Working holiday
What you should check before you head off
Taking a working holiday is one of the most popular ways to spend a gap year. It allows you to save money as you travel, to experience living in one place for more than a few, jam packed days, to gain a sense of normality, and to minimise those long bus rides or train journeys! But it's important to do some planning before you go...
Firstly, decide where you want to go and how long you plan to go for. Then, make sure you have the best gap year travel insurance in place for where you're going and what you'll be doing. In addition, it's essential to have arranged a relevant working holiday visa for the country/ies you're planning to work in, to save any nasty surprises or delays in getting work or getting paid.
Suitable gap year travel insurance will cover you for the length of your trip, and ensure that you are protected if your luggage, money or credit cards are stolen, if you have an accident and need medical treatment, or if you need to return home urgently. This will give you peace of mind and enable you to completely enjoy what should be one of the best times of your life.
The two most popular destinations for British travellers to take a working gap year are Australia and New Zealand. Each has slightly different entry requirements, but as the British Government offers reciprocal agreements for Aussie and Kiwi travellers in the UK, these two countries offer the most flexible working holiday visas.
In general, the following applies:
- Be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old (31 for Australia)
- Be able to show you have sufficient funds to support yourself (approx £1500 in cash, travellers cheques, bank draft or bank statement)
- Have a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one
- Have no dependent children with you
- Never been on a Working Holiday to New Zealand before - for Australia you are allowed to go twice
- Main reason you're entering the country is to holiday; work being your secondary intention
- Evidence you hold adequate medical insurance for your stay
In addition to organising your working holiday visa, you should:
Apply for a tax number which is required to work in both Australia and New Zealand, plus find out about opening a bank account. Listed are the different immigration websites to find out more about working holidays, tax numbers and bank account info for both Australia and New Zealand.
All that's left to arrange is your gap year travel insurance. A good gap year travel insurance policy needs to include:
- All destinations worldwide
- Trips from 31 days to 12 months
- Cover available for hazardous activities
- For backpackers up to the age of 45 years
- 24 hour worldwide emergency & medical assistance
Insurewithease's gap year travel insurance policy covers all of the above, and more.
Click to get a quote today or save us to your favourites and come back later!