Working holiday visas in 2026: countries, age limits, fees and who can apply (including Indian passport holders)
Last reviewed 2026-10-23. Rules, fees and processing times in this area change often. Check the official source before you act, and tell us if something looks out of date.
A working holiday visa lets young adults from partner countries live abroad for up to a year or two, travel, and take temporary jobs to fund the trip. Each country signs separate agreements, so your passport decides which programmes you can use. This guide summarises the main schemes and flags where our sources disagreed.
The short answer for Indian passport holders
India has very few working holiday arrangements. From the sources we read:
- United Kingdom: India has its own Young Professionals Scheme, a ballot-based visa rather than the standard Youth Mobility Scheme. One law-firm summary says 3,000 places for 2026, ages 18 to 30, a bachelor's degree or higher, about GBP 2,530 in savings, no children under 18, and a fee reported as GBP 340. Ballot dates differ each year and we did not find 2027 dates.
- New Zealand: an India-NZ trade agreement side letter provides for up to 1,000 work and holiday visas a year, ages 18 to 30, but sources say it is signed and not yet open.
- Australia: sources conflict on whether India is currently eligible for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa. One education site lists India among 462 countries with a ballot; a news report on a Home Affairs update listing 23 countries with open applications does not include India. Check the Department of Home Affairs page.
- Canada, Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan: India was not on the eligible lists we read.
If you hold another passport, the table below may apply.
Quick comparison
| Destination | Typical age | Length | Fee (reported) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (417 / 462) | 18 to 35 (417 for some countries) or 18 to 30 (462) | 12 months, extendable with specified work | A$840 in one source (older figures differ) | 6 months max per employer; 462 needs funds and often tertiary study |
| New Zealand | 18 to 30, up to 35 for some countries | Usually 12 months (longer for some countries) | NZ$770 plus a NZ$100 tourism levy in one source | Funds around NZ$4,200 in one source |
| Canada (IEC) | 18 to 30 or 35 by country | 12 or 24 months | CAD 184.75 for 2026 in two sources | Pool and invitation system; CAD 2,500 funds and insurance |
| United Kingdom (Youth Mobility) | 18 to 30 or 35 by country | 24 months | GBP 319 plus health surcharge | GBP 2,530 held for 28 days (GOV.UK) |
| Japan | 18 to 30 | Usually 12 months | Not confirmed | No bar, cabaret or gambling work (MOFA) |
| South Korea (H-1) | 18 to 30, some 35 | 1 year | About USD 40 to 80 by nationality | Work-hour limits conflict between sources |
| Ireland | Varies; 18 to 35 for Canadians | 1 year (2 for Canadians) | Not confirmed for most | Short courses up to 6 months |
| Germany | 18 to 30, 35 for some | Up to 12 months, once | EUR 75 (embassy page) | Funds about EUR 2,466 for 3 months; insurance EUR 30,000 |
| Hong Kong | 18 to 30 | Up to 12 months | Free for some nationalities | Quotas; per-employer work limits |
| France | 18 to 30, 35 for some | 1 year | About EUR 99 in one source | Reported only by one secondary source |
Common rules across schemes
- Age is usually checked at the time of application, and some schemes now treat an over-age application as invalid.
- Funds and insurance are common requirements, but amounts differ.
- Work is meant to be temporary. Many limit you to a few months with one employer.
- Quotas and ballots exist for popular schemes (UK, Hong Kong and Taiwan routes, Canada's pools).
- First-time only. Most schemes let you take part once, with extensions for some nationalities.
- Do not work on a tourist visa. See our guide to tourist, visitor and transit visas.
What to do next
- Check which agreements your passport has on the destination's official list.
- Note the application window and age cut-off before you plan.
- Prepare proof of funds, insurance and a clean police certificate. See how to prove funds for a visa and apostille and document legalisation.
- If your passport is not eligible, consider student, skilled-worker or digital nomad routes.
Sources
- GOV.UK Youth Mobility Scheme
- Fragomen: UK India Young Professionals Scheme ballot
- MFAT: NZ-India FTA work and holiday side letter
- Japan MOFA: working holiday
- German embassy Australia: working holiday
- Hong Kong Working Holiday Scheme
- Irish Immigration Service: working holidays
- One Planet Migration Law: Australia 417 vs 462
- CIC News: IEC 2026 pools
Figures were gathered in October 2026 from embassy, university, law-firm and education-site pages. Many official government pages could not be read directly, and where sources disagreed we say so. Fees, funds thresholds and work-hour rules change often, so confirm everything on the official immigration or university page before you apply. Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray for your own profile.
