Work abroad working holiday

A working holiday can be a traveler’s dream. You get to stay in a country for up to two years (depending on the type country) while working and traveling to fully experience the local culture. You’ll have the time to actually experience a place and its people, and you’ll make real friends – something that can be hard to do as a transient backpacker or traveler.

So how do you get a working holiday visa? Depending on where you are from, that can be pretty difficult. There are usually age restrictions (typically 18 - 35), and they often limit the kinds of work you can participate in, but that’s not the hard part. For whatever reason, not many countries offer working holiday visas to American citizens.

Japan has a working holiday program, offering young travelers the chance to stay in-country for anywhere from six months to one year, depending on where you are from. The program is open to Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland – not America.

Australia and the UK have similar programs, but American citizens are excluded from these as well. The UK’s program is amazing – if you are between the ages of 17 and 30, you can stay for up to 2 years, traveling and working your way around the country. Unfortunately, it is only open to members of the commonwealth, so American’s are not eligible. Some countries do offer working holiday visas for Americans looking to work abroad for an extended period of time. Canada will allow Americans to work and travel through on the northerly side of the border. That’s nice of them, eh?

New Zealand allows Americans to participate in their working holiday programs as well. Qualifying Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 can spend a year working abroad and traveling in New Zealand.

Of course, these regulations change all the time, so you should check government or tourism websites for the latest information on working abroad and working holiday visas.

Next time: Work abroad in Bars!

Work Abroad – Teach Abroad

Teaching English can be a great way to work abroad. You’ll be able to travel abroad, and live somewhere for an extended period of time and really soak up the local culture. The qualifications can vary, but for the most part, you don’t need much training to teach English abroad - if you can read this blog, you’re half way there.

For English Teachers working abroad, most employers require a Bachelors degree, but almost any field is acceptable. Often times you can just show up, and find a job, although the market is changing all the time, and I’d recommend a bit of planning before you hit the road looking for work abroad.

A Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification is usually a good idea, but not always required. A TEFL certificate will certainly help you find work, and if you are considering teaching as a career, it's a necessity. If you’re just looking to dabble, you might be able to get by with just your bachelors degree.


Jobs can be found just about anywhere that there is a need to learn English. Just about every non-English speaking country is looking for native English speaking teachers, so you have a lot of options. It can be difficult for Americans to secure a position teaching in Europe because British and Irish teachers don't need work permits or Visas to teach in other European Union countries. If you have your heart set on working abroad in Europe, teaching English, there may still be some opportunities available, you’ll just have to sell your skills a little harder.

In some cases, you can make pretty good money, but don't plan on getting rich by teaching abroad. You should be able to afford a comfortable lifestyle while you are there, but you probably won't take much home. You might consider spending your extra cash on traveling to neighboring cities and countries. Not only will you get a fun break from your teaching schedule, but you will gain a better understanding of the culture and the language of your host country.

Next week: Working Holidays

Work Abroad: Hostel Work

There are a million ways to work overseas. Jobs available range from corporate office slave driving to bar work and manual labor. If you’re looking to boost your resume and sell your soul to the international corporate devil, be our guest. But if you’re looking for some fun and interesting work overseas to kill time, meet people, and have a blast, we suggest you consider working abroad in a hostel.

Hostel work overseas may not be for everyone, okay, it’s certainly not for everyone. Chances are you’ll be cleaning toilets, changing bed sheets, and standing around behind the front desk. You’ll probably have to scrub a floor or two and you’ll be doing it for almost no money, but don’t fret Cinderella, it’s all worth while in the end. Because while you’re working, you’ll also be meeting groups of beautiful young women from Scandinavia and charismatic young men from Italy. You’ll be boozing and hobnobbing with the hip young travelers of the world, and living the adventure together.

Sure, you’ll be working in a hostel, and sure you’ll only be making enough money to fund the further destruction of your liver, but the people you’ll be working with will make it all worthwhile.

Remember, you didn’t come overseas looking for a job abroad that will make you rich and famous – you came to have a good time and experience life in another country. You’ll be hanging with fun, young travelers like yourself, who happen to be looking to meet (read: hookup) with other hip young travelers. And where is the nexus of travel socializing? The Hostel Bar.

So go forth, my young traveler, my aspiring overseas worker, and head straight to the nearest hostel for some fun, some debauchery, and maybe a little bit of work overseas.

Next Time: Work Abroad – Teach Abroad.