Working holiday visas are great because they allow you to travel a country for longer than just a few weeks holiday and really get to know the local culture and people. Finding work will bring you closer to the local community as well as helping you fund your “holiday.”

Working holiday visas are reciprocal agreements between two countries usually to encourage travel and cultural exchange between the countries. Each country may have different requirements but most are quite similar. Generally you need to be between 18-30 years old, some extend to 35 and proof that you have enough funds in your bank account to cover costs while you are looking for employment.

Here is a list of countries that offer working holiday visas, though not all these countries offer visas to every nationality.

Argentina

Visa lasts for 12 months for 18-30 year olds from: Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland or New Zealand

Australia

12 month visa with option of extension by completing 3 months or 88 days of farm work. Limited to ages 18-30 from Taiwan, Estonia, Belgium, Italy, France, Cyprus, Finland, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Malta, Republic of Korea, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, Canada, United Kingdom

Passport holders from Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Iran, Indonesia, Chile, Bangladesh, Argentina and the USA need to apply for a subclass 462 visa and are required to have a tertiary education.

People from New Zealand may work in Australia indefinitely.

Austria

6 month visa for ages 18-30 from New Zealand.

Belgium

12 month visa for people aged 18-30 from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Canada

12 month visa for people aged 18-30 from United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Latvia, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Estonia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Chile, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Ukraine and Australia.

Age group extended to 35 for Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, Czech Republic and Chile.

(Whistler, Canada to the right- a popular resort for foreign workers, especially Australians.)

Chile

12 month visa for people aged 18-30 from Australia, New Zealand and Canada

China

12 month visa for people aged 18-30 from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Canada. Germany, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom

Costa Rica

12 month visa available for Canadians ages 18-35.

Czech Republic

12 month visa for people aged 18-35 from Canada and New Zealand

Denmark

12 month visa for people age 18-30 from Australia, New Zealand and Canada

Estonia

12 month visa for people aged 19-30 (or 35 for Canadians) from Canada, Australia and New Zealand

Finland

12 month visa available for people aged 18-30 from Australia and New Zealand

France

12 month visa for anyone age 18-30 from Argentina, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan.

Citizens of Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Taiwan, Uruguay and the Vatican City, of any age can work in France for up to 90 days without a visa.

Germany

12 month visa for anyone ages 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.

Hong Kong

12 month visa available for anyone ages 18-30 from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

Ireland

12 month visa for anyone aded 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Korea

Ireland also has a Working Holiday Visa for US students or recent graduates.

Israel

12 month visa accepting people ages 18-30 from New Zealand.

Italy

12 month visa available for people ages 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Japan

12 month visa accepting anyone ages 18-30 (18-25 for Irish citizens) from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Ireland.

Lithuania

12 month visa for Canadians 18-30.

Malta

12 month visa accepting people aged 18-30 from Australia and New Zealand.

The Netherlands

12 month visa for people ages 18-20 from Australia, Canada and New Zealand

New Zealand

12 month visa people people ages 18-30 from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Uruguay.

Australians may work in New Zealand indefinitely.

Norway

12 month visa for people aged 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

Poland

12 month visa for anybody ages 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from Canada and New Zealand.

South Korea

12 month visa for anybody aged 18-25 from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, Taiwan and United States.

Singapore

6 month visa for people aged 18-30 for graduates and undergraduates from Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States.

Slovakia

12 month visa accepting 18-30 year olds from New Zealand.

Slovenia

12 month visa for 18-30 year olds from New Zealand.

Spain

12 month visa for anybody ages 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from New Zealand and Canada.

Sweden

12 month visa accepting anybody ages 18-30 (35 for Canadians) from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Korea.

Switzerland

12 month visa accepting Canadians ages 18-35.

Thailand

12 month visa accepting anyone ages 18-30 from Australia and New Zealand.

Turkey

12 month visa for Australians ages 18-30.

UK

2 year visa for anyone ages 18-30 from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, New Zealand, Hong Kong and British Overseas Territories.

(Ben Lawers, to left- Scotland, UK)

Uruguay

12 month visa for people ages 18-30 from New Zealand.