The Working Holiday Visa

By Guest Contributor: Jackson Gu,  pvtistes.net

The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is designed to facilitate international mobility for young adults between 18 and 35 years old, inclusive. It can go by other names depending on the country at hand (e.g., youth mobility permit, working holiday authorization, International Experience Canada), but they are all referring to bilateral accords of the same nature signed between various governments – primarily in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia – with the goal of fostering greater cultural exchange and understanding among young people. 

Holders of this visa have full or partial open work authorization in the destination country for 1-2 years, and even up to 3-4 in the case of certain nationality-destination combinations. There are virtually no formal requirements for language skills, education, or work experience. A job offer and employer sponsorship are also not required, so the barrier is intentionally very low.

The list of WHV destinations that are available fully depends on one’s citizenship. For example, Canadians have access to more than 30 destinations, while Australians and New Zealanders are eligible for more than 40. Member states of the European Union tend to have fewer accords, since their citizens can already move freely within the Union without the need for a visa. The United States has signed agreements with only a handful of partner countries. As governments around the world negotiate and sign more bilateral agreements, the lists of working holiday nations continues to grow.

The WHV is an excellent way for young adults to live abroad for an extended duration all the while having the option of taking up work to fund their experiences. To learn more about the WHV destinations available to your specific nationality, as well as resources to help your move abroad, visit pvtistes.net/en/.