Working Holiday Visa – Work Abroad Easily

by Juliette Giannesini

Have you ever wanted to gain some work experience abroad?

Most people assume that working abroad is synonym with finding an employer willing to do the immigration paperwork on your behalf or immigrating permanently.

But there is an easier way: the Working Holiday Visa (WHV).

What is the working holiday visa?

The WHV is a work and travel permit issue by one of the many participating countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

WHV agreements are reciprocal, which means that if a French person can get a WHV for Canada and a Canadian a WHV for France.

WHV’s main goal is to allow young people to experience living in a foreign country. It strongly encourages them to explore the country and to work to supplement their travel funds. Alternatively, some participants choose to base themselves in a city and immerse themselves in the local culture.

What are usually the requirements?

Requirements vary depending on the country issuing the WHV. You will need to check information about a specific WHV with its embassy (e.g. if you are English and want to get a WHV for Canada, you have to check the Canadian Embassy’s website).

Typically, a WHV:

·     is intended for a certain age group. Generally speaking, you need to be at least 18 years old and under 35 years old.

·     is valid for one year. Some WHV can be extended; some can even lead to permanent immigration visas.

·     has a relatively straightforward application process.

·     Ii much cheaper than regular work or immigration visa. It varies depending on the country, but it ranges from free to roughly US$300.

·     is available once in a lifetime, for each country.

·     doesn’t require you to be a student.

Tips on getting a WHV

So, what’s the catch? Well, none really. However, you may want to make sure of the following:

·     When you apply for a WHV, you often need to show that you have sufficient funds. Sufficient funds are determined by the country you are going to work in and they typically aim at making sure you can cover your living expenses for a few months without working.

·     Only a certain number of WHV are issued per year per country. If the quota is reached, applicants are encouraged to apply again when the quota is reset, which is usually at the beginning of the calendar year.

·     The main goal of the WHV is to allow people to discover a new culture, to travel in the country and to work if needed. It is fine to just work and not travel or the opposite, it is fine if you want to apply for a permanent immigration visa at the end of your stay. However, the WHV is not an immigrant visa. For example, chances are your application will be denied if you state that you are applying for a WHV to stay in a country while you wait for your permanent immigration visa to be processed.

·     You are often required to buy travel insurance before you leave home. This is because as a temporary resident, you will not be covered by the local health system.

·     You may be required to take a medical exam before you leave. Some countries only require it if you have previously visited certain countries “at risk”, some require it if you declare on your application that you want to work with children. If you have to take a medical exam, you must to do before leaving, with a doctor designated by the embassy.

·     You will likely be asked to provide a resume and a cover letter explaining why you are applying for a WHV. You will not be accepted or refused based on these, so don’t worry too much. The embassy simply want to know what you plans are: are you going to travel? Where? Why did you choose this country?). It also wants to know more about your background. To not have significant work experience isn’t a problem (most 18 years old don’t!) but it should show that you are open-minded and resourceful.

So, what’s next?

Working holiday visa applications are usually processed in a matter of days or weeks. The visa will be stapled in your passport, and you are good to go!

Don’t forget that when you will arrive in your destination country, you will have to do some paperwork to apply for a social insurance number and/ or a tax number. After all, you are more than a tourist… you are a temporary worker!

Useful links

·     WHVMakers (http://www.whvmakers.com/what-is-whv/about-whvmakers.php): general information about Working Holiday Visas. Includes a forum.

·     PVTistes (http://www.pvtistes.net/): a French language WHV website, with a busy forum.

About the author
Juliette defines herself as a “world citizen”. Born and raised in France, she took an early interest in Chinese culture and foreign languages in high school. She graduated from French Langues Orientales University with a degree in Chinese language and civilization. Meanwhile, she left France to discover the world. She worked in Hong Kong, studied in China and backpacked through Australia, New Zealand and Latin America. In 2002, she landed in Canada for the first time and grew to love this cold snowy country. She settled there and started her new life in Ottawa, Canada’s national capital. She has been teaching French at the federal government since then. She also works on various projects aiming at helping newcomers in Canada. Juliette is the author of Correr Es Mi Destino (www.correresmidestino.com), an English speaking blog about life in Canada as an immigrant. She is also passionate about photography and showcase her work on this website.

