WORKING HOLIDAY

What is a Working Holiday?

A Working Holiday is the experience of spending a few months traveling and working in another country on a temporary visa.

The Working Holiday Visas for Australia and New Zealand are quite similar, offering you the chance to live and work in these countries for a year if you’re between 18 and 30 (or 35) years old.

You could live in your dream city or buy a van and travel the country—it's your adventure!

If you work for a set amount of time in specific industries (where they need more workers), you can extend your visa, allowing you to stay an extra 3 months in New Zealand and up to 2 more years in Australia. Trust me, you’ll want to!

Here’s a glimpse of what a Working Holiday experience can be like:

Australia and New Zealand aren’t the only places where you can enjoy a Working Holiday. Canada, Japan, and South Korea are other options.

If you’re from outside Europe, there are also a few European destinations available depending on your home country.

At Amanecer por Ahí, we currently focus on Australia and New Zealand—countries where I’ve personally lived the Working Holiday experience.

Working Holiday Destinations

A Working Holiday might be for you if...

• You’re excited to spend time living in another country.

• You have some savings and want to invest in experiences.

• You know a bit of English but would love to improve your level or fluency.

• You want to meet people from different countries and try a new lifestyle.

• You’re keen to try different jobs and ways of traveling.

• You meet the nationality, age, education, and other requirements.

Let’s take a look at the visa requirements for Australia and New Zealand.

Is a Working Holiday for you?

For Australia, you’ll apply for the subclass 417 (Working Holiday) or the subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa depending on your nationality. General requirements are:

1. You must have a passport from an eligible country. Here’s the full list.

2. Be between 18 and 30/35 years old when applying.

3. Apply from outside Australia.

4. Complete any required medical or biometric exams.

5. For the 462 visa: you’ll need to have completed at least 2 years of higher education.

6. For the 462 visa: provide proof of English proficiency (IELTS 4.5 in each section, CAE 147 points, PTE 30 points, TOELF iBT 32 points).

7. Show proof of funds: a bank statement showing at least AUD $5000 or equivalent.

If you don’t meet all the requirements for Australia’s Work and Holiday visa, don’t worry—there are other options!

Australia WHV Requirements

For New Zealand, the general requirements are:

1. You must have a passport from an eligible country. Full list here.

2. Be between 18 and 30 years old (for some countries, up to 35).

3. Apply online from inside or outside New Zealand.

4. Complete any required medical exams.

5. Show proof of funds: a bank statement showing at least NZD 4,200 or equivalent, plus funds to buy an exit ticket.

Note: There’s no education or minimum English requirement for New Zealand’s visa.

If you’ve aged out of the Working Holiday visa but still want to spend time in one of these countries, the most common alternative is to apply for a student visa (Work and Study). You can enroll in English courses or other subjects that interest you.

New Zealand WHV Requirements

Fill out the form and a student agent will get in touch with you in the next 48 hours to guide you in the process. Their services are at no cost for you.

If you’re open to more destinations, here are some other options to try the experience of working abroad.

Are you eligible? Great! The next step is to apply for your visa!

You apply for a WHV online through each country’s immigration website. Fill out the form, attach the required documents, and pay the fee.

Keep in mind, there are limited spots available for these visas, with different quotas for each nationality. Australia’s visas reset on July 1st, while New Zealand’s have different dates depending on your nationality.

After submitting your application, it’s time to wait. The processing time can vary depending on how many applications they have—it could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few months, so apply early!

Applying for a Working Holiday Visa

So, you’ve decided you want to go on a Working Holiday, but the timing isn’t quite right yet—maybe you’re waiting for your visa approval, finishing school, or something else. How can you prepare for your adventure in the meantime?

• Practice English: If it’s not your native language, brush up on your English. Even if you think your English is decent, it might take a bit to adjust to living in an English-speaking country—and that’s totally normal! Studying or attending conversation classes can give you more confidence.

• Maximize Your Savings: There’s nothing worse than feeling stressed about money during your time abroad. Yes, you’ll work while you're there, but don’t rely on that too much. It’s better to delay your trip for a few months if it means you can go with a bigger financial cushion.

• Prepare Your Resume: There are differences between a resume in your country and the typical resume format in Australia or New Zealand. Get your CV ready so you can start job hunting as soon as you arrive. Pro tip: Make different CVs for different types of jobs (hospitality, cleaning, farm work, construction, customer service, etc.).

• What’s Your Work Experience? Here are some of the most common jobs for people on Working Holidays in Australia and New Zealand.

  • Work and Holiday Jobs in Australia

  • Working Holiday Work Seasons in New Zealand

Start here

Australia Working Holiday

New Zealand Working Holiday