The working holidaymaker visa is popular with young members of Commonwealth countries.

The UK Working Holidaymaker scheme allows a person to travel to the UK for an extended holiday of up to two years, with the intention of taking paid work as a part of their holiday. If you would like further information and personal advice on working holidaymaker visas, please complete our simple query form.

UK working holidaymaker visa

The Working Holiday scheme allows people between the ages of 17 and 30 to come to the United Kingdom for a period of up to 2 years for an extended holiday. During this period they are able to take on paid work in areas that are incidental to their holiday. The Working Holiday maker?s visa is a great opportunity for young people to travel throughout the UK and take on casual jobs that can help with their travel expenses. This particular visa is a one-off visa, which means that it can not be issued more than once.

Do I qualify for this kind of visa?

1. You must be a commonwealth citizen, except for Lesotho, or a British Overseas Citizen; a British Overseas Territories Citizen; or a British National (Overseas)
2. You are prepared to come to the UK for an extended holiday and you plan to take on paid work which must be incidental to your holiday.
3. You are able to support yourself financially and provide your own accommodation without relying on public funds.
4. You must not have dependent children over five or who will attain the age of five while you are on the two year working holiday
5. You plan to leave the UK at the end of the 2 years
6. You must be between the ages of 17 and 30 (inclusive) to apply for the Working Holidaymaker
7. You should be single or be married to someone who is also eligible for a working holiday visa and you both intend on being working holiday makers.
8. You have not previously entered the UK on a Working Holidaymaker's Visa.

Working under the Holiday Visa

During the extended holiday, you are entitled to take on work which is incidental to your holiday including voluntary work. However, you are not allowed to do business in the UK such as set up your own business or run a business. In addition, you are not allowed to work as a professional sports person. Throughout the two year period, you are only allowed to work for a maximum period of 12 months. It is a good idea to plan your employment as it should be a significant part of your working holiday. It is up to you to decide when you want to work and when you wish to take your breaks as long as you adhere to the 12 month limit on work. If you work more than the 12 months that are allowed, you will be breaching the conditions of your stay.

Note: If you were granted with a working holidaymaker visa before 8 February 2005 you do not have any restrictions on the amount or type of work that you are allowed to take on.

During the 2 year period you are allowed free visa travel in and out of the UK. However, all time spent outside the UK will still be counted as part of the 2 year working holiday maker visa.

If you wish to stay longer

If at the end of the working holiday maker visa you wish to stay in the UK it will only be possible under the Innovators, Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, or Work Permit Categories (where the particular occupation is on the designated shortage occupations list which is kept by Work Permits (UK)).

If you leave the UK there may be more options of visa categories that you may qualify under. It is also possible to switch to being a work permit holder after being in the UK for one year provided the job is on the skills shortage list. It is important to note that work permits are usually only issued for high level jobs in which case it is necessary for the employer to prove that there is a genuine shortage of people to fill the vacancy.

It is also possible to switch to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) after only one year in the UK.

How do I apply and do I need an Entry Clearance?

It is necessary to get a visa as a working holiday maker before you travel to the UK. It is necessary to apply for a working holiday visa at the British High Commission in your home country. It is crucial that you have all the relevant documentation that proves you fulfil all the above mentioned criteria. You will also require an entry clearance before you travel to the UK as a working holidaymaker.

Rules and Restrictions

1. It is possible to apply for a 6 month visitor stay at the end of your working holiday visa however, during this period, you will not be allowed to work.
2. Any time spent outside the UK during your two year working holidaymaker visa will be counted as part of the two years and will therefore be lost.
3. From 8 February 2005 there is a maximum of 12 months in which you can work. You can not work for more than 12 months.
4. You will need to have a valid passport or travel document
5. You will need to provide two or three passport photos depending on where you apply
6. You will have to pay the non-refundable visa fee.
7. It is possible that you will be asked for an interview. This will depend on your particular circumstances.
8. You could be asked for information regarding your financial situation such as proof of money in a bank account.
9. It is possible that you will be asked to prove that you have made travel plans such as a deposit with a travel agent.
10. It is necessary to apply for a visa at your local British Embassy. It is not possible to apply as a working holiday maker from within the UK
11. Once your visa has been issued there will be an endorsement in your passport which grants you leave to enter the UK. This is referred to as an entry clearance certificate.
12. Once this visa is issued, it is not likely that you will be refused entry to the UK. Common reasons for being refused entry are if you have made false or misleading statements when you applied or if you failed to include important information in the application.

Does this visa give me Indefinite Leave to Remain?

This particular visa does not lead to indefinite leave to remain.

Commonwealth Countries

 

Antigua and Barbuda Australia The Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belize Botswana Brunei Darussalam Cameroon Canada Cyprus Dominica Fiji Islands The Gambia Ghana Grenada Guyana India

Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho * Malawi Malaysia Maldives Malta Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Nauru New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea Samoa Seychelles

Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Sri Lanka St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Swaziland Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tuvalu Uganda United Kingdom United Republic of Tanzania Vanuatu Zambia Zimbabwe

* - nationals from this country cannot apply under the Working Holidaymaker Scheme.

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