Working holiday visas for anyone from the UK are an absolute gem for anyone looking to take a gap year, post university break or just bloody well backpack around a new country with a bit of spare money in their pocket. They’re incredibly flexible, allowing you to move around as much as you like and usually valid for one or two years in some fabulous countries.

You don’t need to have a job in place but you can pick up work wherever you like to support your travels as you go? Yep, it’s unbeatable. All you need now is this handy guide telling you exactly how to get a working holiday visa for UK citizens and those from many other countries – luckily a lot of the schemes are shared across different nations, so many countries are elegible.

If you’re young enough to barely remember the 90s (why was there so much crimping?) and you once had a pair of massive skater jeans, there’s a good chance you’re the right age for these incredible visas. You usually need to be at least 18 and not have yet turned 31 (there’s some exceptions, see below).

Basically for working holiday visas you’ll need to be a British citizen, aged 18-30 and staying for 12-24 months, with work included. You should be going to travel the country and get a job.

You also need to have no criminal history (no big surprise there), have a decent amount in savings (something to cushion you in emergencies) and be from the right country – for all the visas below a British passport and you’re good to go, but many other passports will work too. The name might change – it might be a youth mobility visa, a J-1 US working holiday visa or just a work and travel visa, but it’s all the same great scenario.

Excited to find out more?

Where can UK citizens work?

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

Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand
Working Holiday Visa in Canada
Working Holiday Visa in America
Working Holiday Visa in Australia
Working Holiday Visa in Japan
Working Holiday Visa in Singapore
Working Holiday Visa in Taiwan
Working Holiday Visa in Hong Kong
Working Holiday Visa in South Korea

New Zealand

You can have a Kiwi adventure for 23 months, a really generous time right off the bat. You need to be 18-30 and going mainly to experience the culture, rather than just for a job. Plus, you need around NZD$350 per month to take care of yourself while you’re there. You can work for up to a year while you’re there or study for six months, so it’s an immense opportunity!

So what is it really like on a New Zealand working holiday visa?

Danny from Coddiwomp on his experience:

Applying for the visa was really straight forward! I applied online through the NZ immigration website and within a few days had confirmation that my application had been accepted.

I travelled all over the country and stayed in all manner of accommodation! The more typical places (such as hostels and guesthouses) are absolutely everywhere, so there’s rarely an issue finding a bed.

In peak season it can be busy though, so book up at least a few days ahead of time to avoid disappointment. If you’re on a budget then a great bet is working for accommodation. You swap a couple of hours of work each day for free accommodation, saving a tonne of money!

In larger towns/cities, jobs were pretty easy to find. Hospitality roles were common, as were retail jobs in places like Auckland and Wellington. If you’re willing to do basic work like waiting tables and washing dishes, you won’t struggle to find a job!

The best places for jobs seemed to be the busiest parts of the country: think Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington and Wanaka…

A good job hunting tip (given to me by a Kiwi) is to be tenacious! If you hand in a CV and don’t hear back within a few days, go back in to let them know how interested you still are. This didn’t come naturally to me, but it worked! Apparently it’s to do with the Kiwi mentality!

So my first tip would be to just do it! Don’t hesitate, get your application in and go have the adventure of a lifetime. Next, give yourself ultimate flexibility by leaving the trip open-ended. The visa process asks you to have a return flight booked, or to have enough money to buy one. I’d always opt for the latter: buy the return flight and I can almost guarantee you’ll get to that day and regret not having more time!

Click here to apply now. You can follow more of Danny’s adventures on his Facebook and his Instagram.

Canada

The Canadian working holiday visa, or International Experience Canada visa is open for Brits and citizens of many other countries between 18 and 35. It’s very popular and they don’t let too many people in, just a set number every year. This is very much a first come, first served situation. You’ll need CAN$2,500 as back up money too, but the IEC visa could be the start of an amazing two years!

So what is it really like on a Canadian working holiday visa?

Rachel from Rachel on Route describes her experience:

My boyfriend and I went to Canada on a Working Holiday visa a few years ago! We applied under the old system, which means we are eligible to go again, we’ve just received another two year visa and are heading back there in 2019 for two more years, that’s how much we love it!

The visa system as it stands now isn’t overly complicated if you’re single, but as a couple or a group it can be a little difficult. You create a profile on the Canadian immigration website and then you are entered into a pool of people. Throughout the year people are picked at random from the pool, and are then invited to apply and submit all the paperwork necessary. As a couple, this can be a problem, as, if one of you is selected out of the pool and applies and one of you isn’t, you can end up with only one visa between you.

