Scenario: Normal Friday night. You’re sitting on the couch eating Twisties watching Netflix, when your mum comes in and says you’re wasting your life. You’re only young once she says, wagging her finger at you and probably doing your laundry ‘cos you don’t know how to get orange stains out. Whatever, you say to her, stuffing your face. But then it hits you – you are only young once! It’s weird how parents know these things. If that scenario sounds familiar, curling up in the foetal position and praying to posters of One Direction is not the answer. But a Working Holiday Visa to the UK or Canada might be.
Ideally, working and holiday are polar opposites and should stay far away from each other, unless it’s “Stuff working, I’m off on holiday!” But a Working Holiday Visa is a great way to legally gain access to a country and then use that country as a base while you earn money and travel the world looking mad chill and using hashtags like #nofilter.
Australians know that our biggest downfall is our location – fly an hour (or six) and you’ll see the same city pretty much replicated. In the UK, fly an hour and you’re in Paris, or Rome or Brussels or all these other countries you’ve heard about in Oscar films or from the world wars; Canada has the USA as its neighbour!
It might seem daunting to start up in a brand new, foreign land, but it’s also the most fun you’ll ever have. And I’ve not met a single person whose regretted it. Together with our guest-experts The Working Holiday Club we will help you plan everything if you are wondering where to start.
If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, here’s a few things to know about Canada and the UK.
- What are the Visa rules for UK and Canada?
The rules are relatively simple: you’ve got to be between 18-31, have no criminal convictions (DUI’s could count, so drive responsibly!), a passport valid for at least 6 months, and you must be able to support yourself with cold hard cash. There are a couple of medical criteria as well, but that’s basically it – so, less rules than Fight Club, and you’re allowed to talk about it.
For more information, check out the respective countries webpages on Working Holiday Visas.
Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/index.asp
UK: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Don’t be daunted by the fancy names: if you match the above criteria, you’re likely to be granted a Visa; this isn’t Mensa.
- Where can I expect to work?
This completely depends on you, your work experience and what you want to get out of it. If you want to travel then you’ll want a flexible job that allows time off. A lot of Aussies love going to the UK and pulling warm pints at the local cozy pub; while Canada sees a lot more Aussies hitting the ski slopes. Remember, the Visa only enables you to work – finding the job is up to you. And this can be incredibly tricky – especially in London. A lot of jobs – usually the more desirable, higher-paying jobs – have hundreds of applicants and you can waste all your valuable time and money simply applying. Most people these days opt for various jump-start programs, which guarantee a job on arrival. So if you’d rather spend more time partying than job searching, you might be better of using one of those.
Amongst is the Working Holiday Club, which guarantees you a pub job in the UK or can get you a job on the white powdery ski slopes of Canada.
- Where will I be living?
Canada’s rent is relatively cheap, averaging out at about AUD$650 per calendar month (PCM) for a room in a three-bedroom in a major city, or AUD$550pcm for a room outside of the city. It’s also not as crowded as London, with the competition being less fierce. In snow towns, you might find slightly more competition, but there are lots of houses set up entirely for people working the snow season. The Aussie dollar isn’t that far off the Canadian either, so you won’t have to be Rain Man to figure out how much rent cost.
But…in the UK, oh deary me…this could turn into your biggest money burner if you’re not careful. London is expensive. Silly expensive. You’ve probably heard it before and some of it is exaggerated, but rent is where it really is expensive. Think, Australian rent…then double it because of the dollar. So you’re looking at about £800pcm for a room that’s relatively close to the city – that’s around AUD$1700pcm for those playing along at home. Securing a room is also incredibly bureaucratic. It can often feel like you’re on some weird reality show simply trying to apply for a place. Most annoyingly, everything in the UK relies on proof of ID and proof of address – even getting an address requires a proof of address. Proof of address includes things like bank statements. Oh but how do you get a bank account? You’ll need a proof of address. It’s like the Da Vinci Code! And while you’re waiting it out in a hostel, your savings just keep getting corroded away like a muffin in the rain. Again, jump start companies to the rescue: they can set you up with a bank account and places to live, which, for me, was the worst part about moving to London.
- Wages and Taxes
This bit isn’t that exciting, so let’s get it out the way: the average tax rate for Canada is 11%, while average pay is around $10 per hour. In England, wages vary from city to city. For example, you’ll get paid more in London because the cost of living is higher. London you can expect around £7-8 per hour, while outside of London, more like £6. Though of course this varies from pub to pub. You’ll be taxed at around 20%, assuming you don’t earn more than £30K.
