Hi there, it’s Ash, aka the Still Life Nomad! Today I want to go over the basics of the Working Holiday Visa requirements in each listed country, as well as those country’s statistics, cities, and overall feel. Keep in mind that this applies only to US citizens, I do not know the requirements for other countries. Let’s get into it!

New Zealand

New Zealand is my first and top recommendation for working holiday visas (WHV). It is the second safest country in the world and one of the most beautiful. So how do you get a WHV?

WHV Requirements

1. Be between the ages of 18-30
2. Save at least $2500 USD
3. Have a return flight or the means to purchase one
4. Have good character and health
5. Have comprehensive health insurance for the duration of your trip

This visa allows you to stay in NZ for up to one year! The city I want to focus on is Queenstown, a place thriving off of tourism and expats:

Queenstown

• Weather: Mountain climate with cold winters and warm summers
• Cost of Living: Rent averages $225/week, hostels start at $25/night
• Temporary Jobs: An insane amount of temp jobs due to the tourism, such as hospitality, adventure sports, office, bar attending, and waitresses. You can often be hired on the spot.
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Very welcoming, the Winter Pride Festival is held here

Statistics of NZ

• Women’s Rights: 2020 abortion made legal up to 20 weeks, beyond 20 weeks if mother’s life is at risk, contraceptives are available but not free, maternity leave for 26 weeks.
• LGBTQIA+ Rights: Marriage legalized in 2013, adoption legalized around 2013 and IVF available, anti-discrimination laws, 2022 ban on conversion therapy, gender-affirming care are accessible, but access and wait time depends on region.
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Anti-discrimination laws against sex (including pregnancy and childbirth, marital status, religion, ethical belief, colour, race, ethnic/national origin, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, and sexual orientation.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare:  Determined by residencies status and circumstances. Work visa for 2+ years or permanent residents or refugees get healthcare.

Australia

Australia is my second choice for WHV, and I strongly recommend doing it and NZ in your lifetime!

WHV Requirements

1. Be between the ages of 18-30
2. Save at least $3254 USD
3. Have a return ticket or the means to purchase one
4. Have good health and character
5. Cannot have dependents come along

This visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to one year, or up to three if you work in northern Australia for at least 88 days! The city I want to focus on is Melbourne:

Melbourne

• Weather: Oceanic and unpredictable weather (“four seasons in a day”); cool winters
• Cost of Living: Slightly lower than Sydney but still relatively high
• Temporary Jobs: Need in hospitality
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Welcoming

Statistics of Australia

• Women’s Rights: Legal but varies across territories, most are up to 22 weeks, contraceptive available but not free, maternity leave for 18 weeks.
• LGBTQIA+ Rights: Marriage legalized in 2017, adoption legalized around 2018 and IVF available, anti-discrimination laws, conversion therapy banned in different regions at different times, gender-affirming care is legal, but accessibility varies on region.
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Anti-discrimination laws against race, color, religion, sex (pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity), national origin, age (40+), disability, and genetic information.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare:  Determined by residencies status and circumstances. Mainly for citizens and permanent residents.

Canada

Canada is a beautiful country, and I would recommend it to a lot of people! The only challenge is you need a sponsorship and the guidelines are not clear as it depends on the organization that sponsors you.

WHV Requirements

1. Be between the ages of 18-35
2. Apply through a RO, like SWAP Working Holiday (aka get a sponsorship)
3. Amount saved depends on the RO that sponsors you
4. Have comprehensive health insurance
5. Have good health and character
6. Do not have any accompanying dependents

This visa allows you to stay in Canada for up to one year! The city I want to focus on is Vancouver:

Vancouver

• Weather: Temperate climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. Average temperatures range from 3C in January to 18C in July.
• Cost of Living: Known for its high cost of living. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,300.
• Temporary Jobs: Nothing temporary is in high demand, but I imagine hospitality and tourism would be your best option.
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Welcoming and diverse

Statistics of Canada

• Women’s Rights: Abortions and contraceptives are legal and readily available, maternity leave for up to 15 weeks (12 in US).
• LGBTQIA+ Rights: Marriage legalized in 2005, adoption is legal, governed at provincial and territorial levels. Access to IVF ect, conversion therapy ban, 2SLGBTQIA+ action plan put into place, gender-affirming care is heavily supported but limited resources are in rural areas, conversion therapy ban in 2021.
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Anti-discrimination laws against race, national/ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disabilities, and conviction for an offense for which a pardon was granted.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare:  Refugees covered under IFHP which is limited, temp coverage, temp residents have varying access to healthcare depending on location, permanent residents have up to 90 day waiting for healthcare, but are given access.

Ireland

Ireland is stunning and a great choice for a WHV if you are still in university or recently graduated!

