Long-Term Travel Abroad
Live Abroad Programs
The Web abounds with resources for working, teaching, and volunteering abroad, and although a slew ... read more »
Work Abroad
For long-term trips abroad, the most flexible option travelers have available is to go on a "working holiday." If you're not keen on teaching English or securing an internship, a working holiday visa lets you work any job you can get, in any village, town, or city of your choice. It lets you see the country at your pace and on your terms. With such a visa you have the freedom to work out employment independently before embarking or once you've arrived. Here, we'll show you how to obtain a working holiday visa on your own or through a program.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Working holidays are exchange programs designed to allow workers the chance to earn funds to supplement their travels. Check here for a list of which countries have working holiday programs, and who is eligible to embark on them. For more information, this Wikipedia entry aptly describes what a working holiday is and how the visas are used.
- Quite unfortunately, citizens of the United States are limited to obtaining working holiday visas in New Zealand only (without student status, that is). This is because the U.S. government hasn't negotiated terms for working holiday exchange programs in any other country. If you're not a recent grad but are still under 30 and interested in a working holiday, look into what the land of Middle Earth has to offer. In the "Picks" you'll find details on how to get the visa.
- That said, you have two options for obtaining your working holiday visa: by getting it directly from the country you wish to travel to (i.e., going to the New Zealand immigration site and following the steps), or by going through an organization such as BUNAC, described in the "Picks," that takes care of the details for you. The first option is less expensive but comes without the job support, travel discounts, and orientations that a program like BUNAC offers.
- What type of work would you be doing? If you're traveling to an English-speaking country, finding some form of work shouldn't be too difficult. Service jobs, particularly in restaurants and cafés, are fairly easy to come by so long as you have patience and perseverance in your search. Also plentiful in many countries are seasonal jobs in agriculture, like picking and packing fruit and farm work.
- Unless you have contacts in your destination country or a great deal of money, it's likely that upon arrival at your destination you'll live at a hostel until you find work. Speak with locals or the clerk at your hostel about the best classifieds listings if you're planning to get an apartment.
- If you're content to work in exchange for food and accommodations, look into the WWOOF (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) program. WWOOFing is a way to see a country and meet other travelers along the way by going from organic farm to organic farm doing a variety of tasks.
- In general, those best suited for work abroad programs are those looking for an experience up to a year in length and who would enjoy (or tolerate) service- or labor-oriented jobs that pay sustainable wages. Given that extensive saving is difficult, it helps to embark on such a program having already saved at least a small amount of money.
- If the sites and programs listed below don't help you locate work, a good technique for finding jobs or sites with listings is to visit a search engine and conduct a search. Simply entering the name of your desired location along with terms like "seasonal work," "summer work," or "internship" should yield a handful of options.
Dulcinea's Picks
Teach English Abroad
A popular choice among recent graduates, teaching English abroad affords you an altogether unique ... read more »
Volunteer Abroad
If you're fresh out of school, overflowing with youthful idealism and graduation money, consider ... read more »
Intern Abroad
If you want your experience abroad to enrich your career in addition to your character and world ... read more »
Requirements and Safety Information for Living Abroad
If you're planning to travel abroad you'll need the proper documentation. Different countries have ... read more »








