Work Holiday Visas for U.S. Citizens

Whether an experienced traveler or a newbie, obtaining a Working Holiday Visa, sometimes known as a Work and Travel Visa, can be the key to making a long-term travel opportunity affordable. Visa holders are legally allowed to work in jobs (under certain conditions) while they make their way through a country. The obvious benefits are having income while traveling, the opportunity to network and gain new skills, more intimate access to the local community through co-workers and other relationships built while working, and more time to immerse yourself in the culture of your country of choice.

Basic requirements vary but generally include: a U.S. Passport valid for at least 6 – 12 months past your exit date, a return ticket, be in overall good health and proof of health insurance, not have minor dependents and be able to prove a basic level of savings you can dip into during your stay. Unfortunately, US Citizens get the short stick in the developed world when looking at Working Holiday Visa opportunities; we have established programs with just five nations. We are eligible for Working Holiday Visas in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.

Australia

Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting Australia? This huge country requires a lot of time to properly explore and a Working Holiday visa is a great way to make a visit budget-friendly. This visa will allow a holder to work for up to six months with each company.

Main industries: Tourism, agriculture, construction, skilled trades and healthcare.
Application fee: Free
Length: 12 months
Age Restriction: Age 18 – 30*
*Applying at age 30 and entering at age 31 after a visa is granted is acceptable

Visit the Australia immigration page for complete information and to start the process.

Ireland

Current and recent students can spend a year working in the gorgeous Emerald Isle, the only European destination on this list.

Main industries: Tourism, some engineering fields, healthcare, IT, finance/business.
Application fee: About $350
Length: 12 months
Age Restriction: Age 18+ Must be currently a post-secondary student or have graduated university in the past year.

Visit the Ireland immigration page for complete information and to start the process.

New Zealand

A beautiful country! A work and travel set up is ideal for the adventurer looking to maximize their stay while on a sporty holiday in The Land of the Long White Cloud.  I personally applied and was granted a visa. I felt the process was fast and no-nonsense. It’s completely uneccessary to pay an agency to do this for you.

Main industries:Tourism, hospitality, agriculture, skilled trades and healthcare.
Application fee: Free
Length: 12 months
Age Restriction: Age 18 – 30*
*Applying at age 30 and entering at age 31 after a visa is granted is acceptable.

Visit the New Zealand immigration page for complete information and to start the process.

South Korea

Forested mountains, beaches, castles and metropoles – Korea has everything.

Application fee: Free
Length: 12 months
Age Restriction: Age 18 + Must be currently a post-secondary student or have graduated university in the past year.

Visit the South Korea immigration page for complete information and to start the process.

Singapore

Singapore is the most competitive Working Holiday Visa open to U.S. Citizens – only 2,000 are granted each year. Be prepared and do your research beforehand to improve your chances of getting accepted.

Length: 6 months
Age Restriction: Age 18 – 25 Must be currently a post-secondary student from a recognized institution.

Visit the Singapore immigration page for complete information and to start the process.

A word of warning: Work and travel visas are best for someone comfortable with change, casual employment and open to doing work in a field that may be unfamiliar.  Although technically most of the visas listed here make one eligible to work a contract or “regular” job on non-permanent basis, these are tough to get. Keep and open mind and be aware your realistic opportunities are in tourism, hospitality or jobs that are seasonal in nature.

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Do I Need a Travel Visa?

Visas are a thorn in the side of frequent travelers. Determining whether or not you need a visa for your holiday abroad isn’t always simple and sometimes the visa process isn’t clear-cut; the requirements for a given country may differ according to how you enter (by land, sea, air) or how long you will stay. But there’s good news: US Passport holders can travel visa-free on short holidays to most of our world’s countries. This page can help you decide whether or not you need a tourist visa as a US passport holder headed to common destinations.

Visit Our Neighbors Visa-Free

When you are travelling to Mexico or Canada with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of up to 180 days. You will need to fill out an immigration card on arrival to Mexico.

Visa-Free Europe

Fortunately for US passport holders, visiting Europe is simple and unless you have specific restrictions placed on your individual passport, you can visit Europe for extensive periods visa-free* and achieving free access for long periods if you move around different visa jurisdictions.

Schengen Travel

The following countries are in what is called the Schengen Area which is seen as one jurisdiction without border control and one visa policy: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway (excluding Svalbard), Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Schengen Area includes most of the EU, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania. Non-EU members Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are a part of the Schengen Area.

*The Schengen Visa is a tourist and business visa but you do not need to formally apply for anything. The”visa” is automatically issued to US Passport holders when they arrive in a Schengen country but is not a visa-on-arrival. If you’re planning to visit say France for 2 weeks (or two months) and you read something about a “Schengen Visa”don’t panic, you don’t need to do anything. The Schengen Visa grants travel to member countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It DOES NOT allow you to become a resident or get a job.

UK Travel

When you are traveling to United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) with a U.S. Passport, no visa required for a stay of up to six months.

Ireland

When you are traveling to Ireland with a U.S. Passport, no visa required for a stay of up to three months.

The Caribbean

When you are traveling to Dominican Republic or  Belize with a U.S. Passport, no visa required for a stay of up to 30 days. Jamaica is visa-free for up to 90 days. No Visa is required to visit The Bahamas.

Other Commonly Visited Countries

Argentina

When you are traveling to Argentina with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 90 days. Be aware that there is a reciprocity fee charged upon entering the country, and a departure tax when leaving the country by air (normally included in your plane ticket).

Australia

When you are traveling to Australia a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is REQUIRED. Most U.S. passport holders traveling to Australia for tourism or business purposes for less than 90 days can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for a  fee. Airlines and many travel agencies are also able to apply for ETAs on behalf of travelers.

