Updated 14 July 2020. Asia is popular with travellers and sees millions of travellers visiting each year. Many visitors like to extend their stay in Asia, and one way to do this is by applying for a working holiday visa for one of the Asian countries that offer this visa. And there are a number of Asian countries that offer an Asia working holiday visa or work and holiday visa. Check out the Working Holiday Visa page for details on the differences between these two visas. So if you would like to extend your stay in Asia or a specific Asian country read on and see which Asian countries offer a working holiday visa so you can live, work and play in Asia.

Working Holiday Visas available in Asia

There are a number of Asia working holiday visas available. These visas are basically available to people aged 18-30 (sometimes 35) years of age. If you successfully obtain one you will be allowed to stay in that particular country for up to one year and take work to support your stay.

Most of the working holiday visas are available to citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Canada. However, there are many more nationalities that have arrangements in place. Check out the current list of countries in the Asia area (see following) that have a working holiday or a work and holiday visa available.

Over 30 – Don’t qualify for a working holiday – What do you do?

If you don’t qualify for a working holiday visa because you are over the age limit or are not from a participating country that has a reciprocal arrangement don’t stress, as there are opportunities available. These include finding an organisation that will sponsor you such as teaching English in an English language school. Read my post Over 30 – Your Work and Travel Options for some inspiration and opportunities.

Asia Working Holiday Visas

Bangladesh Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years (inclusive)
Other: Meet health and character requirements. Have no dependent children accompanying you. Have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
Contact: Your nearest Embassy or Consulate of Bangladesh

China Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years inclusive
Contact: Nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate for more details and to apply

Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the United Kingdom
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years at the time of application
Other: be of good health and good character
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of Hong Kong

Japan Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Denmark, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway,Taiwan, Hong Kong (SAR), Ireland, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom
Length of stay: 12 months, pls note a one year visa may be granted to citizens of Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Finland and United Kingdom. A 6-month visa may be granted to citizens of Australia which can be extended twice and once for citizens of New Zealand and Canada.
Age: 18 to 30 years at the time of application
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of Japan
Read our blogs on a Japan Working Holiday here.

Malaysia Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years inclusive
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of Malaysia

Philippines Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years inclusive
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of the Philippines

Singapore Work and Holiday Visa

Visa: Work and Holiday
Available to undergraduates and graduates from universities and equivalent institutions of: Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 17 to 30 years inclusive
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of Singapore

South Korea Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Japan, Hungary, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Taiwan, UK and The United States
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 25 or 30 years inclusive (depending on country of origin)
Other: If granted, you may not be employed as receptionist, dancer, singer, musician, acrobat etc. Also not at places of entertainment which might endanger good morals and manners. Or engage in types of business which go against the tenor of the agreement. This could be not to provide medical treatment and other professions which require certain qualifications in accordance with South Korean domestic law.
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of South Korea.

Taiwan Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Japan, Canada, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, United Kingdom and Ireland
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years inclusive
Contact: Nearest Embassy or Consulate of Taiwan

Thailand Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years inclusive
Other: have tertiary qualifications (full time courses with at least 3 years of study)
Contact: Australian citizens should contact the Thai Consulate in Sydney. New Zealand citizens should contact the Thai Embassy in Wellington.

Vietnam Working Holiday Visa

Visa: Working Holiday
Available to citizens of: Australia and New Zealand
Length of stay: 12 months
Age: 18 to 30 years inclusive
Contact: nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam

Once you have your visa sorted you will be interested to know about work opportunities. Read Work and Travel Asia for some suggestions on types of work you can do in Asia.

As you can see, there are a number of working holiday and work and holiday visas available to extend your stay in Asia. Even if you don’t qualify remember there are other options such as finding an employer to sponsor you such as English Language Schools so you can Teach English.