Have you always dreamed of traveling the vast snow-capped expanses of Canada, exploring the Mexican jungle, immersing yourself in Japanese culture or going on a
road trip
on the desert plains of Australia.
The only thing is: between the cost of your studies, that of housing and the difficulties of getting your first job, you don't have a penny in your pocket.
To satisfy your desires elsewhere, you can opt for the working holiday program, the WHV.
Each year, it allows thousands of young people to travel while being allowed to work there.
The right profile
To benefit from the WHV, certain eligibility conditions must be met.
While these depend in part on bilateral agreements concluded between France and the other States, there are certain general common rules.
First of all: the age limit.
You must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the visa application, except for Argentina, Australia and Canada, which accept applicants up to 35 years old, and Singapore, which limits this visa to 25 years.
You have to leave without having any dependents, especially without children.
You must also prove that you have the necessary resources to meet your needs: count from 2,000 to 3,500 euros minimum depending on the destination.
In addition, the total duration of your stay must not exceed one year (six months in Singapore).
Finally, you cannot apply in a country where you have already done a WHV.
How to apply?
In order to obtain the working holiday visa, contact directly the diplomatic representation in France - embassy or consulate - of the state that interests you.
The only exception: Australia, for which the request is made on the site Homeaffairs.gov.au.
Whatever your destination, follow the procedure indicated.
Before sending your file, check that it contains all the supporting documents requested: valid passport, health examination, criminal record extract, cover letter, etc. If no diploma or specific professional experience is required, your CV could be an asset to be selected.
Most countries limit the number of participants by quotas: from 300 people per year for Mexico and Uruguay to 6,750 for Canada.
Prepare for departure
Certain steps can simplify your life in your future host country.
If it is not already required to obtain your visa, consider taking out comprehensive insurance, which covers civil liability, health care and repatriation.
Obtaining an international driver's license can also be of great help to you.
This is free but the processing times for requests can be quite long.
Better to do this at least two to three months before your trip.
Getting by on the spot
The long-awaited moment has finally arrived: you are ready to start. In order not to find yourself helpless on the other side of the world, you will have to quickly find a job. In addition to word of mouth and tips gleaned from expat Facebook groups, which we strongly suggest you join, some sectors are recruiting more than others. You can look for tourism, hotels and restaurants - think French restaurants - or farms, which often need seasonal help.
Due to your limited length of stay, it is more difficult to find qualified work corresponding to your university degrees, but you can still apply for low-paid internships if they are formative.
Don't forget to pack several copies of your CV in English or local language.
Economy
Employment: Opportunities in the world of artificial intelligence
Economy
Employment: What does redeployment leave consist of?
The good adress
For more information on the conditions specific to each destination, go to the Diplomatie.gouv.fr website, in the Working holiday program section.
foreigner
Trip
Youth
Job
Training
0 comment
0 share
Share on Messenger
Share on Facebook
Share on twitter
Share on Flipboard
Share on Pinterest
Share on Linkedin
Send by Mail
To safeguard
A fault ?
To print