During our first stay we lived in Vancouver, British Columbia. We found the city had a cool/hip vibe, a youthful and active population, and lots of outdoorsy things to do. (Stanley Park is beautiful!) We found our accommodation through Craigslist, of all things, but the gentleman we rented from couldn’t have been nicer and we loved our little apartment. (Canadians are SO nice!)

My boyfriend found work straight away in a cafe, while I was focused on office and admin type jobs. I struggled in this area however as most companies do not want to hire someone on such a short term visa. As soon as I refocused my job hunting efforts on retail and hospitality, I got a job pretty quickly. I ended up working in a chocolate shop for 9 months, which I adored.

Click here to find out if you’re eligible. You can follow more of Rachel’s adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

The USA

Getting an American working holiday visa for British citizens, or travellers from any other country can seem daunting, but the J-1 is the closest thing that the USA has to that type of visa. You can work as an au pair in the USA if you are between 18 and 26 or you could work in the USA’s summer camps, so long as you are a current university student. The US working holiday visa for UK citizens is one of the most challenging to get hold of, but could it be worth it to explore such an exciting country?

Toni from Enchanted Serendipity on her experience:

So what is it really like on a American working holiday visa?

The visa application process for the J-1 was really easy – it’s just time consuming! You need to have an employer or sponsor to be able to apply for this visa. A working holiday visa in the USA for UK citizens is actually a really popular option.

Once you have a sponsor, you will be provided with a DS-2019 form listing the information of your sponsorship. The SEVIS I-901 fee is paid (either by you or your sponsor), and then you can make an appointment for your consulate interview. The Non-immigrant Visa Application fee is also paid and you attend your interview. It takes a couple of hours. But once approved, your passport is taken and will be sent back to you in the mail.

I worked for Julian Krinsky Camps and Programs which has a number of locations within Philadelphia. My camp was located just outside Philadelphia at the Villanova University campus. Unusually, we lived in university dorm rooms rather than log cabins. The camp is more school based in it’s set up with learning and sport activities.

I worked twice at this camp, once in 2008 and again in 2013. The first time I was introduced through a Summer Camp program, as I had never visited the USA. Programs take a fee for placement – so I recommend going direct. The second time, I had the connections and sourced direct employment and was paid more the second time because of this.

My best advice is to source direct work sponsorship because you will usually earn more money than being placed by a program – as they take fees. Ultimately, it is a complicated process, but if you know what the steps are – it’s easy enough to follow. If you’ve never been to the US, a Summer Camp opportunity is a great way to get your feet wet for a couple of months – and then travel.

Click here to apply now. Follow Toni on Facebook and over on her Instagram for more updates.

Australia 

If you fancy the trip down under, an incredible backpacking adventure is in your future! Very simple rules here again, you need to be 18-30 and you need AUD $5000 as back up money (no need to spend it, just have it available somewhere and forget it).

Just one thing, your visa will be for one year initially and if you want to extend it, you need to spend three months working hands-on in rural Australia to get your second year. Yes, it’s a hoop to jump through, but boy is it worth it!

So what is it really like on an Australian working holiday visa?

I finished my working holiday visa just a year and a half ago and it was a mindblowing experience!

Getting the visa itself was crazy simple – about half an hour of typing, and it came by email 48 hours later, linked to my British passport.

I started in Melbourne and loved it so much that I stayed. I found my first place to live through Couchsurfing, and I’d recommend it to anyone! After that, I used flatmates.com.au to find a house share with other travellers.

In the cities I do think there can be some competition for jobs, and the quickest way to beat it is to get certified. You need a certificate to be a bar tender or to be a barista, so getting those under your belt and taking a couple of courses is a no brainer. If you have specialist skills you’ll usually find those very much in demand in Australia, so just remember to remake your CV Aussie style and you’ll be set!

Hostels are also great places to start your job search, even if you aren’t staying in one. Get a drink in their cafe and read the notice board or ask the staff for help, you’ll usually come away with many options.

I met a good few people who had decided to get off the beaten track to find work, such as smaller towns and non-tourist spots and they said it was a huge success. Could be worth a try?

Click here to apply now. Read more tips for your Aus working holiday visa.

Japan

To spend a year working and travelling around this stunning country, Brits need to be 18-30 and have proof of 1500 in savings, plus a return ticket. This would be a real adventure, where you learn a new language and an entirely different system of writing!

So what is it really like on a Japanese working holiday visa?

Camille, who is a French traveller currently in Japan on the visa, gives her advice.