5 Steps to Launching an International Job Search

by Susan Musich, Managing Director, www.PassportCareer.com

There are many things to consider when planning for a global career transition. Here’s a pre-departure job search checklist to help you get organized!

1.     Access local resources. You will find many resources available to you in your destination country, such as expat networks, libraries, the internet, and chambers of commerce. Try to avoid relying on just one or two resources. Identify and use a variety of resources to ensure balance in your job search approach.

2.     Find out the restrictions and permissions for working in the destination country. You will want detailed information about the work permit process, such as what documents are needed, how long each will take to process and whether your nationality may cause any delays, etc. A great website to check is the Permits Foundation at www.PermitsFoundation.com.

3.     Identify organizations to research for possible job leads and make contacts there. Although it can be daunting trying to go through the myriad online resources to find organizations in different countries, it is important to develop a list of 15-20 target organizations. There are many websites that have lists of organizations, and one site to find organizations that may have listings on their website is the International Chambers of Commerce at http://www.iccwbo.org/id100/index.html. There are many ways to identify contacts in organizations, such connecting with other expats in the area and asking them to help you identify professionals in the organization. See some of the other blogs on this site for more ideas on how to network!

4.     Learn the business etiquette and communication culture for your new country. You can learn the dos and don’ts for the destination country by keeping your eye on this blog, reviewing the information on the Passport Career (www.PassportCareer.com) website (if your organization has a subscription), or through the many great books that are out there on this topic. There is also information scattered across the internet, but be careful to ensure that the website is reputable and the information is accurate and appropriate.

5.     Create a networking resume and organize important career-related papers that may be requested. Create a resume appropriate to the standards in your destination country to use for networking purposes and gather relevant papers.  What documents might you need? Plan to take copies of the following: transcripts from your college, vocational or other educational institute (if you have numerous degrees, then you will need copies of each), awards and training activities, proof that you attended relevant conferences (usually only needed if you have a certificate from a training at a professional conference), and other related documentation.

Preparing for job seeking in another country requires a lot of work, but it will reduce the frustration once you arrive at your new destination. Many spouses/life partners fail to prepare well, either because they don’t have the time, they don’t think about it, or they simply do not know what steps to take to prepare adequately. However, I strongly encourage you to spend some time on these 5 Steps before you depart so you can get started with a solid step forward in your job search.

Good luck!

Passport Career has launched!

by Susan Musich, Managing Director, Passport Career, LLC

Passport Career’s international job search system launched August 15, 2009 with 55 countries and more than 100 destinations…and we’re quickly expanding to more! Now that we are officially available for organizations to subscribe to this extensive international job search system, we are delighted to inform you that this blog will be posting frequent entries about international job searches, profiles of expats around the globe, and tips for different destinations.

The idea for Passport Career began several years ago after working with thousands of international professionals who were moving to different countries in search of meaningful employment. I learned that the key to finding employment was not just understanding the legal framework of the work permit, but truly comprehending the business culture that intersects with the job search. By understanding the cultural nuances as they relate to the varied aspects of the job search, an international professional can make that strong first impression with those they meet. Making contacts is the key to a successful international job search, but you can’t make solid, viable contacts if you don’t reflect cultural finesse. Thus, Passport Career is designed to integrate the business culture with the many job search strategies, tools, and resources it makes available for each destination.

Our team of more than 100 consultants around the globe ensures the information is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to today’s job seeker.

We have had many requests from individuals who are interested in accessing the Passport Career system. Unfortunately, at this time we do not offer individual subscriptions. However, stay connected to this blog for future updates and enhancements. In the meantime, if you would like us to approach your organization to see if they can make this system available to you, please let us know by sending an email to Susan Musich, Managing Director, at smusich@passportcareer.com.

Lastly, if you are an expat and interested in joining our team of global consultants, we’d love to hear from you. Simply send an email to smusich@passportcareer.com with your name, city/country where you are living, home country, reason why you are interested, and why you think you are qualified. We are always in search of top-notch consultants for different projects and welcome your interest.  We can’t guarantee a job, but we will get back to all serious inquiries.

We look forward to staying connected through this blog and wish you the very best of success with your international job search! We also want to hear from you on this blog. What are your best tips for international job seekers? Post your top one to three tips here and share with the world!

