Working Holiday Visa (WHV)

A Working Holiday Visa allows you to work and travel in a member country of the Working Holiday program. A Working Holiday visa is much easier to get than a traditional work visa. If you’re between 18 and 30 (and even up to 35 for some destinations), you should check if you’re eligible for a Working Holiday visa!

The Working Holiday visa is available to millions of young people worldwide.

Eligibility is only based on:

- Your country of citizenship
- Your age, i.e. 18 to 30 (up to 35 for several destinations and several citizenships)
- The ability to provide proof of funds (usually €2,500-€3,500, or the equivalent in another currency)

Unlike traditional work or immigration visas, applicants are not selected based on education, language skills or work experience.

You don’t need to have any specific language or academic qualifications to be eligible.

Generally speaking, the cutoff is 30 years old, up to 35 years old for selected destinations and citizenships. The minimum age to participate is always 18.

Age limits vary from one destination to another, since Working Holiday agreements are typically bilateral agreements between countries.

Enter your country of citizenship and your age to discover where you can go on a Working Holiday adventure.

For instance, Canadians can enjoy the Working Holiday program in Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

Most Working Holiday Visas are valid for 12 months, although the agreement between certain countries may allow participants to stay up to 24 or even 36 months.

Absolutely, as long as you meet the requirements! So you could technically spend a year in France with a Working Holiday visa, then spend another 12 months in Australia and another year in Japan!

(Please, share updates and pictures!)

For more info, read How to Enjoy Multiple Working Holiday Adventures.

The application process and exact requirements vary from country to country—it can be online, by mail or in person. Note that you should always apply through official channels, i.e. embassies, consulates, etc. Don’t submit your application through a third party.

- Step 1: check if you meet all eligibility requirements for the country you’d like to explore.
- Step 2: review the application checklist and the documents you’ll have to provide.
- Step 3: find out when you should apply (see below for more tips on that!)
- Step 4: apply for your Working Holiday Visa.
- Step 5: get ready for your adventure—buy your plane ticket and travel insurance, save money for your proof of funds, research your destination and more.

There are two factors to consider:

- The annual limit: some destinations (e.g. Canada) only issue a limited number of Working Holiday visas every year. If the “cap” has been reached, you must wait a few months or a year to apply.
- The deadline to activate your Working Holiday visa: once your Working Holiday visa is issued, you will have a specific timeframe—30 days, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months, depending on the destination—to travel to the destination and start your Working Holiday adventure. So don’t apply too early, otherwise, your Working Holiday visa could expire before you make it to your destination!

Some countries issue an unlimited number of Working Holiday visas and some have a limited number of spots available every year. For instance, Canada offers a limited number of Working Holiday Visas to foreign applicants but New Zealand has a “no quota” Working Holiday visa policy for Canadian citizens.

Destination countries typically require Working Holiday applicants to have “sufficient funds” to survive for the first few weeks or few months of their trip. The exact amount varies depending on the destination but it’s around €2000-€3000 (or the equivalent in another currency).

Your proof of funds may be required when applying for your Working Holiday visa (e.g. Brazil) or upon landing (e.g. Canada).

You will have to budget for:

- Working Holiday visa fees
- A medical exam, if applicable
- Miscellaneous application fees, if applicable (e.g. biometrics fee for Canada)
- A passport
- Passport pictures
- Travel fees if you must apply in person to the nearest embassy

You will also have to buy your plane ticket and travel insurance before your trip.

Whether you are a current student or a recent graduate, there is a way to spend a year (or even longer) in a foreign country. The WHV (Working Holiday Visa) allows young adults to live and work in eligible countries, where they can expand their personal and professional horizons. So if you want to take a gap year and live out the adventure of your dreams, here are all the details and conditions to know.