I started to prepare my application in August 2017. First, I spent a few weekends planning the main lines of my project : which places do I want to stay in, what activities do I plan to do, establishing a monthly budget etc. This is an important step since you have to prove to the Japanese authorities that your project is realistic and economically viable.

Then I needed a few extra weeks to complete all the other documents (bank statement, medical certificate, CV, motivation letter etc). Eventually I gave all the required documents to the Japanese Consulate in Lyon (France) in October 2017 and it was accepted in the first attempt! One week later I had to come back to the consulate to receive the visa. And that’s it!

I arrived in January 2018 in Osaka and decided to spend three months there studying Japanese in a language school for foreigners. I booked both the school and the accommodation via Dokodemo.fr, which is a French agency helping francophones who want to study Japanese in the country. So I rented a small flat (12 metres squared) in a student residence.

I’ve now booked a room for one month in a house via Airbnb, so I live with two Japanese people. I have my own room but we share everywhere else (kitchen, bathroom…). I decided to do this because I wanted to practise Japanese in everyday life with native people and share an authentic experience.
Soon I’ll be moving again. I’ll live near Okayama and do WWOOFing for 2 weeks.

For now I haven’t worked yet in Japan, but I will start a job in a touristic startup in Sapporo (Hokkaido) in the summer. I found work via a Facebook page for foreigners on working holiday visas. I wrote to them (the staff speak perfect english) and we had a Skype conversation. Actually I received two other job offers when I lived in Osaka simply by word-of-mouth, but I said no because I wanted to focus on learning Japanese.

A few friends living in Japan for a couple of years all told me that it is really easy to find a job in Japan with a working holiday visa. Most of them work as waiters or french teachers. But you have to be careful: with a working holiday visa it is completely forbidden to work in “immoral” places such as pachinko, night clubs etc.

Follow your heart! Or, to be a bit less cliché… I would say it’s important to prepare your project well and save enough money to live stress free for at least your first 3 or 4 months (so you don’t have to absolutely rush to find a job as soon as you arrive!).

Click here to apply now. Follow Camille on Facebook for more updates.

Singapore

Your adventure in Singapore could be for up to six months and you’ll need to be between 18 and 25. There’s also, unusually, a study requirement: you have to be an undergrad who was studying for three months at university before applying, or a recent graduate. Every year, 2000 people are awarded the visa, so it’s another ‘first come, first served’ situation.

So what is it really like on a Singaporean working holiday visa?

From Marika, who is interning in Singapore.

The visa application was quite easy. As far as I remember, I had to provide some certificates from my university, a passport scan and fill in a form.

Yet, I waited a bit over the 30 days they claimed would be the maximum time they would need for looking over my application.

I am living in the city of Singapore and in my case the accommodation was included in my pay package. To get set up, I looked for an internship in the specific field of corporate social responsibility. When I found a social startup on LinkedIn and applied by email, I had a very fast reply.

My advice would be to not hesitate asking questions per email or to have a deeper look into their website. Besides, asking people who have already done it by posting on Facebook expat groups is also always very helpful, I think.

The last thing is perhaps not to panic if the reply for the visa is not given in exactly 30 days – as was the case for me. I was convinced the administration of a country such as Singapore would not be “late” and was proven wrong. Anyways, if it takes really long I would try writing a separate email again. What I don’t advise is calling them up before you get your visa since you will be driven through a recorded voice and asked about your FIN number to get connected with someone. Yet, you don’t yet have the FIN number at that stage.

Click here to apply now. Follow Marika on Instagram for more of her travels.

[bctt tweet=”A guide to all the working holiday visas Brits can get, how they work and what they’re REALLY like.” username=”@live10countries”]

Taiwan

This is a visa that doesn’t get too much attention, but give it a try and you might be surprised. It’s for Brits and others aged 18-30 who are there to travel, rather than work and currently resident in the UK. The visa is for one year, but only 3 months per entry period – so if you want to stay the whole year, you must exit four times or apply for a special extension.

So what is it really like on a Taiwanese working holiday visa?

Laura explains her experience:

Getting the visa in the UK doesn’t require an appointment, you can just go down to the Taiwanese consulate or Edinburgh office. The process is very smooth and the visa is issued within 30 days!

Expect that not many people in Taiwan will know much about the working holiday visa. Many Taiwanese just assume that only Taiwanese can do this abroad! It can be a bit of shock!

It really helps to get a letter in Chinese/English typed up that outlines the terms of the visa and what it actually is, so there’s no confusion when you want a job or want to open a bank account.

As soon as you touch down, do go to immigration and get an Alien Residence Card. It’s free and easy, but you do need to do it within your first 15 days in the country.

