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We’ve noticed that misinformation often gets shared about the Working Holiday Visa (WHV). These errors could be from a misunderstanding of the principles of a working holiday scheme or because of false information spread by the media. In this article, we aim to debunk some of the myths you may have heard about the WHV.

1. The WHV is only possible in two or three countries like Canada or Australia

Although Australia, New Zealand and Canada are the most frequently mentioned destinations, working holiday agreements are not limited to these countries. There are around 60 countries that offer a WHV. Depending on your nationality, you may be eligible for WHVs in Japan, Korea, France, Ireland, and more!

Enter your nationality on our destinations page to find the full list of available WHVs.

2. You can only do one WHV in your life

Many people confuse “one WHV per country” with “one WHV in your lifetime”. Aside from a few exceptions (more on this below), the usual rule is you can only do one WHV per country. However, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria, there is no limit to how many countries you can do a WHV in. For example, Pamela is on a WHV in Australia after five years in New Zealand, and Aiyana has done WHVs in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Most countries only allow one WHV participation in their country. There are some exceptions, such as:

  • Australia can grant you a second and third WHV if you complete specified work (British citizens are exempt from specified work and are automatically eligible for second and third WHVs). Learn more.
  • New Zealand allows a three-month extension to anyone who has worked three or more months in horticulture or viticulture during their WHV. Learn more.
  • Canada allows certain nationalities to participate twice. For nationalities who can only participate once, you may be able to apply for a second participation via a Recognised Organisation. Learn more.

3. The WHV is only for students

When we talk about young people, we can quickly get confused with students. WHVs are not reserved for students or graduates. As long as you are between 18 and 30 years old (35 years old for some destinations), you can apply for a WHV, regardless of your level of education, your work history, your language abilities, etc.

4. You can only work for a few months at a time and only do temporary jobs on a WHV

The WHV allows you to work (paid or as a volunteer) for as many employers as you like during your stay. Since most backpackers stick to temporary jobs on their WHV (e.g. fruit picking, bar work, barista, hotel receptionist, etc.), some people mistakenly believe this is the only type of job you’re allowed to do.

You can hold just about any job you want on a WHV. If you want to work in your normal field, that’s perfectly possible. However, it may be difficult to land a job related to your career, which is why many backpackers stick to temporary work. It all depends on your previous experience, whether your skills are in demand, your ability to speak the local language, and your networking skills.

Some countries impose restrictions on employment, which will limit the type of work you can do, such as:

  • In Australia and Hong Kong, you cannot work for the same employer for more than six months. In Australia, however, legal exceptions exist that allow you to stay with the same company for your entire visa.
  • In New Zealand, you are not allowed to accept a “permanent” job, but there is nothing stopping you from signing an employment contract for 10 or 12 months, for example.
  • In Japan, authorities require you to show your WHV has been planned with a mix of tourism, cultural exploration, and work. But once you’re there, there’s nothing stopping you from working year-round. Just note that some areas of work are off-limits to working holiday makers (e.g. the gaming and nightlife industries).

5. All WHV agreements are identical

The WHV is the result of bilateral agreements between two countries. As a result, no two agreements will look the same. The cost of the visa (some WHVs are free, others require a fee), the eligibility criteria, and the quota (some countries impose a quota, others do not), all depend on the agreement between the two signatory countries.

Some other common differences are:

  • The age limit: Some countries have an age limit of 18-30 and some have a limit of 18-35
  • The application process: You may need to apply online, by post, or in person at the embassy
  • The documents required: You may not need to provide any additional documentation, or you may be asked to provide police certificates, medical exam results, proof of savings, a travel itinerary, etc.
  • The time limits for travelling to your destination once your WHV application has been approved (e.g. do you have three, six or 12 months to enter the country and activate your WHV before it expires?)

In summary, it is important to research the rules for the destination that interests you. Just because your friends’ WHV application for Australia, for example, was quick and easy to complete online, does not mean that your application for a South American country will be done in exactly the same way.

You can find all the information about how to apply for your chosen destination on our destinations page.

6. The WHV is difficult to obtain because you have to be drawn in a lottery

This is only really true when talking about the working holiday in Canada. In principle, a WHV is easy to obtain. If you’re applying to a country that has a quota, make sure you apply early in the season before the quota gets filled.

The only problem is Canada, where (even if the quota has not yet been filled), you must enter a lottery and hope to be selected at random. If you are not selected, you cannot apply for a WHV to Canada. The competition is fierce, but it’s not impossible! Learn more.

7. If you get a WHV but don’t actually enter the country, you can reapply later

Australia and Canada are the only countries that allow you to reapply if you ultimately do not travel to the country once your WHV is granted. All other WHV destinations only allow you to obtain the WHV once. If you decide not to use the WHV, you will never be able to apply for a WHV for that country again. Only apply if you are sure you will actually use your WHV!

8. You need to have found an employer before you can apply for a WHV

This is the complete opposite of the concept of the WHV! The WHV allows you to travel and work abroad without having to first secure a job offer. Of course, you can always try to apply for jobs before your departure, but it’s by no means mandatory. It’s not necessarily easy, either; many employers will only consider hiring candidates who are already in the country.

You’re also under no obligation to work during your WHV. If your savings allow it, you can decide to travel, or do volunteer work instead of paid work.

9. You must return to your home country between two WHVs

Whether this is true or not depends on your next destination and their eligibility requirements. For some countries, it is possible to apply for a WHV from anywhere in the world. Other countries require you to be living in your country of citizenship before you can apply for a visa. You may need to prove your residency, or you may need to attend an in-person interview at the embassy in your home country.

10. It is difficult to use your WHV experience to get a job once you return to your home country

You may have received negative reactions from other people when you announced your dreams of a WHV, warning that you won’t be taken seriously if you have a career break to travel and work backpacker jobs. This is not the case at all!

First of all, you may have even worked during your WHV in your professional field. If not, you have still picked up valuable skills such as learning a new language, team building, or gaining work experience in a new industry. You will have managed a budget, shown initiative and flexibility, and found yourself in difficult situations that you had to overcome. All of this is valuable to future employers, if you know how to highlight your experience properly.

To find out more, read How to showcase my experiences abroad after a working holiday?

    Always remember to research the rules for the WHV destination you’re interested in. Changes to the program can be made at any time by the authorities in each country. Make sure you are accessing the most up-to-date information possible on official government websites and pvtistes.net!
    Pvtistes.net

    L'équipe de pvtistes.net vous informe depuis 2005 sur tous les aspects d'un PVT et vous accompagne dans vos projets de mobilité à l'international !

    The pvtistes.net team has been around since 2005, guiding thousands of young adults through all aspects of their working holiday!

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