Working holiday visa

A working holiday visa is a travel permit which allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds.

Most working holiday visas are offered under reciprocal agreements between certain countries, to encourage travel and cultural exchange between their citizens.

There are often several restrictions on this type of visa:
* many are intended for young travellers, and as such have an age restriction (usually 18-30)
* there are usually limits on the type of employment taken, or the length of time the traveller can be employed.
* the visa holder is expected to have sufficient funds to live on while they seek employment

The original participating countries in this were Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

It allows young people to experience living in a foreign country, without undergoing the usual costly expenses of finding work sponsorship in advance, or going on expensive university exchange programmes.

In Japan there is a Working Holiday Maker Alumni association, which gives seminars and orienteering to Japanese working holiday goers.

Countries offering working holiday visas

Argentina

* Argentina's Working Holiday Program [http://www.arg.org.nz/consular/visas.htm] provides opportunities for people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Argentina and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
* The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months and is available to New Zealand Citizens.

Australia

* Australia's Working Holiday Program [http://www.visabureau.com/australia/working-holiday-visa.aspx] provides opportunities for people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Australia and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
* The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months from the date of first entry to Australia, regardless of whether the holder spends the whole time in Australia.
* Any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature is allowed, but work for more than six months with any one employer is not permitted.
*Working Holiday Visa holders are entitled to study or embark on a training course for a maximum of four months.
*A medical check is required for anyone seeking employment in healthcare or anyone seeking employment in the teaching profession. If you have spent more than 3 consecutive months in the last 5 years in a country considered to be of high health risk, you will be required to have a medical exam.
*The Australian working holiday visa is only available to eligible candidates once in a lifetime, although by undertaking work in a prescribed agricultural occupation, it is possible to earn the right to an additional 12 month WHM visa.
* Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday maker arrangements in effect with the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China, Finland, the Republic of Cyprus, France, Italy, Belgium, Estonia and Taiwan. Passport holders from these nations may apply for a Working Holiday Visa subclass 417.
*Passport holders from the United States, Chile, Turkey, and Thailand, can apply for a Working Holiday Visa subclass 462, provided they have a tertiary education. Bangladesh has signed a work holiday visa agreement with Australia, which will be included with subclass 462, but the program has not yet been implemented.

Canada

* Citizens of Australia [http://www.whpcanada.org.au/] , Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic [http://canada.cz/am3/asp/text.asp?pageID=7YRcLhlO&lang=3] , Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea [http://www.international.gc.ca/korea/new-announcement-ko.asp] , The Netherlands, New Zealand [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/whp/intro-en.asp] , South Africa, Sweden, the UK and the US are eligible for a Canadian working holiday visa, so long as they fulfil certain criteria which are specific to each country.
* Age limits are from 18-30 for most countries; 18-35 for citizens of Czech Republic, Italy and Ireland. Some countries' programs specify that the applicant must be a full-time student; others do not, and some have separate programmes for students and non-students.
* The type of work allowed and the maximum duration of stay depends on the applicant's country of residence. [http://www.workpermit.com/canada/working_holiday.htm]

Germany

Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan aged between 18 and 30 may apply for a Working Holiday Visa. Stays of up to 12 months are allowed. Working Holidaymakers may work to finance their trip, but each job can only last up to 90 days. Evidence of sufficient funds for the first three months are required (i.e. 250 euro per month).

Anyone wishing to take part in the Working Holiday Visa scheme should be well aware of the extremely high unemployment rates in the country especially in Berlin. Anyone with little or no German language skills will find it difficult to find adequate employment. Canadians, but not Australians and New Zealanders, can remain in the country indefinitely if employed as English teachers (subject to approval by the government employment office - Arbeitsamt).

Ireland

* Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand, aged 18-30 (inclusive) may be eligible for an Irish Working Holiday Visa.
* Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves for at least the initial part of the holiday or in the event of failing to secure employment. Immigration officials may request evidence of sufficient funds at the point of entry to Ireland.
* No one person may make use of the scheme on more than one occasion.

Japan

* Citizens from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, and New Zealand who are between the ages of 18 and 30, and citizens from the United Kingdom and Ireland who are between the ages of 18 and 25 may apply for a Working Holiday Visa. British and Irish citizens over 25 years of age are in some cases allowed to apply for the visa. [http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html]
* A one-year visa may be granted to citizens of France, Germany, Korea, Ireland, and the UK -- with no extension possible. A six-month visa may be granted to citizens of Australia and Canada which can be extended twice and once for citizens of New Zealand.

