For young Brits with a sense of adventure, a working holiday can be the perfect way to combine travel with income, cultural exchange, and career exploration. Whether you’re pulling pints in Melbourne, ski instructing in Canada, or teaching English in Japan, a working holiday opens doors beyond the usual tourist experience.
In this guide, we’ll cover the top countries where UK citizens can legally work while travelling, what kinds of jobs are available, how to prepare yourself, and the subtle differences in CV expectations from country to country. Whether you're taking a gap year or rethinking your 9-to-5, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your global working adventure.
Where Can Brits Go on a Working Holiday?
The UK has reciprocal working holiday agreements with numerous countries, typically for those aged 18–30 (sometimes up to 35). The visas generally allow you to work while travelling for up to 12 or 24 months.
1. Australia
- Visa: Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)
- Duration: 12 months (extendable up to 3 years with regional work)
- Jobs: Hospitality, agriculture (fruit picking), construction, tourism
- CV Tip: Short and skills-focused. Many employers skim for relevant experience and availability over formal qualifications.
2. New Zealand
- Visa: Working Holiday Scheme
- Duration: 12–23 months
- Jobs: Café work, farm help, ski resorts, hostel staff
- CV Tip: Emphasise your adaptability and any customer service or outdoor experience. A short one-pager is common.
3. Canada
- Visa: International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Duration: Up to 24 months
- Jobs: Retail, resort work, food service, tech internships
- CV Tip: Canadian résumés often include a career summary. Tailor each application, and avoid photos or date of birth.
4. Japan
- Visa: Working Holiday Visa
- Duration: 6–12 months
- Jobs: English tutoring, café jobs, guesthouse staff
- CV Tip: Prepare a formal Japanese-style resume (rirekisho) if applying to local companies. Include a photo and be respectful in tone.
5. South Korea
- Visa: H-1 Working Holiday
- Duration: 12 months
- Jobs: English tutoring, barista work, entertainment support
- CV Tip: Highlight any teaching or language-related experience. Korean résumés may request GPA and personal details, so research before applying.
6. Argentina
- Visa: Working Holiday Agreement (UK–Argentina)
- Duration: 12 months
- Jobs: Hostel work, NGO placements, agriculture
- CV Tip: Keep it informal for tourism jobs; NGOs may ask for a more detailed European-style CV with volunteering history.
7. Chile
- Visa: Working Holiday Visa
- Duration: 12 months
- Jobs: Language tutoring, farming, travel agencies
- CV Tip: Spanish CVs often follow a format similar to Europe’s. Translate your achievements and be concise.
8. Singapore (Work Holiday Pass)
- Duration: 6 months
- Jobs: Corporate internships, startups, hospitality
- CV Tip: Structured and polished. Focus on academic qualifications, especially for internships.
What Kinds of Jobs Can You Get?
Your working holiday is rarely about chasing your dream job—it’s about supporting your travels, building skills, and making global connections. Common roles include:
- Hospitality (bartending, kitchen work, cafés)
- Tourism (ski resorts, scuba dive shops, hostel reception)
- Agricultural labour (vineyards, fruit picking)
- Language tutoring or assistant teaching
- Freelance gigs (graphic design, writing, digital work)
Increasingly, remote work options allow working holidaymakers to freelance or contract as long as local regulations permit it. Be sure to check visa rules about online income earned from foreign clients.
How to Prepare Yourself
- Get the visa early: Some schemes (like Canada’s IEC) operate on a ballot or limited quota system. Apply as soon as they open for your country.
- Start saving: Most countries require proof of funds—between £1,500 and £3,000—to show you can support yourself initially.
- Update your CV: Use a clean, international template. Research expectations: if you're unsure how many pages should a CV be, stick with one concise page for hospitality roles, and up to two pages for more professional jobs or internships.
- Take care of insurance and tax: Travel insurance that includes work coverage is essential. Also, learn how to apply for a local tax ID once you arrive (e.g., TFN in Australia).
- Book accommodation smartly: Start with short-term options (hostels or Airbnb), then look for shared rentals once you’re settled.
- Brush up on language basics: For countries like Chile, Argentina or Japan, learning key phrases will hugely improve your chances of getting hired.
Differences in CVs Around the World
Understanding how CVs are structured in different countries can give you an edge when applying for jobs abroad.
| Country | CV Style | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Casual, skills-led | Short and informal; photo not needed |
| Canada | Résumé format | Add summary paragraph; exclude DOB or photo |
| Japan | Formal rirekisho | Include photo and date of birth; handwritten still respected |
| Argentina | Simple and direct | Include basic personal info and volunteering |
| South Korea | Formal, detailed | GPA, photo, and structured layout often expected |
Always tailor your CV to the job and local expectations. Having a universal template you can tweak will make applications faster and smoother.
Final Words
A working holiday isn’t just a year abroad—it’s a crash course in resilience, adaptability, and self-growth. It gives you not just stories, but skills. Whether you’re scrubbing dishes in Auckland or producing soundtracks in Seoul, the experiences feed into your career, your creativity, and your confidence.
Start early, plan smart, and say yes often. The world isn’t just a place to see—it’s a place to work, learn, and become who you didn’t know you could be.
Working Holidays for Brits: Where You Can Travel, Work, and Thrive in 2025