Brazil

When you are traveling to Brazil a visa is REQUIRED and must be  obtained before you visit. Apply for an electronic visitor’s visa here. For more information visit he Brazil Consular website.

China

When you are traveling to China a visa is REQUIRED. Apply for a ten-year multiple entry visa, useful for repeated travel or trips to Hong Kong or Macau with returns to China. Visit the website of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China for current visa information.

Colombia

When you are traveling to Colombia with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.

Costa Rica

When you are traveling to Costa Rica with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 90 days.

Japan

When you are traveling to Japan with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 90 days.

India

When you are traveling to India a visa is REQUIRED U.S. citizens seeking to enter India solely for tourist purposes, and who plan to stay no longer than 60 days, may apply for an electronic travel authorization at least four days prior to their arrival in lieu of applying for a tourist visa at an Indian embassy or consulate.  Please visit the Indian government’s website for electronic travel authorization.

Morocco

When you are traveling to Morocco with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 90 days.

New Zealand

When you are traveling to New Zealand with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under three months.

Philippines

When you are traveling to the Philippines with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 30 days.

Russia

Goodness, yes, you need a visa! The tourist visa process for Russia is notoriously long. Please begin your research and work on the visa 4-6 months before you intend to visit. Don’t be discouraged though. Just remain organized during the process.

South Korea

When you are traveling to South Korea with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 90 days.

Taiwan

When you are traveling to Taiwan with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 90 days.

Thailand

When you are traveling to Thailand  with a U.S. Passport, no visa is required for a stay of under 30 days. You may leave Thailand and do a “border run” and return one day later to extend your stay but may only visit for a total of 90 days in a 6 month period. I  did this and it is a common strategy for backpackers wishing to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days or who are starting and ending a long trip to SE Asia in Thailand (usually flying to/from Bangkok).

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Whether you need a visa or not, please note that to enter most countries you need a passport valid for six months after your arrival date and two (or more) blank passport pages. Also many countries require proof of an outbound journey. Specifics will vary and some countries require as many as six blank passport pages (when I was bouncing around Asia in 2018, I filled up five pages in three months so plan ahead if space is tight). Check specific requirements before visiting any country and don’t try going abroad if your passport expires within 90 days or you have less than two blank pages remaining. You could be refused entry to your destination. That’s a sign it’s time for a new passport.

Getting a US Passport, Step-by-Step

 

These directions are for individuals getting a first-time passport. For renewing your passport visit the passport renewal how-to. For other situations, follow instructions on the State Department website (don’t worry, they are clear).

1. Determine when you need your passport.

Do not procrastinate! It’s safe to assume the full process takes 4-6 weeks and the expedited process 2-3 weeks. However, there are no guarantees and I recommend tackling this 3-4 months before a trip to save yourself stress.

2. Visit the. US State Department website to download and print the correct form.

For your first passport, you will need a completed DS-11 form. Use common sense and print it on clean white paper at full size (8.5” x 11”).

3. Gather your proof of citizenship and the supporting documents needed.

For most natural-born US citizens, this is simply a copy of your birth certificate and Driver’s License (both sides). If this is not your situation, you may submit items such as the following containing your signature AND a photograph: previous  U.S. passport book; previous or current U.S. passport card;  Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship; military identification; or federal, state, or municipal government employee identification card. The DS-11 form contains further instructions should you have none of these forms of identification.

For some this step can be tricky as birth certificates are so seldom used. Please allow yourself some time to track down a birth certificate. As an adult, I don’t even have a copy of mine at my own home and had to ask my parents for their copy!

4. Get a quality passport photo taken.

Pictures must be 2″ x 2″ show your full face with a neutral expression (no smiling) and eyes open and be taken against a white background.  The picture must be taken within six months of submitting your application. Specific US Passport guidelines are here. Depending on what countries you will be visiting you may want to go further than the US guidelines and keep long hair tucked BEHIND your ears (this is required for some countries).

This is something I STRONGLY recommend getting done professionally. It’s a fast process and they should be inexpensive – I paid about $8 for my pictures- get multiples! Department stores (Target in the Midwest), drugstores (Walgreens, CVS), government ID centers, UPS and any businesses that develop film will likely have passport picture services with same-day turn around and can ensure the technical aspects (white background, head placement) are accurate.

5. Budget for your passport fee.

Depending on where you apply and if you chose to expedite the passport, the total fee will vary. At minimum you will pay a application fee of $110 AND an acceptance fee of $35 for a passport using a DS-11 form. To get an idea of how you can pay (check, credit card, money order, etc.) check here.

I think of the passport fee as an investment; paying now to be able to receive the priceless experiences that come from seeing the world, living out your dream adventure and opening yourself up to new people, cultures, places and nature.

6. Visit a Passport Acceptance Facility and submit materials.

For a first time passport you must submit all materials and application in person at a passport acceptance facility. Find a facility near you and plan ahead as you may need to schedule an appointment.

7. Patiently wait for your passport.

Your passport will be mailed to you once completed. I received my passport three weeks but it may take longer depending on your location and volume of applications. If you are anxious or just want to check your application status, call the National Passport Information at 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 7:00 am to 10:00 pm EST (Monday through Friday).

8. Check the passport for typos and keep it in a safe place until your international adventure.

Once the passport arrives, take a high quality photo or scan of pages two and three (the pages with your picture and signature) and store it on a secure cloud platform or on a USB with other travel media you might be taking with you. This will come in handy if the passport is lost while traveling or you need to submit a copy for any reason. A US passport is valid for 10 years but you might wear it out or fill the pages before the expiration date comes.
  

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” 
― Lao Tzu