3 Areas to Research Before Launching an International Job Search

By Susan Musich, Managing Director, www.PassportCareer.com

Recently, I was in Toronto. Toronto is known as the most diverse city in the world, with more than half of its population being foreign-born. What a treat for me to spend some time speaking with other career professionals who regularly work with high-skilled, job-seeking international professionals. We discussed many issues facing this population, but I want to share with you the top 3 areas that were discussed regarding what international professionals need to research in order to be effective on the job search. These 3 areas apply to you whether you’re an international student wanting to continue to work in your host country, the spouse of an international assignee, or an immigrant or expat in the country.

1.       Work permits. You need to know the laws governing your ability to work (and in some countries, your ability to volunteer). It can be confusing to find this information online, and it’s often recommended that you seek an international immigration law firm to assist you with the process. However, you can find some general information and links at the Permits Foundation– http://www.permitsfoundation.com/links.htm. This is an excellent site for spouses/partners of international employees, but also provides links for anybody seeking visa/work permit information.

2.       Career information and options. You’ll need to know what types of employers are in the city where you’ll be living. Will you be in a rural area of an emerging country where most nonprofit organizations operate? Or will you be in a bustling metropolis that is bursting with multinational companies? Some of this research can be done online, but you can get better information from others who have lived there or are currently living there, which takes us to…

3.       Network/contacts. It may be challenging to develop a network from scratch, but there are many ways to build an effective network within a month or two. You’ll need to research to find out what networks exist. You may find formal networks, such as Chambers of Commerce. Or, you may find online networks through Facebook or LinkedIn or on many of the expat websites. Or, you may find informal networks, such as a women’s group, or expat sports club. Making contacts is critical to an effective, international job search. Check out our guidance on developing your network on the blog post Get Globally Connected! http://www.passportcareer.com/blog/get-globally-connected.

We want to hear from you! What information was most helpful to you before you launched your international job search?

Working in Brazil

by Susan Musich

Having just returned from speaking at a conference in Sao Paolo, Brazil, I thought I’d share with you some of the opportunities and challenges of working in Brazil.

With a population close to 200 million, you can imagine the challenge of so many people trying to find a job. The Brazilian government has strict laws to protect jobs for its citizens, and companies need to prove how an expatriate would be better qualified than a Brazilian for a certain job. This is a great challenge for many companies since there are so many highly-skilled Brazilians available for employment.

Career Options

The best way for expats to find employment in the country is through a multinational company. Such companies often offer attractive expat benefits, including housing, health insurance, car or transportation allowance, and educational support for children.

However, if you are the accompanying spouse/partner, chances are slim that you can land a job before entering the country. Many spouses/partners end up as English language tutors, or even translators if they are fluent in Portuguese. Salaries tend to be significantly lower as a teacher, and pay is usually by the hour. Setting up a small business is an option, but the bureaucratic procedures may deter your efforts.

Different Cities—Different Opportunities

Sao Paolo—a city of 10 million inhabitants—has a plethora of multinational companies and English teaching services while many expats in Rio de Janeiro may want to focus their job search on IT-related careers (if you have the skills) or, alternatively, consider working with a nonprofit/nongovernmental organization (NGO).  In Brasilia, opportunities for spouses/partners are with embassies and offices of international organizations, such as The World Bank. Some opportunities may also exist with the Brasilia International School or teaching English.

The greatest challenge most expats face is the work permit. Many organizations are hesitant to offer a work permit to an expat due to the strict laws of protecting the jobs for the nationals. However, if you want further information on the process, you can review the official website of Brazil’s Labor and Employment ministry at www.mte.gov.br. It has comprehensive information about all aspects of employment in Brazil. Expats can find information at the “international” section at http://www.mte.gov.br/trab_estrang_ing/default.asp. This section is in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. You can also find information on the work permit and visa process at Fragomen’s website at http://pubweb.fdbl.com/ihp8/global/media85.nsf/public-country-briefs/brazil?opendocument#top.  Fragomen is an international law firm that focuses on immigration.

If you have ever worked in Brazil, what recommendations or strategies can you offer spouses/partners or students seeking employment in the country? Leave your comments here.