Working Holiday Visas for Australian Citizens Over 30
Most countries only offer working holiday visas to eligible people aged between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive). But if you’re an Australian citizen aged over 30, there are a still a few countries where you can get working holiday visas. These allow you to live, work and travel in another country for at least a year!
Six of the 46 countries offering working holiday visas to Australians have an age limit above 30. Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark and the UK all welcome backpackers aged 18-35.
And the USA does not have an age limit – although you would need to be a university or TAFE student (or a recent graduate) to apply for the USA.
The usual rules still apply. For example, you wouldn’t be eligible for most working holiday visas if you have dependent children. But you don’t necessarily have to miss out just because of your age. If you meet all the other criteria, there are several working holiday visa options for 31-35 year-old Australians!
You’ll find more information below about working holiday visas for Australian citizens over 30 in each eligible country…
- Working holiday visas for Canada
- Working holiday visas for Ireland
- Working holiday visas for France
- Youth Mobility Scheme visas in the UK
- Working holiday visas for Denmark
- Working holiday visas for Italy
- The USA Summer Work Travel Pilot Program
- Move visa-free to Switzerland or New Zealand
- Digital nomad visas are another alternative for over-30s
Working holiday visas for Canada
The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is open to Australians (and people from many other countries) aged 18-35 years old who don’t have a criminal record and will not be accompanied in Canada by dependent children.
The main requirements to become an IEC candidate are:
- Aged between 18-35 years old (inclusive) at the time of application
- Have a valid passport which won’t expire during your stay in Canada
- Have at least CAD$2,500 (approx. AUD2,550) to cover your initial expenses in Canada
- Have health insurance to cover the duration of your stay
- Have a return plane ticket to Canada or enough money to buy one
Another great thing about Canada’s working holiday program is that visas are valid for two years.
Read more: Canada’s Working Holiday Program for Australians
Working holiday visas for Ireland
Ireland is another country offering working holiday visas to Australian citizens aged 18-35 years old (inclusive, at the time of application).
The Irish working holiday visa is valid for 12 months and is relatively easy to apply for. The only other visa condition is that you would need at least AUD5,000 in savings, or AUD2,500 if you have already booked a return flight from Australia to Ireland.
Read more: Ireland’s Working Holiday Visa for Australians
Working holiday visas for France
France’s working holiday visa is also open to 18-35 year-old Australian citizens. Valid for up to 12 months, the other main conditions are that you’d need proof of savings and a return flight booked from Australia to France. But as with Canada, this visa is not available if you have dependent children.
Read more: France’s Working Holiday Visa for Australians
Youth Mobility Scheme visas in the UK
On 31 January 2024, the UK increased the age limit for Australians to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa from 30 to 35. The main eligibility criteria for this visa is that you must have at least £2,530 (approx. AUD4,900) in savings. You also can’t have any dependent children.
This visa is valid for an initial period of 2 years, with the option to extend for a third year.
Read more: The UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa for Australians
Australians with a parent or grandparent born in the UK may also be eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa. This does not have an upper age limit.
Working holiday visas for Denmark
Since October 2022, Denmark offers working holiday visas to Australian citizens aged 18-35 (previously 18-30).
This is a relatively simple visa to apply for, with the main requirements being that you have sufficient savings and a booked flight home (or enough money to buy one). The visa is not available if you’re travelling to Denmark with dependent children.
Read more: Denmark’s Working Holiday Visa for Australians
Working holiday visas for Italy
Italy also increased its working holiday visa age limit for Australians from 30 to 35 a few years ago.
Read more: Italy’s Working Holiday Visa for Australians
The USA Summer Work Travel Pilot Program
In lieu of traditional working holiday visas, the United States offers a “Summer Work Travel Pilot Program” under its J-1 visa category. This allows full-time Australian students to live, work and travel in the USA for up to 12 months.
This program does not have a prescribed age limit. However, one of the requirements is that you need to be currently enrolled as a full-time university or TAFE student in Australia – or have recently graduated during the past year.
Read more: The USA’s Working Holiday Program for Australians
Move visa-free to Switzerland or New Zealand
While Switzerland and New Zealand do not offer formal working holiday visas to Australian citizens, both nations allow Aussies to live and work in their respective countries, without requiring a visa and with no age limit.
There are a few conditions. For example, Australians moving to Switzerland need to have enough savings to support themselves and still need to apply for a residency and/or work permit from the local canton before arriving.
Most Australians can travel to, live and work in New Zealand without restrictions under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
Read more: Australians Can Now Move to Switzerland Without a Visa or How to Move from Australia to New Zealand
Digital nomad visas are another alternative for over-30s
If you’re over 30 years old and would like to live and work in another country for a year, an alternative could be to apply for a digital nomad visa.
Digital nomad visas have become increasingly more common since 2020. They’re designed for people working remotely who have a reliable income stream from an overseas source.
With this type of visa, you probably won’t be allowed to work for a local employer in the country where you are living. But you will be allowed to stay and live in your chosen destination for up to a year. You generally won’t have to pay local taxes on the income you’re earning from overseas, but this varies by country and isn’t always necessarily the case.
The list of countries offering digital nomad visas is quite different to the list of countries offering working holiday visas to Australians. But there is a little bit of overlap. For example, Estonia, Thailand, Norway and the Czech Republic offer both types of visas to Australian citizens.
If you work remotely, a digital nomad visa also opens up the possibility to live in countries including Mexico, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, the UAE and many Caribbean nations which don’t have reciprocal working holiday visa arrangements with Australia!
Hi Matt, I’m about to turn 36 in a month and am looking to have a stint living in Europe starting April 2025. I’m just wondering about validity of visas once granted. My preference is Denmark then France or possibly Italy/Ireland. Do all these visas have 12 months from grant to enter the country? If not, how long do they have? Have had difficulty pinpointing this information. Have already used UKs WHV.
Many thanks!
In general, you need to show a plane ticket into the country when applying for these visas which will have your planned arrival date on the ticket. It varies by country, but you can generally apply within 3-6 months before your planned arrival date – and not longer. Your visa validity period will start on the date you plan to arrive in the country.
It does vary by country. I’d encourage you to have a read of our individual guides for Denmark, France, Italy and Ireland which explains the process – and how early you can apply for a visa – for each country. You can find a full list of countries/guides here: https://workingholiday.au/working-holiday-visa-countries/
Hi – great article. I am just trying to understand the rules about the age cut off of 35, I am currently 35 as of June this year just checking if you know if that would restrict me for those visas with an age cut off of 35. Thanks in advance.
The age limit is inclusive. The cutoff date to apply for your visa is generally the day before your 36th birthday. 🙂
Hi I’m 44 and interested in a working holiday season in either Canada or Japan for the winter. Do you have any information on whether this is possible and under which visa?
Unfortunately this isn’t possible as Japan has a working holiday visa age limit of 30, and Canada 35. You may wish to look into other types of work visas.
Hi! Great article 🙂 I’m wondering what the options are for me and my partner if I am under 35 but he is not? Do you have any insight on how we can both take a year in one of these countries or how couples like us might get around this?
Hi Robin, unfortunately working holiday visas are specifically for individuals and not couples. So, while you may be able to apply as an under-35, your partner would need to find a separate visa (or otherwise not stay with you for the entire year).
I can’t really advise on other types of visas, but if your partner works remotely, they may be eligible perhaps for a digital nomad visa? There is some overlap between countries that offer working holiday visas and those with digital nomad visas.