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Working abroad

Work/travel visas

Thinking of taking a year out?
Some countries have visas to allow young people to do casual work for up to a year while also travelling.
Visa requirements can change and programmes listed could be discontinued in the future. Please check with the official website below before making any decisions.

Australia - work and live in Australia for any length of time up to a year. If you have completed 3 months specified work in regional Australia on your first Working Holiday visa, you may be eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa. First Working Holiday visa applications may be lodged online from anywhere outside Australia

Hong Kong - Work and travel in Hong Kong for up to a year . Apply through the Government of Hong Kong Immigration Department. Applicants must be aged 18-30 and cannot remain with the same employer for more than 3 months.

Japan - The scheme will allow Irish people aged 18-25 work in Japan for up to 1 year. Application details online.

Republic of Korea - NEW in 2010: Must be Irish passport holders, aged 18-30, valid for 12 months. Working Holiday Visas are not appropriate for those wishing to enter Korea to engage in full-time employment. Especially, individuals whowish to work as English instructors must change their visa status into E-2 visa. Details online.

The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa (for those aged 18 – 30) allows you to work in New Zealand for up to 12 months with the one employer. You can apply for the Irish scheme online and applications can be processed in 48 hours. There is no cap on the number of working holiday visas that can be issued to Irish citizens each year.

USA - J1 Summer and Twelve-Month Intern Work and Travel. A five year pilot program under which qualifying Irish post-secondary college/university students and recent graduates will enter the United States to participate in internships and travel independently for a period of up to 12 months.
J1: All applicants for a J1 (summer or year-long) must be sponsored. According to the embassy's website: 'program sponsors are based in the United States. You may deal directly with the sponsor in the U.S., or alternatively you may go through one of the Irish based administrators which include Go4Less, SAYIT, and USIT who may be able to assist you. '
Go4Less SAYIT USIT

anyworkanywhere.com have a useful chart of International Working Holiday Agreements and Temporary Work Visas on their site.

Student and Graduate Programmes

There are some student and/or graduate programmes that are specifically for those interested in going abroad. These include (but are not necessarily limited to):

TEFL options

IAESTE - Work Experience Abroad

Export Orientation Programme with IBEC

AIESEC - Global internship and global community development programmes

USIT - Programmes include: J1, Internship USA, Volunteer in Ghana / Peru / Costa Rica / Thailand / South Africa, Teach in China. Help with visa for working holiday NZ/Aus. Contact local USIT office for details.

Working in a particular country

Citizens Information has information for Irish citizens on going abroad as well as for international citizens working in Ireland.

Read our articles on Australia and New Zealand

See our working abroad pages for links to job search sites.

Career Development Centre
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Phone: +353 (0)91 493589, Fax: +353 (0)91 494570
This page was last updated Wednesday, July 25, 2012