’s a Working Holiday Visa, exactly?

A Working Holiday Visa allows you to live in a participating country for 12 to 24 months and work to fund your travel experience.

The Working Holiday Visa is a very flexible visa with minimal requirements—no need to have a specific foreign language level, education or professional experience.

It also offers a lot of freedom because Working Holiday holders can plan their own unique experience abroad—road trip, volunteering, language classes, small jobs along the way to fund travel needs or valuable work experience in their field.

What’s so great about the Working Holiday Visa?

Many European Union citizens are used to being allowed to travel visa-free in any of the 28 member countries and work without needing a permit. For instance, a Spanish citizen can move to Belgium for better career opportunities in their field without applying for a work visa, being sponsored by an employer or having to show proof of funds. This is an amazing perk Europeans should appreciate because things aren’t that easy in the rest of the world.

Typically, working in a foreign country requires a work permit, and to get one, you may need a job offer, a specific background or in-demand skills, a sponsor and more. Most of the time, you will be tied to a specific employer. Companies also tend to put applications from international candidates at the very bottom of the pile because sponsoring a foreigner takes time and money.

And this is why a Working Holiday Visa is absolutely awesome. None of the above requirements apply! The hardest part is to fill out the visa application and submit it online or in person to the relevant embassy—and even then, this is just a bit of paperwork and we’re offering all the info you need!

Who can apply for a Working Holiday Visa?

The Working Holiday Visa is available to 18-30-year-olds who want to travel abroad for up to 12 or 24 months and who are planning to work along the way.

For some countries, the age limit is up to 35 years old depending on your citizenship. Check out Canada, Australia or Argentina as potential destinations!

More info on the eligibility requirements…

Where can I go with a Working Holiday Visa?

Some 60 countries are part of the program. The destinations available to you depend on your country of citizenship.

Use our tool to see where you could go on a Working Holiday adventure! Simply enter your citizenship and age, and you’ll see a list of countries just waiting to be explored.

How long is a Working Holiday Visa valid for? How many times can I get it?

A Working Holiday Visa is usually valid for up to 12 months or 24 months, depending on your country of citizenship.

The rule is generally “one Working Holiday opportunity per country” but there are two exceptions:

• Australia allows a second Working Holiday Visa under certain conditions
• Canada may allow a second participation in the Working Holiday Permit program if you were a Working Holiday Permit holder before 2015 and if you didn’t apply for any other IEC permits

On the other hand, you can totally enjoy different Working Holiday adventures in different countries, for instance, a year in Argentina, then a year in Canada and a year in New Zealand! Go ahead, fill your passport with Working Holiday Visas, We get it, it’s addictive.

Why should I get a Working Holiday Visa?

We can think of (at least) 16 reasons to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. But honestly, everybody is different and everybody has unique goals and motivations. Some travellers want to gain precious work experience abroad while others are hoping to work on their language skills, some want to explore a new culture while others just need a break from the routine and start from scratch halfway around the world.

When should I apply for a Working Holiday Visa?

It depends on your destination.

Some countries implemented a quota system with a capped number of Working Holiday Visas issued every year. For instance, it’s notoriously tricky to get a Working Holiday Permit for Canada because it’s a popular option and profiles are drawn randomly from a pool of candidates. On the other hand, some countries have quotas but they are rarely reached so you can apply pretty much whenever.

New Zealand and Australia are popular as well but good news, no quota!

Am I on my own as a Working Holiday Visa holder?

The Working Holiday Visa is your gateway to an exciting year abroad. It gives you the right to live and work legally in your destination country for up to 12 or 24 months.

Now, on the practical side, you’re on your own to plan your trip and your life abroad (i.e. buy your ticket, choose your travel insurance, find a place to live, find a job, etc.).

Don’t freak out, Pvtistes.net and an entire community of travellers are here to help for free! We have a very comprehensive guide on Canada plus tons of relevant up-to-date articles on various destinations and a busy forum. Read, post, share and ask!