All about the working holiday in Ireland!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalization, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 30 or 35 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
Specific amount depends on nationality.
This must be your first participation
Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
Ireland calls it a Working Holiday Authorisation, not a visa, but it is referring to the same thing. WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from the following countries can apply for a Working Holiday Authorisation to Ireland: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the US.
Exception: American applicants must be currently in post-secondary education OR have graduated from post-secondary education within the last 12 months.
03. What is the application fee?
It varies by nationality, from €55 to €150 (or the equivalent in your local currency).
Exception: there is no application fee for applicants from Hong Kong.
04. How do I validate my Working Holiday Authorisation?
You must enter Ireland within 12 months of your Authorisation being issued, otherwise it will be nullified.
Exception: Authorisation holders from Hong Kong must enter Ireland within 90 days of issuance.
05. Is there anything I need to do once I arrive in Ireland?
Within 90 days of arrival in Ireland, holders of a Working Holiday Authorisation must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and will be issued with a Certificate of Registration on payment of the €300 fee.
06. Do I need to provide a police certificate?
In addition to the standard documents, applicants from Argentina and Chile are asked to provide a police check evidencing a clean background.
Other nationalities are not required to do so, unless it is stated in their application process.
07. What work authorisation will I have?
You can work for any employer for as long as you'd like (during the validity period of your Working Holiday Authorisation).
Exception: Australians can work for a maximum of 6 months for any given employer.
08. How long can I stay in Ireland?
The Working Holiday Authorisation allows participants to stay up to one year in Ireland.
Exception: Canadians can stay for up to 2 years.
09. What is the visa processing time?
The estimates vary by nationality. You should allow for at least a few weeks.
- Australia: 15 working days
- Canada: 4-6 weeks
- Chile: 3 months
- Hong Kong: 20 working days
10. Where can I apply?
Follow the steps outlined on the official website for your country:
11. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Ireland and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don't ask for a dime, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas (Working Holiday Authorisation in this case) are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
As mentioned above, all working holiday makers must buy private health insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They meet the requirements and have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
Exception: the insurance requirement is not explicitly mentioned for Australians and New Zealanders in the application. However, we still strongly recommend it. Without insurance, out of pocket costs for healthcare can be very high.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Working Holiday and Other Adventures Abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Ireland’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Ireland, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Ireland. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Ireland. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in the Ireland.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Ireland before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing Abroad
Once your application is approved, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Ireland, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our some other deals for working holiday makers.
Up to 35 years old from Argentina, Australia, Canada.
Up to 34 years old from South Korea.
Up to 30 years old from Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan.
No age limit: American applicants must be over 18, and currently in post-secondary education OR have graduated from post-secondary education within the last 12 months.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday in Ireland.
You must show a minimum savings amount. The specific amount depends on nationality.
- Canadians: CA$2,500
- Australians: AU$5,000
- New Zealanders: NZ$5,000
- Argentinians: €3,000
- Chileans: €3,000
- Hongkongers: HK$60,000
- Japanese: ¥500,000
- Koreans: €1,500
See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
This must be your first participation. If you have already been in Ireland on a working holiday, then you cannot apply again.
All working holiday makers must buy private health insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
Exception: the insurance requirement is not explicitly mentioned for Australians and New Zealanders. However, we still strongly recommend it. Without insurance, out of pocket costs for healthcare may be very high.
Apply before the annual quota is reached. Ireland sets an annual quota by nationality for the number of Working Holiday Authorisations issued:
- Canadians: Unlimited
- Australians: Unlimited
- New Zealanders: Unlimited
- Argentinians: 200
- Chileans: 200
- Hongkongers: 200
- Japanese: 800
- Koreans: 800