Working Holiday Visas and Short-term Jobs

Updated 12 September 2014  
Au Pairs/Nannies: Transitions Abroad Au Pair and Transitions Abroad Au Pair in Europe are good places to start getting information about au pair and nanny jobs. The French Embassy has information for non EU citizens applying for Au Pair Visas. Nannies and governesses are often taken on vacation as well. Just think about being paid to go skiing in Chamberyl.

• AIFS
• Au Pair in Spain
• Au Pair World
• The Best Au Pair
• Bonne International (Russia). Ty contacting kazachka on Dave's.
• Duke and Duchess International
• Eden Nannies
• Easy Au Pair
• EU Au Pair
• Find Au Pair
• French American Center
• Governeur International (Russia)
• Great Au Pair
• Great British Nannies
• Great Nannies
• House Carers
• International Au Pair
• International Au Pair Association
• JCR Aus
• Ms Poppins
• Nanny Agency
• Nanny Jobs
• New Au Pair
• Planet Au Pair
• Royal Nannies(UK)
• Simply Angelic (UK)
• Wind Connections (Switzerland)
• Valday Service (Russia)

Camp Instructors: Summer and winter camps are also an option in Asia as well as the UK, Ireland, Spain and Italy. Summer and winter camps also has good info. Ask about salary, accommodations, teaching materials, air conditioning, number of children per class, days off, and airfare.

Cruise ship work: It can be grueling and the hours are long but you'll get a chance to take a free cruise. Sixth Star and Peace Boat have good reputations. You can find more info on the Lonely Planet forum.

Farm work/picking fruit: It's hard work but you'll build muscles. You can find your own work or try going through an organisation such as WWOOF.

Governess: See above for au pair/nannying. Many of those companies also place governesses.

Sports instructor: Meditation and martial arts are popular so if you practice these you might be able to find a job.

Teacher: China, Japan, and Korea often have short contracts. Footprints Recruiting and Interexchange have short-term positions all over the world. Some companies such as Language Solutions in the UK, Qatar Aeronautical College in Qatar, Bell Libya in Libya, any contractors for Qatar Petroleum, and Westgate in Japan offer short contracts. If you'd like to head to Europe read Europe for non-EU passport holders. You might also look into teaching a foreign language. 

Tour guide:You'll have to do a bit of research ahead of time but you could also freelance easily.

Tutor: See above for au pair/nannying. Many of those companies also place tutors.

Waitress / Waiter: Be aware that some countries don't encourage tipping and others have a kitty system.


How to get a Working Holiday Visa (WHV)
Laws about work visas change often so be sure to check with the embassy of the country you want to work in as well. If you've got a passport from the EU you should be able to work in other EU countries. Please see the official EU expansion website for more info.

You're not going to get rich doing this. It's a chance to experience the culture and language while being able to work legally. Some countries have tax exemptions for working holiday visa holders. Expect to earn about $700 to $1000 in Europe and about $1000 to $2500 in Asia.

You usually have to be between 18 and 35 and you might also have to be a student or have graduated recently. Working holiday visas don't entitle you to take any independents with you. Most programmes require you to apply in your home country and prove that you have enough money to support yourself. WHVs are usually good for 3 to 24 months. They usually they have an application fee between $500 to $1500 usd. Some WHV programmes only allow you to participate again if you go home for a certain amount of time. WHVs are for people who can't get easily get permission to work in a specific country.

Recommended Programmes and Articles

• Europe for non-EU passport holders.
• Visa help: CIEE, Find A Gap, Gap Year , Gap-Year, i-to-i Travel, World Teach, and WHV Makers .
• Forums: Boots N All, Expatica.Gap Year, The Student Room
• AIESEC offers internships from 6 weeks to 18 months in various countries around the world.
• Any Work Anywhere has information about working holiday visas and what choices are available to you.
• BUNAC has WHV and internship programmes.
  
• Gap Year 365 is a good place to search for a programme.
• Geovisions has placement for volunteer, conversation, teaching and au pair / nanny positions.
• Live Work Play has info about working holiday visas.
• Season Workers has a variety of seasonal jobs available.
• SWAP is for Canadians wanting to go abroad.
• Working Abroad's placement fees are high. It's not worth paying the fee for the teaching English jobs.
• Youth.Gc.Ca is for Canadians wanting to go abroad.

Where To Go

• Americans can work in Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore.
• Australians can work in Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the US.
• Britons can work in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US.
• Canadians can work in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the US, and the UK.
• Irish can work in Canada, Korea, and New Zealand.
• New Zealanders can work in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and Uruguay.
• South Africans can work in Canada.

Country Specific Programmes

• Finland offers Americans the chance to teach English or do an internship if you're over 21 and either a college junior, senior, or have graduated in the past two years. Australians can also work there.
• France offers assistant teaching positions for a variety of nationalities. Look at the French embassy in Washington. Those from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Korea can also work there.
• Japan has working holiday exchanges for people from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, Germany, the UK, Ireland and Denmark who are between 18 and 30.
• Korea has a programme for those from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and the US to work there. You should also look at the Mofat website.
• Spain has teaching assistant programmes for a variety of nationalities. Applications start in November and run until April. They also allow those with passports from Canada and New Zealand to work there.
• The UK allows those with passports from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the US to work there. The UK has a youth mobility scheme which is part of the Points-Based Immigration System.

This article has also been featured in the ELT Times.

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