Be clear when looking for work that you aren’t trying for long term sponsorship – some employers will be glad to have someone for short-term hire. If you know no Chinese, think about teaching or some organisations that could use native speaker help (proofreading/editing stuff etc.).

If you’re looking for work, network and get out there. Google organisations, get a friend to help you search. Contact potential employers in your field of interest, or push yourself to try something totally out of your comfort zone – now’s the time!

Click here to apply now.

Hong Kong

To grab a working holiday visa in Hong Kong, you’ll need to be between 18 and 30 and a British citizen with a safety net of HK$22,000. After that, you’re in for up to 12 months and you have an incredible range of flexible work and travel options that could take you over the whole country.

So what is it really like on a working holiday visa in Hong Kong?

Courtney, who lived and worked in Hong Kong on the visa, explains her experience.

I am originally from Toronto, Ontario but a couple of years ago I was travelling in Thailand and needed to make some money. I had previously lived in Hong Kong and knew some people, so I went to go visit.

A female friend of mine knew I had obtained an early childhood education degree from Melbourne, Australia and mentioned to me that nannies make very good money in Hong Kong if English is your first language and you have a bachelors degree and some sort of education experience, which I had from working in daycare in Melbourne.

As a Canadian, the visa process was very easy and straightforward. You simply have to be 30 or younger and from a common wealth country if I remember correctly.

Initially I stayed in a hotel with a friend’s discount as he worked there but eventually I moved into my friend’s place who had a spare room in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.

I worked with nanny agencies to find work and when I found a long term position I moved closer to their home on the other side of the island, called Stanley. The place was a shoebox, essentially a bathroom with toilet and shower and a bed but it was clean and I had a much shorter commute.

I would advise people to come with a decent amount of money to start off with and to look for employment before they get there as Hong Kong can be very expensive. However, it can be very inexpensive if you like local food and take public transportation, the expensive part is the housing.

Click here to apply now. Courtney and her husband have now turned their hands to the Duke’s Corner Cafe where you can grab a bite if you’re ever in Minnesota.

South Korea

Also known as the H-1 visa, the Korean working holiday visa is for you if you are between 18 and 30, have funds to cover a return ticket and you can pass a medical and criminal background check. While you’re exploring East Asia, you won’t be able to take classes other than Korean language classes. The visa is valid for one year, so make it count!

So what is it really like on a Korean working holiday visa?

Mae, who is from Germany and recently spent time in South Korea on this visa, explains her experience.

For me it took about two weeks between applying for the visa and receiving it, but I think it can sometimes take longer than that!

You need to be at least 18, bring your passport and have already filled out a form. You must also prove a specific amount of money on your bank account – which I think was 2000 euros in my case – and also be able to show that you are having a return ticket or more finance to cover you. Then, when you are there to give them your form, you fill out another form at the office as well.

Also you have to pay a fee, I think it was about 80 Euros. The visa website mentioned you need to proof you have gotten some vaccinations done for specific illnesses, but they didn’t want to see it in my case (but I only found out when I was there to give them my stuff, luckily I already had those vaccinations).

Once you are in Korea, within the first three months, you have to go to the Korean embassy and pay another fee. You bring your passport and tell them the address where you are staying at so they know where you live and what you’re doing.

Foreigners who want to work in Korea are best off going to Seoul, since there are more English speaking people in that city. You can often work in guest houses but a friend of mine told me that despite her lack of Korean she got a job in a Lush store because there were foreigners in the city that don’t speak Korean.

I worked in a language café but it was more voluntary work and I originally wanted to change my role. Pretty sure you can find language cafés who also offer paid roles, in fact.

You can find plenty of volunteer positions online, and they will often offer you a place to stay in exchange for your work.

Click here to apply now. Follow Mae on Instagram for more of her travels.

Can you get a working holiday visa more than once?

In most cases, the answer is ‘no’. For Brits in Australia, you can only go once, but you do have the chance of extending that visa from one year to two with a period of rural work.

In almost every country, nope.

The exception is Canada, and isn’t it always? Brits can participate in the working holiday programme, Experience Canada twice, provided they meet the selection criteria both times and their first stay was before 2015.

Cover image credit “A Walk Along the Oregon Coast” Michael Matti CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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It’s tempting, no, the idea of all those possibilities? I’m getting itchy feet just writing this! All those working holiday visas for Brits out there, and the only thing that can stop you is turning 31 (browse my options for over 30s here).

To get even better prepared, have a browse of my 40+ work abroad opportunities for Brits!