Dreaming of staying in Europe longer than the usual 90-day limit? Want to explore stunning cities, experience diverse cultures, and earn money while you’re there? Such an incredible opportunity! If you’re between 18 and 30 (or 35) years old, a Working Holiday Visa could be your ticket to an unforgettable adventure – where work meets wanderlust!
When working on your visa application, make sure to look up where the top affordable destinations are and how to handle online hotel booking for your travels.
For even more expert tips on navigating the digital nomad lifestyle, check out our eBook, “The A-Z on Becoming a Digital Nomad.” Whether you’re looking for visa-friendly destinations, budgeting hacks, or the best remote work tools, this guide has everything you need to kickstart your journey. Grab your copy now and start living the nomad dream!
What is a Working Holiday Visa?
A working holiday visa or WHV is a residence permit that allows tourists to take up (and sometimes study) jobs and earn international work experience in the nation that issued the visa, helping them fund their travels while contributing to certain local industries.
Some visas are offered due to reciprocal agreements between countries encouraging travel and cultural exchange. However, there are some restrictions on this visa:
- Age Limit: Usually from 18 – 30 or 35 years old (varies by country)
- Types of Employment – from Crews, Farmhands, Officers, Consultants, etc.
- Length of time – a maximum of 6 months, 1 or 2 years
- Visa holder must have sufficient funds
- Medical insurance or travel insurance needed
- Any additional documentation
Use a document organizer to keep all files neat and tidy!
Schengen Area Working Holiday Visa
The working holiday program serves as a Type D national visa, which permits the holder to stay and work in the country they applied to during the visa’s period of validity. They can also travel to the rest of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period (i.e., a maximum of 180 days in the 25 other Schengen countries during the visa’s one-year validity).
What does this 90/180 rule mean?
It means you can only travel within the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within half a year. So if you entered another Schengen country on January 1st and traveled from January 1st – March 30th (a total of 90 days), then you would need to exit the original country where you have a Schengen Visa. You can return after 90 more days have passed (from July 1st).
Another example would be entering on January 1st for 30 days, exiting on January 31st, then returning on March 1st to March 30th (another 30 days), exiting again, and re-entering on June 1st to June 30th (another 30 days). You need to exit on June 30 and can come back for another 90 days starting July 1st.
Note: Starting mid-2025, travelers from visa-exempt countries will need an ETIAS authorization to enter the Schengen Area. The application will be online, with a fee of approximately €7, valid for up to three years or until your passport expires.
Schengen Countries with WHVs and Eligible Nationalities
As of 2025, the Schengen Area includes 31 countries, with Romania and Bulgaria recently joining.
Austria
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, aged 18 to 30, 6-month or one-year Austrian Working Holiday Visa
Canadian graduates, 18-30, Youth Workers Exchange Program – Swap
Belgium
Citizens of Australia, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan, aged 18–30, 1-year Belgian Working Holiday Visa
Czech Republic
Citizens of Canada, aged 18–35, 12 months WH visa
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, New Zealand (up to 35), South Korea, and Taiwan, aged 18–30, 2-year Czech Working Holiday Visa
Denmark
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea Can, 18-30, 1-year Danish working holiday visa
Estonia
Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, aged 18 to 30, 1-year WH visa
Finland
Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, 18-30, 1-year working holiday visa
France
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia (4-months), Taiwan, Mexico, and Uruguay, aged 18–30 or 35, 1-year French WH visa
Germany
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada (up to 35), Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay, aged 18 to 30, 1-year German working holiday visa.
Greece
Citizens of Australia and Canada, aged 18 to 30, 1-year working holiday visa
Hungary
Citizens of Australia, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand (up to 35), and Taiwan between the ages 18–30, 1-year Hungarian working holiday visa
Iceland
Citizens of Australia and Japan, aged 18 to 30, 1-year WH visa
Italy
Citizens of Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Korea, aged 18 to 30, 1-year working holiday visa
Latvia
Citizens of Australia, Canada (up to 35), New Zealand, aged 18 to 30, 1-year working holiday visa
Lithuania
Citizens of Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea, aged 18 to 30/35, 1-year working holiday visa
Luxembourg
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, aged 18 to 30, 1-year WH visa
Malta
Citizens of Australia and New Zealand, aged 18–30, 1-year WH visa
Netherlands
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Korea, aged 18-30, 1-year Dutch working holiday vis
Norway
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada (up to 35), Japan and New Zealand who are between the ages of 18-30, 1-year Norwegian working holiday
Poland
Citizens of Canada (18-35), Chile, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, aged 18 and 30, 1-year Norwegian working holiday
Portugal
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, and the United States, aged 18 to 30, 2-year working holiday visa
Slovakia
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, aged 18–30 or 35, 1-year Slovak working holiday visa
Slovenia
Citizens of New Zealand, aged 18 to 30, 1-year Slovene working holiday visa
Spain
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand, aged 18–30, one-year Spanish WH visa
Sweden
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, and Uruguay, aged 18-30, 1-year WH visa
Switzerland
Citizens of Australia, Canada, and Chile, aged 18 to 30/35, 1-year Swiss WH visa
Other European Countries with WHVs:
Andorra
Citizens of Australia, aged 18 to 30, 1-year Andorran WH visa
Croatia
Citizens of Canada and New Zealand, aged 18 to 30, 1-year WH visa
Cyprus
Citizens of Australia, aged 18 to 25, 1-year WH visa
Ireland
Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, aged 18-30, 1-year working holiday visa
Citizens of Canada, aged 18-35, 2-year WH visa
Monaco
British citizens, aged 18 to 30, 2-year WH visa
Romania
Citizens of South Korea, aged 18 to 30, 1-year WH visa
San Marino
Citizens of Australia, Canada, and South Korea, aged 18-35, 1-year WH visa
Citizens of Canada, aged 18 – 35, “Youth Mobility program”
Ukraine
Citizens of Canada, aged 18-25, 1-year WH visa
United Kingdom
Please refer to Guide to UK Working Holiday Visa
Working Holiday visas are limited and sometimes a tedious process. It’s not as simple as putting on your best winter jacket and shoes, and setting out on the journey. However, the outcome will be worth it!
Imagine the cultural experience you will have and also the opportunity to travel freely within the Schengen Zone. I wish, with my Filipino citizenship, I could apply for this type of visa in Europe, but unfortunately, the Philippines does not yet have a Working Holiday Visa agreement with Schengen countries.
Consider yourself lucky if you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Europe. I wish you luck in future endeavors. Happy travels!
FAQ
A Working Holiday Visa is the best bet for most young people as it allows the flexibility to travel and earn limited funds in your country of choice to help fund your adventures. Acquiring a Working Visa is often a bit more complicated and has more requirements and restrictions.
The Australia working holiday visa is designed for young Filipinos between the ages of 18 and 30 who want an extended holiday in Australia while supporting themselves through temporary work. This work and holiday visa allows them to live, work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months.
You can apply for this visa if you are 18-30 years old and a citizen of the Philippines. This visa allows you to work and study in New Zealand for a short amount of time.