Where can South Africans get a working holiday visa? A quick guide

Being real, getting a working holiday visa for South Africans isn’t just a case of filling in a few forms and booking a plane ticket. Without getting into the complex history and culture of this incredible country, a chance to live and work abroad could be an exciting dream for anyone. I’ve already covered WHVS for Brits and for Australians but lets turn our attention to a new part of the world now.

And while there are programmes and options, they just aren’t easy to access or find and they don’t get talked about enough. Let’s change that.

And at the same time, let’s acknowledge the enormous privilege involved in being able to access these opportunities. I couldn’t say it any better than what you’ll find in this post.

A working holiday visa for South Africans

Countries that offer working holiday visas for South African citizens (and citizens of many other countries) are:

The UK

Britain’s got a buzzing metropolis in London, some surprisingly excellent beaches in the South West and more green fields and rolling hills than you could shake a stick at. You won’t come for the weather, but for the experience, the chance to explore Europe and the chance to live and work abroad.

So how do you make that happen? Well you’ll need to be a South African recent graduate or university student – and then your in is via the BUNAC programme.

Get your way onto an internship and the BUNAC Blue Card Internship Programme will bring you over to the UK to work, live and drink a positively unhealthy amount of tea!

So what is it really like on a working holiday visa from South Africa in the UK?

Internships are generally for 3-6 months and you’ll need to be working for at least 25 hours – meaning it may or may not be full time. They also make sure the job involves complex tasks – you won’t just be doing filing and handling the day’s letters!

A few other important hoops to jump through are the fact that you’ll need to have some minimum funds (around £1000 safeguard money and a high level of insurance cover). Plus, you can only do the programme once, but if you find you like it you might find some other ways to extend your time in Britain.

Click here to find out if you’re elegible for the BUNAC programme and apply.

Australia

Ah, the land that’s girt by sea. This one is a touch niche, but as there aren’t so many working holiday visa options for South Africans, it’s well worth including.

A number of the special internship visas which South Africans previously could apply for in Australia no longer operate, such as the 416 and 408.

But, while visa requirements for South Africans are quite strict, there are still opportunities in the world of farming.

So what is it really like on a working holiday visa from South Africa in Australia?

The 482 Temporary Skills Shortage Visa allows experienced farmers to cover gaps in the Australian job market, and there are opportunities every year.

The 407 Training Visa is a great option for anyone who is training and looking for experience, again in the farming sector.

Take a look at the options and find out more here for the 482 and here for the 407. To dig deeper, take a look through my guide to Australian visas for the over 30s.

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Where can South African citizens work?

There we have it, a few pointers on where to turn your attention for an opportunity to live and work abroad.

If this has stirred your interest, let me know your experiences below and which country you’re keen to visit?

And if you’re specifically interested in the chance to live and work abroad over 30, head on over to this post.

And I’ve missed anything which would help a South African study and work abroad, please drop me a comment and let me know!

Danni Lawson

7 thoughts on “Where can South Africans get a working holiday visa? A quick guide”

  1. Loved reading this, it’s good to know that there are some opportunities out there for South Africans. What would be the cost of a South African’s visa and do you think it’s easy for South Africans to work abroad?

  2. Hi there,
    My fiance and I are both 34 years old and wanting to go on a working holiday. He has a british passport and I can get a ancestral visa. Where can we work and how do we go about getting a job secured before we arrive.

  3. Nokuphiwa Makaba

    Me and my partner wants to travel to France, his family from there and I am south african citizen but I want to know because I’m 31 already and I do have certificate to teach international, what visa do I need ?

  4. Charles Williams

    Danni, I urgently need advise please. My family is relocating to the UK and I desperately want to join them. Because I am not a dependent, I need to look at other options. I will also gladly consider Europe.

  5. My son is 26. Has experience in logistics and has so taught English as a foreign language in Vietnam. He is a South African and is desperately looking for work!

  6. Goodday..
    My Name is Karl…I am 41 years of age…
    I would like to know how can apply for a working holiday visa for the uk.
    I am currently in SouthAfrica…
    Many thanks.

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