Visa and Immigration
Working Holiday Visa 2026: Which Countries Offer Them, Who Can Apply, and How to Make the Most of One
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Plenty of young travelers qualify for a working holiday visa without knowing it. It isn't a normal work permit, and it isn't just a cheap way to travel. It's a different way of traveling, where the trip pays for itself as you go.
Put simply, a working holiday visa lets you live and work in another country for a long period, usually 12 months, so you can fund your travels. You work when you need money, travel in between, and come home with experiences, and a trip, you probably couldn't have afforded any other way.
Working holiday programs exist between pairs of countries that have bilateral agreements. Australia has the largest and most famous program. New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and several others also run active programs. Whether you can apply depends on your nationality, your age (most programs cap it at 30, and some at 35) and whether you've had that country's working holiday visa before.
One important note for readers in Africa: most working holiday agreements are with Europe, North America, East Asia, Oceania and parts of Latin America. Nigeria and most other African countries don't currently have working holiday agreements with the countries below, so check the official immigration website for your nationality before you plan around one.
The Major Working Holiday Visa Programs in 2026
Australia WHM Visa (417/462)
Most Popular
Max Age
30 for most countries, 35 for some
Duration
12 months (extendable to 3 years)
Work restriction
6 months with any one employer
Fee
Around AUD $650 to $700 (check current fee)
Australia has the biggest and best-organized working holiday program. Subclass 417 is for citizens of countries such as the UK, Ireland, Canada, Japan and much of Europe. Subclass 462 covers other countries, including several in Asia and Latin America, often with extra requirements such as education or English level. You can get a second and third year by doing specified work, such as farm work in regional areas. Australian wages in farm, hospitality and warehouse jobs are among the best any working holiday maker can earn, so three to six months of work can fund a long stretch of travel.
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
Excellent Option
Max Age
30 (35 for some countries)
Duration
12 months (23 months for UK)
Work restriction
3 months with any one employer
Fee
Varies by nationality (check Immigration NZ)
New Zealand has working holiday schemes with more than 40 countries. Wages are decent, quality of life is high, and the outdoors is spectacular. Many people combine it with Australia. Most jobs for working holiday makers are in fruit picking and packing, hospitality and adventure tourism.
Canada International Experience Canada (IEC)
Competitive
System
Pool-based draw system
Fee
About CAD $180 + CAD $100 work permit holder fee
Canada's IEC program uses a pool system: you register and are drawn from the pool in rounds, typically multiple times per year. Eligibility is by bilateral agreement, so check whether your passport country participates (UK, Ireland, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and others). Because it's a draw, you can't be sure when or whether you'll be picked. For some countries most applicants get invited quickly, while for others, such as the UK and Ireland, competition for places is much stiffer.
Germany Working Holiday Visa
Strong Option for Non-EU
Max Age
30 for most partner countries
Work
Work allowed to fund your stay
Partner countries
Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Israel
Germany has working holiday agreements with a small group of countries, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America. Wages are high by global standards, so it's a good option for young travelers from those countries who want to fund European travel and get experience working in Europe. You usually need health insurance and proof of some starting funds.
Japan Working Holiday Visa
Growing Demand
Partner countries
Australia, NZ, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark, others
Fee
Free (most nationalities)
Interest in Japan's working holiday visa has soared since the pandemic, and the tourism boom has created demand for staff in hotels, ski resorts and restaurants, especially people who speak English. A year of living and working in Japan is an unforgettable experience if you love the culture, food or language. Outside Tokyo, living costs are manageable on local wages. Some countries have annual quotas that fill up, so check early.
How to Get the Most From a Working Holiday
A common plan looks like this. Arrive with savings of at least $2,000 to $3,000 (many programs require proof of funds anyway). Find work in the first couple of weeks, then work steadily for three or four months. At Australian or New Zealand wages, saving $8,000 to $15,000 in that time is possible if you live cheaply. Then travel for two to four months, and work again if you want to keep going.
The jobs working holiday makers find most easily are seasonal farm work (fruit picking and packing, grape harvests), hospitality in tourist areas, and warehouse or logistics work, which often pays the best hourly rate through labor hire agencies. In Japan, ski resorts and hotels often provide staff housing. Check your pay against the local minimum wage, and be wary of employers who pay cash in hand below the legal rate.
Is a working holiday for you?
A working holiday isn't a vacation. The first weeks mean finding a room, finding a job and setting up a life in a new country. It's interesting and it builds confidence, but it's hard work. People who get the most out of it treat the first month as an investment that pays off over the rest of the year. If you're eligible, meaning the right age, the right passport and a country with an agreement, it can be one of the best travel experiences of your life.