Hong Kong

*Hong Kong has working holiday agreements with Australia, New Zealand And Ireland.
*Applicants may be granted a stay of up to 12 months.

To obtain a Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa you must :
* Be an Australian, New Zealand or Irish citizen who is holder of valid passport and ordinarily resident in their home country.
* Intend primarily to holiday in Hong Kong
* Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of application
* Have sufficient funds and return or onward ticket when you arrive in Hong Kong
* Be of good health and of good character

The Netherlands

*Citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand between the ages of 18-30 are eligible. [http://www.ind.nl/en/Images/4012_tcm6-595.pdf]

New Zealand

* Available to citizens of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay.
* Conditions vary between countries.
* Most travellers can enrol in one training or study course of up to three months duration during their visit.

Norway

* Citizens of Australia and New Zealand who are between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive) are eligible for a one-time, Norwegian working holiday visa.

outh Korea

* Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand who are between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible for a South Korean working holiday visa (H-1 visa). [http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_usto/ee_a04/ee_b06/1187401_23448.html] [http://www.workingholiday.or.kr/working-eng/sub1_1.asp]
* The visa is valid initially for six months and may be extended for another six months.
* A working holiday visa holders cannot be employed in certain job such as receptionist, dancer, singer, musician, acrobat, or in places of entertainment where they may endanger good morals and manners. [http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_caca/ee_a04/ee_b09/working_holiday.jsp]
* To teach a foreign language the same qualification requirements as a "E-2 Language instructor visa" applies and permission must be granted by the chief of immigration office.

Turkey

*Turkey's Working Holiday Program provides opportunities for people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Turkey and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
*The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months and is available to Australian citizens.

United Kingdom

* The UK Border Agency has announced that from autumn 2008, a number of current youth mobility schemes will be combined into a Tier 5: Youth Mobility, as part of the Points-Based Immigration System. The current Working Holidaymaker Scheme will be merged with other schemes: au pairs, BUNAC, the Gap Year entrants concession, the Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme and the concession for research assistants to MPs [http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/statementofintent/temporaryworkersunderpbs.pdf?view=Binary] .
* Meanwhile, under the UK's Working Holidaymaker scheme, Commonwealth citizens, aged between 17 and 30, may be eligible to enter the United Kingdom as Working Holidaymakers. However, once the new Youth Mobility scheme in introduced later in 2008 it is thought residents of South Africa, a Commonwealth country will no longer be eligible for the scheme. [http://www.1stcontactvisas.com/News/end-of-working-holiday-visa.aspx]
* Employment should be seen as incidental to the holiday and therefore work is not allowed for more than 12 months out of the permitted 24 months.
* The 24 month validity period will run continuously from the date from which the Entry Clearance is valid - this is set by the Entry Clearance Officer. Regardless of any time spent travelling outside the UK. This period cannot be extended nor can it be put on hold.
* Although Working Holidaymakers can study in the UK, either part-time or full-time, they cannot switch in the UK to student immigration status or into the International Graduates Scheme (IGS) or Fresh Talent - Working in Scotland Scheme (FTWiSS). A Working Holidaymaker who wished to extend their stay in the UK as a student or for the IGS or FTWiSS must return to their home country to apply for Entry Clearance in the relevant category.

ee also

*Gap year

References

External links

* [http://www.whmjobs.com - Working holiday jobs]
* [http://www.nextstepabroad.com nextstepabroad.com - Working holiday info & classifieds for travelers]
* [http://www.canuckabroad.com/forums/how-to-get-a-visa-to-live-work-in-the-uk-vt1337.html Details and advice about UK Working Holiday Visas and other countries as well]
* [http://www.gapyearworldwide.com/ Gap Year Worldwide] Volunteer for free, browse our gapyear directory, teach, work, study or travel abroad
* [http://www.summercampworldwide.com/ Summer Camp Worldwide] Work at a worldwide summer camp in the USA or worldwide.
* [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/123go/menu-en.asp Canada (International Youth Programs)]
* [http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1018721068240 UK Visas (Home Office website)]
* [http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/index.htm Working Holiday Maker Visas for Australia]
* [http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/ A Working Holiday in New Zealand]
* [http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/ MOFA The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan]