Asia has a number of countries that offer a working holiday visa or work and holiday visa. Check out our Working Holiday Visa page for details on the differences between these two visas.
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 that have a working holiday or a work and holiday visa available.
A quick note: If you don’t qualify for a working holiday visa but wish to extend your time in Asia you might consider obtaining a Teaching English qualification. With one of these you could find an English Language School that would sponsor you. If you are interested to obtain this qualification check out i-to-i as they offer on-line courses.
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 Japan.
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 our blog 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 allow you an extended 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.
About the Author
Sharyn McCullum has travelled most of her life thanks to her dad who worked at Sydney Airport. In her 20’s she left Australia and spent 4 years on a working holiday in London and the UK before working and travelling in other countries. She is the founder of the LiveWork&Play series of working holiday guides, this website and others. She currently calls Melbourne home.
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That was great! Thank you so much for sharing this information to us. It will surely be useful to everyone.
I’m glad you think so. Asia is a popular destination for many people. A lot of people would like to stay longer in the region and working is the main way they can do this.