UK Working Holiday Visas

UPDATED - From 8 February 2005 it is only possibly to take employment incidental to your holiday and you can work for only 12 months out of the 24 months of the Working Holiday Visa duration. In addition, you can no longer switch to a Work Permit unless it is on the Skills Shortage Occupation List. You can still swith to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.


If you are a Commonwealth Citizen from the age of 17 to 30 you can come to the UK and enjoy a working holiday for up to 2 years.

The working holidaymaker scheme is an arrangement where a person aged between 17 and 30 can come to the United Kingdom (UK) for an extended holiday for up to two years and enter into employment that is incidental to their holiday. The recent changes mean that you can only work for 12 months in total. Work must not be the main reason for your visit. If you require assistance and representation in gaining your Working Holiday Visa then contact us.

You qualify as a working holidaymaker if:

• you are a commonwealth citizen, British Dependent Territories citizen or British Overseas citizen
• you want to come to the UK for an extended holiday and intend to take some incidental employment
• you are single or are married to a person who also qualifies as a working holidaymaker and you plan to take the working holiday together
• you do not have any dependent children who are aged five years or over, or who will be five before you complete your holiday
• your holiday ,and not work, is the main reason for your visit
• you can support and accommodate yourself without help from public funds
• you do not have any commitments which require a regular salary
• you can pay for your onward journey
• you plan to leave the UK at the end of your holiday

You can only stay in the UK for two years as a working holidaymaker, from the date you first enter the UK in this category. We will count any time you spend outside the UK during that period as part of the two years.

You can take most types of work, including voluntary work, but you cannot set yourself up in or run a business, or work as a professional sportsperson. You can choose when to work and when to take your holiday breaks, but you must not work for more than a total of 12 months or you will be breaking the conditions of your stay. Note: if you were issued with a working holidaymaker visa before 8 February 2005, there are no restrictions on the amount or type of work that you are allowed to do.

You must get a visa as a working holidaymaker before you travel to the UK.