WHV Requirements

1. Must be at least 18 years old
2. Must have graduated within the past year or still be in university
3. Have at least $1500 USD saved
4. Have comprehensive health insurance

This visa allows you to stay in Ireland for up to one year! The city I want to focus on is Dublin:

Dublin

• Weather: Temperate maritime climate, generally mild but with frequent rain and cloudy skies.
• Cost of Living: Relatively high cost of living
• Temporary Jobs: Hospitaity, tourism, agriculture, and customer service
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Welcoming and diverse

Statistics of Ireland

• Women’s Rights: Abortions are legal as of 2018 up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, or beyond 12 weeks if risk to life of mother or in cases of fetal abnormality, free Contraception Scheme in 2022 for women 17-25, now up to 35 (pills, LARCs, Plan B, ect), maternity leave for 26 weeks, plus 16 unpaid weeks optionally.
• LGBTQIA+ Rights: Marriage legalized in 2015, adoptions legal as of 2017, no conversion therapy ban, gender-affirming care supported as of 2015 for 18+ age. 16-17 with court order and parental consent. 
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Anti-discrimination laws against gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race (colour, nationality, ethnic/national origins), and membership of the traveller community.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare: Free or subsidized healthcare determined by residency and financial means.

Portugal

Like Ireland, Portugal is wonderful if you are a university student or recently graduated!

WHV Requirements

1. Be between 18-30 years old
2. Must have graduated within the past year or still be in university
3. Have sufficient funds and a return ticket or the means to purchase one
4. Have comprehensive health insurance
5. Have good health and character

This visa allows you to stay in Portugal for up to one year! The city I want to focus on is Lisbon:

Queenstown

• Weather: Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers
• Cost of Living: Relatively affordable
• Temporary Jobs: Hospitality, tourism, customer support, and sales
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Welcoming

Statistics of Portugal

• Women’s Rights: 2007 abortion made legal up to 10 weeks with a three-day reflection period. Beyond 10 weeks if risk to woman’s life, fetal impairment, or rape, contraceptives of all forms are free with doctor’s prescription, maternity leave up to 17 weeks, extended to 21 weeks if shared with father.
• LGBTQIA+ Rights: Marriage legalized in 2010, adoptions and IVF legal in 2016, ban on conversion therapy in 2019, supported gender-affirming care in 2018 for 18+. 16-17 allowed with parental consent and clinical report.
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Anti-discrimination laws against race, ethnicity, color, religion or belief, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or family status, pregnancy or maternity, and genetic information.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare:  Right to health protection to migrants, everyone has a right to free or subsidized healthcare.

South Korea

While I absolutely love the culture and beauty of South Korea (I mean, I stayed there in Busan for 2 weeks!) I would personally not live there as someone in the LGBTQIA+ community or honestly as a woman or in a minority group. You’ll see why in the statistics section.

WHV Requirements

1. Be between 18-30 years old
2. Must have graduated within the past year or still be in university
3. Have around $2,500 USD saved
4. Have comprehensive health insurance
5. Have no criminal record
6. Have no dependents come along

This visa allows you to stay in SK for up to one year, with an extension for up to 18 months! The city I want to focus on is Busan:

Busan

• Weather: Temperate climate with mild weather year round
• Cost of Living: Relatively affordable
• Temporary Jobs: Sales, customer service, hospitality, and tourism
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Severely lacking in protections

Statistics of NZ

• Women’s Rights: 2024 puts abortion in a gray area, neither legal or illegal, very hushed and hesitant, maternity leave for 90 days, contraceptives are widely accessible, but emergency contraceptive needs a prescription.
• LGBTQIA+ Rights:  Marriage not legalized, cannot adopt, conversion therapy is legal and promoted, but gender-affirming care available past age of 20 and can change legal docs after medical transition
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination laws.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare:  Right to healthcare but faces barriers, undocumented migrants don’t have access.

Singapore

Finally, we have Singapore as the last country that offers WHVs to US citizens. Like South Korea, it is beautiful to visit but I would not recommend living there as a queer person or minority group. It is also one of the most expensive areas in the world and extremely humid.

WHV Requirements

1. Be between 18-25 years old
2. Must have graduated within the past year or still be in university and be from a recognized university from a specific country

This visa allows you to stay in Singapore for up to six months! The city I want to focus on is Singapore:

Singapore

• Weather: Tropical rainforest climate, warm, humid, rainy, with no distinct seasons
• Cost of Living: One of the most expensive cities in the world
• Temporary Jobs: Sales, customer service
• LGBTQIA+ Friendliness: Severely lacking

Statistics of NZ

• Women’s Rights: 1974 abortions made legal and widely accessible, 16 weeks maternity leave, contraceptives available but emergency contraceptives require a prescription.
• LGBTQIA+ Rights: Marriage not legal, adoptions not legal, IVF restricted, conversion therapy not banned, however gender affirming care supported and can change documents after medical transition.
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Anti-discrimination laws against religion, race, descent, place of birth, but not age, sex, disability, or sexual orientation.
• Migrant Access to Healthcare: Specific healthcare system for migrants.

Closing

There you have it, the few countries that currently offer working holiday visas in 2024 to US citizens! This list is subject to change. I strongly recommend New Zealand and Australia, plus Canada if you can get a sponsorship. I would avoid living in South Korea or Singapore (but definitely visit!) if you are an openly queer person. The other countries are great if you are a recent graduate or current university student.

Which is your favorite?

Love,

Ash