Working Holidays In Ireland

Working Holiday Authorisations (WHA) are available to young people who are citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea. These Working Holiday schemes are intended for use by young adults who wish to stay in Ireland for an extended holiday and who may work casually in order to fund their stay.

US citizens interested in the US Work and Travel Programme should click here.

A WHA will cover work of a casual or temporary nature only. The authorisation will not confer the right to seek employment on anyone other than the named holder. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the eligibility criteria and the conditions of participation, which may differ slightly between the schemes.

Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves for at least the initial part of the holiday or in the event of failing to secure employment. Immigration officials may request evidence of sufficient funds at the point of entry into Ireland. It is strongly recommended to successful applicants that they obtain private medical insurance to cover any costs incurred in the event of an accident or illness while in Ireland.

To avoid any risk of misunderstanding or unrealistic expectations, applicants are advised that the market for short term casual work inIreland is highly competitive and is adequately supplied from the large number of school leavers and other young Irish and EU nationals looking for work.

Notwithstanding the issue of a WHA, applicants will be subject to normal immigration controls at the point of entry. All non-EU nationals who wish to remain in Ireland for more than 90 days must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau, at which point they must pay a fee of €150 for the issue of a garda (police) registration card in Ireland.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and it representatives and agents, reserve the right to request further documentation and/or to refuse any application.

ARGENTINA

Citizens of Argentina aged 18-30 who wish to come to Ireland should visit the website of the Embassy of Ireland in Buenos Aires for further information.

AUSTRALIA

Australian citizens aged 18-30 can apply at the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra ,  or through the Visa Office in London  . To view or download the application form please click here (PDF 401kb) . With effect from 25 March 2009, Australian citizens participating in the scheme may work for a particular employer for a maximum of 6 months. This replaces the former limit of 3 months, noted on the previously issued Working Holiday Authorisation stickers, but does not confer any extension beyond the 12 month maximum stay permitted under the WHA scheme.

CANADA

Canadian citizens who are full-time third-level students students, or who are aged between 18 and 35 can travel to Ireland for a Working Holiday. Those interested should contact SWAP (Student Work Abroad Programme, Ca) which administers the programme on behalf of the Irish Embassy in Ottawa. Further information and application forms are available here.

HONG KONG


For further information on the Working Holiday scheme for Hong Kong and to view or download an application form, please visit the website site of Ireland's Honorary Consulate in Hong Kong.

JAPAN

The Ireland-Japan Working Holiday Programme is an initiative from the Irish and Japanese governments which allows young Japanese people to visit Ireland for an extended period of up to one year and to work and study while there. Young Irish people can also visit Japan as part of this programme. For further information and to view or download an application form please visit the website of the Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo.

NEW ZEALAND

This scheme follows an agreement between the governments of New Zealand and Ireland to promote travel between both countries of citizens between the ages of 18 to 30, to work and travel for one year in either country. For further information about the scheme and to view or download an application form please visit the website of Ireland's Honorary Consulate in Auckland.

South Korea

Under the Working Holiday programme agreed between the governments of Ireland and the Republic of Korea, which came into effect in March 2010, citizens of the Republic of Korea who are between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive) can travel to Ireland for a working holiday for a period of up to 12 months.  Up to 400 working holiday visas will be issued each year.     Applications should be submitted through the Irish Embassy in Korea.  For further information on working holidays in Ireland and to view or download an application form please visit the website of the Irish Embassy in Seoul at www.embassyofireland.or.kr 

Irish citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 inclusive may also visit and work in South Korea for up to 12 months.  Up to 400 holiday visas will be issued annually. Applications should be made through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland.  For further information,  Irish applicants for Korean working holiday authorisations should click on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Dublin (T: 01- 660-8800, 8053 / e-mail: irekoremb@mofat.go.kr)