A working holiday maker visa can be a great way to supplement your savings in order to achieve a longer trip as well as a fantastic opportunity to live and work in another country. Probably the best known destination in the world where travellers can work and live for up to a year is Australia, nearly 150,000 were issued last year. If you have specific in demand skills or professional qualification you may have the option of immigrating to another country as a skilled migrant.
Many countries offer a working holiday visas, other popular destination include New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. Things are a little different in the USA, they don’t quite have a working holidaymaker visa in the same way as the other destinations, but it is certainly possible to support your travels working in a summer camp or as an au pair/nanny.
New Zealand offers the longest working holiday maker visa, allowing you to work and live in New Zealand for up to 23 months, you can also extend this if you spend 3 months working in an agricultural setting. Australia will offer a second 12 month working holiday maker visa to travellers who have worked in approved industries in regional Australia for 3 months.
Australia
Eligibility: aged 18 – 30
Duration: 12 months
New Zealand
Eligibility: aged 18 – 30
Duration: 12 - 23 months
Canada
Eligibility: aged 18 – 30 and also a full time student or within 12 months of having graduated
Duration: 12 months
United States
The visa type is a J1 visa, there is limited information on the US Citizenship and Immigration website:
As most people working in the US tend to opt to work as camp councillors the information on the CCUSA website is possibly more helpful:
