Interested in moving abroad? Here’s what you need to know about the countries with working holiday visas for Americans.
Moving abroad is a challenging process. It’s often expensive, requires intense paperwork, and pushes you to navigate a new culture and a whole host of things. But if you’re a young adult seeking an easy and semi-affordable way to go abroad, a working holiday visa might be your ticket to adventure.
Here’s the lowdown on the six countries that offer a working holiday visa for Americans and what you need to know to get one for yourself!
Note: when dealing with any immigration process, always consult and look into the legal requirements for each country independently. This guide is meant to act only as a resource to help you begin your adventure abroad.
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What is a working holiday visa?
First things first, a working holiday visa is a special visa for young adults aged 18-30, and sometimes 35, that allows visa holders to move to a country for six months to a year and work part-time while traveling.
It’s a way for people to support themselves while temporarily living and exploring a new place! Some working holiday visas even allow people to study while visiting or extend it for another 6-12 months or longer.
Who can get a working holiday visa?
Working holiday visas are geared towards younger adults under 30 years old (sometimes up to 35 years old).
And since I’ve focused this list on the six countries with holiday visas for Americans, you’re all good if you’re from the U.S.! But if you’re from another country, I recommend verifying your eligibility.
Another common requirement is proof of financial stability in the form of a substantial savings. You must show you have enough money to support yourself when you first arrive while job hunting.
Table of Contents
How to apply for a working holiday visa
What jobs can you work a working holiday visa
Countries that offer a working holiday visa
» South Korea
» Singapore
» Ireland
» Australia
» New Zealand
» Canada
Things to Know About Working Holiday Visas
How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa
Every country has its own set of application instructions for how to get a working holiday visa, but for the most part, it’s generally similar.
The process for applying for a working holiday visa for Americans typically looks something like this:
- Confirm eligibility with the local embassy or immigration website.
- Complete the application at the nearest embassy in your home country or online. The working holiday visa application usually includes an application form, passport info, passport photos, motivation letter (why you want to visit this country), proof of education, proof of financial means, etc.
- Pay the visa fee, which ranges from $45 – $350 depending on the country.
- Wait for approval, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to up to three or more months.
- If approved, send in your passport to get your visa stamped or print off official documentation for entry.
- Enter the country within a year of receiving the visa, in which the countdown begins when you land.
What jobs can you find on the working holiday visa for Americans?
Getting a visa and moving abroad is all well and good, but what about finding an actual job? Typically on a working holiday visa, you’re legally limited to working part-time hours in hospitality, tourism, or the service industry. And in Australia and New Zealand, it’s common for working holiday visitors to work on farms or in the fishing industry.
That means that most working holiday visas don’t legally allow for remote or freelance work because it would be impossible for the country to monitor how many work hours and how much money you earn. But in full disclosure, many people still do so at their own legal risk.
Here are some suggestions for types of jobs on a working holiday visa:
- Au Pair and childcare
- Server or bartender
- Hostel or hotel staff
- Cashier or store associate
- Tour guide
- Yoga/fitness instructor
- Agriculture, farming, fishing (Australia)
- Hospitality and tourism jobs
6 Countries that Offer a Working Holiday Visa for Americans
Eligible Americans can get a working holiday visa in six countries: South Korea, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, and Singapore.
This list shares the low down for each country that offers a working holiday visa for U.S. citizens and a quick summary explaining the application process. Be sure to research and reach out to your nearest embassy to find the most up-to-date process and exact details.
1. South Korea’s H-1 Visa
Who’s eligible: 18-30-year-olds from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and 21 other countries
What’s the deal: 12-month stay, 6-month extension for the U.S., work up to 25 hrs/week + study Korean
H-1 Visa Cost: $45 application fee, 3,000,000 KRW ($2,500) in the bank
South Korea’s H-1 visa is a program that allows nationals from 25 different countries to travel to Korea for a year or a year and a half for Americans while working part-time to help support themselves. During your stay, your visa also allows you to pick up a Korean language course, but regular studies aren’t allowed. You have 12 months to use your visa and enter the country from the date that your visa is issued, giving you time to prepare for a move.
A few other eligibility requirements for South Korea’s working holiday visa for Americans include:
- Must not be traveling with dependents (they’re not allowed in with the H-1)
- Have adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay
- Have sufficient funds to support yourself (about $2,500) as well as return airfare or equivalent cost
- Have a clean criminal record and bill of health
It’s worth mentioning that you can’t teach English while living in Korea on an H1 visa. However, if you wish to take advantage of the popular opportunity to teach in South Korea, you must apply for an E-2 visa instead.
That’s what I did, and I loved it! I spent two years teaching English in Korea with EPIK and couldn’t believe how reasonable the pay/benefits were. You essentially just need a degree, a TEFL certificate, and a clean background!
Learn more about what teaching in South Korea is like.
How to Apply for South Korea’s Working Holiday Visa
The application process for getting the visa requires quite a few documents that must be mailed to your local Korean consulate in your home country, and the process may vary slightly depending on the consulate near you.
Documents needed to apply are:
- Completed visa application form
- Passport valid for at least a year + one passport photo
- Proof of financial well-being and return airfare
- Proof of health insurance, a clean background check, and a medical certificate
- Copy of highest achieved academic status
- Detailed travel plans for how you wish to spend the year
Once you’ve gathered the required documents, you must mail them in with the application fee, which is $45 for Americans. This fee varies depending on where you’re from.
Korea also has imposed a quota on the number of working holiday visas issued for Americans and other eligible countries. Currently, up to 5,000 Americans may be granted the H-1 at any given time, and visas are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Learn more about applying for South Korea’s working holiday visa.
2. Singapore’s Work Holiday Pass (WHP)
Who’s eligible: 18-25-year-olds, undergraduate students or graduates, from Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or United States
What’s the deal: 6-month stay, no restrictions on work
WHP visa cost: $175 application fee, sufficient funds in the bank
Singapore’s working holiday pass allows young graduates and current college students to live and work in Singapore for six months. Their WHP is not renewable, and they have a limit of 2,000 passes for Americans at a time.
They’re strict about applicants having a college degree, but they don’t have any limits for working hours or industries for those who come.
How to Apply for Singapore’s Working Holiday Pass
The cost to apply for the WHO is $175, and you must submit an application form with proof of education. It can take up to three weeks to get word back if you’ve been approved. As soon as you get approved, you’ll need to submit your passport photo and fingerprints to get the visa stamped in your passport.
3. Ireland’s Working Holiday Agreement (WHA)
Who’s eligible: 18+-year-old college students or recent graduates (within 12 months of application) from U.S., Argentina, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Uruguay, 18-35-year-olds from Canada and Australia
What’s the deal: 12-month stay, no restrictions on work
WHA visa cost: $339 plus the cost of return postage, $4,000+ in the bank
The US-Ireland Working Holiday Agreement is the only working holiday visa in Europe available to Americans. And those interested in experiencing life in Ireland and the EU will need to prepare for the thorough and pricey immigration process.
Not only that, but once you arrive in Ireland, you’ll need to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau within 90 days and pay a €300 fee for a police registration card, which is legally required for all immigrants in Ireland. You’ll also need to obtain a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) via the Department of Social Protection.
How to Apply for Ireland’s Working Holiday Agreement
The application process for Ireland’s Working Holiday Agreement is completed in two stages and involves submitting the required documents and fees to your nearest Ireland embassy in the United States.
Documents and items to submit in stage 1:
- Application form
- 2 passport photos and a copy of your passport valid one year after your planned date of entry to Ireland
- Current resume with two references
- Proof of enrollment in a full-time post-secondary educational program or graduation within 12 months before submitting your visa application.
- Proof of financial means ($4,000 in the bank) and health insurance
- A fee of $339 plus return postage
Once these items have been submitted and approved by the Irish Embassy, you’ll need to mail in proof of your flight tickets, a certificate of travel and medical insurance for the duration of your visit, and your passport so they can place the working holiday visa within it.
4. Australia’s Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
Who’s eligible: 18-30-year-old U.S. citizens with a high school diploma at minimum, and 24 other countries 18-35 years old
What’s the deal: 12-month stay, change jobs every 6 months, do 3 months of specific work to be eligible for a second or third working holiday visa.
Subclass 462 visa cost: 510 AUD ($350) and 5,000 AUD ($3,400) in the bank plus return airfare
Australia offers two working holiday visas: subclass 462 and 417, open to different countries. Americans should apply for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) (the other is the Working Holiday Visa, subclass 417).
The working holiday visa in Australia is one of the most popular and well-oiled programs available to Americans and others interested in living and working abroad. So many people come to Aus annually on the visa that it’s relatively easy to find work, especially in agriculture (strawberry picking), fishing, lumber, and tourism in far and remote places.
The visa has specific requirements, like you can only work the same job for six months and must complete three months of particular work (usually in agriculture) if you wish to extend. However, this is one of the only working holiday visas that allow Americans to extend up to three times (for a stay in Aus up to three years) provided you meet the requirements.
How to Apply for Australia’s Working Holiday Visa
The process to apply is fairly straightforward and can be done online.
- Gather the required documents like your identification, proof of education and financial means, passport photos, etc.
- Create an account, submit documents, and fill out the application form online at ImmiAccount.
- Pay the application fee of 510 AUD
- Wait and hear back; most applications are processed within 30-90 days.
As soon as you’ve gotten word that you’ve been approved, you’ll receive a digital document stating your visa number and dates of validity, which you must carry with you when you enter the country.
5. New Zealand USA Working Holiday Visa
Who’s eligible: 18-30-year-olds from the U.S. and other eligible countries
What’s the deal: 12 months
WH visa cost: $455 NZD ($285), $4,200 NZD ($2,650) in the bank
The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa for U.S. citizens allows young people to come and work in New Zealand for a year to work or study/train for up to six months. I mean who wouldn’t want to live in an island nation known for stunning landscapes? Which is just the tip of the iceberg of what New Zealand is famous for btw.
To be granted the visa, you can’t come with dependents, you must have proof of medical insurance for your stay, and you must show evidence of a return ticket out of New Zealand or enough to pay for one when the time comes.
As is the case with every country, you’ll need to open a local bank account and apply for a New Zealand IRD (tax) number to be eligible for employment in the country. Much like Australia, many people who come on a WHV find work in horticulture or tourism.
How to Apply for New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa
The process to apply for New Zealand’s working holiday visa involves:
- Creating an account and applying online through the New Zealand immigration portal
- Providing evidence and additional docs if requested (health exam or background check).
- Buying tickets once you have official approval.
The application includes a health and character questionnaire, the submission of proof of financial means and medical insurance, and identification details.
6. International Experience Canada (IEC) Visa
Who’s eligible: 18-30/35-year-olds without a criminal past from the U.S. and other eligible countries
What’s the deal: 12-month stay
visa cost: $161 CAD and additional fees, $2,500 CAD in the bank
Canada’s IEC visa is only open to U.S. citizens who apply through a recognized organization, although other nationalities can apply independently. There are many different organizations you can go through, but two ROs recommended by Canadian immigration are AIESEC Canada and GO International.
These ROs assist Americans interested in living and working in Canada on a working holiday visa for a fee and offer some sort of job search assistance to ensure you find employment for your time in Canada.
Canada is unique; if you have a criminal past, you may not be allowed to enter the country. Other requirements for the IEC include having proof of medical insurance and proof of means to support yourself during your stay financially.
How to Apply for Canada’s Working Holiday Visa
The application process for Canada’s IEC visa is a bit tedious and requires a lot of steps and a bit of waiting. It’s also not the easiest working holiday visa for Americans to get due to the complicated process and the quota limits.
You can see a more thorough explanation of the process on their official website.
But in summary, to apply for an IEC:
- Complete a preliminary questionnaire and create an online account and profile on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) platform.
- Await invitation to apply and begin application within 10 days of receiving the official invitation and then complete the application within 20 days.
- Upload all required documents, have the employer pay the compliance fee (if applicable), pay your visa processing fee, submit, and wait for approval or rejection.
If you pass the application process, you’ll receive an official “Port of Entry Letter” from Canadian immigration that you must bring when entering the country.
Important Things to Know About Working Holiday Visas
Before you pack your bags, knowing a few overall things about moving to a new country on a working holiday visa is a good idea. Here are some of the most important things to know:
- Finding work in a new country as a foreigner can take some time, and there’s always the chance that you may go the entirety of your stay without steady employment, which means you may not make much of an income or at all.
- Come with ample money in the bank as a backup plan. That amount of money depends on the cost of living where you’re going, but I recommend coming with at least enough to cover rent, food costs, and a flight home at the very least.
- Most people on a working holiday visa find a room in a shared, furnished flat to save money and meet new people.
- Finding a place to live may take some time, so I recommend mentally and financially preparing to stay in a hostel or hotel until you find long-term housing.
- Moving to a new country abroad a lot of admin. You’ll need to take care of things like opening a bank account, getting a local tax I.D., getting a phone plan, finding a flat, registering with the local immigration office, etc. Don’t underestimate how much work you’ll need to do.
- Ultimately, have fun! There’s no denying moving abroad is stressful, but with the right expectations of the cost, admin required, and process of getting settled, the opportunity to live and work abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.