- Cities
In Canada, Vancouver, Banff and Whistler are where most Australians tend to head. They’re smaller, more party orientated. The snow is plentiful and popular with foreign workers, the parties are unreal and the experience is sensational. There’s also a plethora of Aussies in Vancouver, which is exactly why you went overseas, right? If you’re after a more big city feel, Toronto is an amazing city. It’s like a Fisher Price “My First New York”, with the same concrete jungle vibe as the Big Apple. It’s also easier to access the east coast of the USA. So if your travel plans are more New York than California, Toronto is in a great spot. But, in our biased opinion: west coast, best coast.
Most people traveling to the UK go to London, but there is life outside the capital – Birmingham, Manchester, Brighton are all bursting with culture and they’re a lot cheaper; about half price in fact. A pub in London, a pint costs about £5. Smaller cities, you’re looking at about £2. But, let’s be real, London is where you probably want to go. And fair enough – it’s a beehive and looks whizz crack on your resume. Also there are celebrities everywhere and nobody seems to care. We saw Stephen Fry on the street and had to act like it was no big deal.
- Insurance
Both the UK and Canada have good medical services, but you need travel insurance that covers gap years and working holidays. By paying the UK Visa fee, you’re entitled to use their NHS, but for Canada, you need comprehensive travel insurance.
If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford to go. That counts double if you plan on traveling before hand. It really is as simple as that. You don’t want your mum and dad having to fork over thousands of dollars because you’ve cracked your leg and can’t afford to fix it. They’ll hold it over you for years. There are some good companies out there that aren’t too brutal on the wallet, so think of it as a Licence to Thrill (Bond music plays; everyone groans).
- Flights
Depending on when and where you go, flights will set you back about $1200-$1800. You don’t need a return flight booked when you go, as long as your VISA’s been approved.
Flights to UK from $1,363Flights to Canada from $1,273- Food
Food is cheaper than Australia. But frankly, every country in the world is cheaper than Oz when it comes to food. England’s groceries are a lot cheaper, so it’s a good idea to do the bulk of your eating at home if you can. I should add that for a country with as horrible weather as England, they’re obsessed with street markets. They are everywhere and offer a great range of cheap and delicious food from around the world for the change in your pocket. Even with the currency conversion, you can pick up some amazing street food for about £3-4 pounds, which is less than AUD$10. It’s an incredibly multicultural place, so whatever your heart desires, you can almost certainly find it.
Food wise, Canada has basically everything that Australia has. And the prices are a tad cheaper, but are overall, relatively similar, so you won’t be too surprised (Burger: AUD$10-15). But, like the USA, the serving sizes are often much bigger than we’re used to. However, Canada has maple syrup. And it’s the nectar of the gods. It goes on everything and so it should. It’s the most amazing, scrumdiddlyumptious thing you’ve ever tasted. Luckily, they’re obsessed with it too, so it will be everywhere. Good, actual maple syrup – none of that flavoured sticky sugar syrup your mum swore was maple syrup. WHY ALL THE LIES, MOTHER?!
Canada is also obsessed with pickling things. That is, putting vegetables in vinegar or some other type or salty preserving agent. It was because of the cold that they needed a way to preserve vegetables to make them last through winter. That way when it was freezing, they could still get their veg intake. For an aussie taste, pickled vegetables could be the worst tasting thing in the world. But, hey, they’re not overly chuffed on Vegemite, so everyone’s different.
- Parties
If you’re worried that by leaving Australian shores you’ll see a decline in your partying, don’t you worry your drunk, beer loving little head. Both countries love to drink just as much as Australia does. Canada is awash with liquor – especially the snowfields – and the UK…well, the UK has over 1,200 breweries, so what does that tell you? There are parties everywhere you turn and because you can’t spell Working Holiday Visa with “Holiday”, every day is an excuse to party! And that Australian accent basically makes you instantly interesting, so you’ll have no trouble finding friends.
Less fun: Just note that in some Canadian provinces the legal drinking age is 19. Notably, British Columbia (where Vancouver is), New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, PEI, Saskatchewan and Yukon. Everywhere else it’s 18.
- Travel
Using work to fund your travel addiction is arguably the best thing about the Working Holiday Visa. The UK gives you wide access to everywhere in Europe and flights are cheaper than a Lewis Vollitan handbag off the high street. London gives you amazing access to all of Europe and it’s a lot cheaper than you might think. You can get return flights to postcard cities like Rome and Paris for as little as £60. Almost arrogantly, you can jump on a plane to go to Italy for some pasta.
Canada is a beautiful place to explore and it gives you access to the US, which is an absolute marvel of excess. Everything is huge and everything is cheap, so your pitiful Australian dollarydoos will stretch just that little bit further. That means more maple syrup, oh god we love it so much.
- Climate
Bring your woollies. It’s cold. If you’re going to the Canadian snowfields, you’ll need to buy proper Canadian cold weather snow gear. Don’t skimp, or you’ll be snapping your toes off. Clothes are much cheaper over there, so just put some money aside and you’ll be fine.
For the UK, it’s not double digit minus type freezing, but it’s still colder than anything you’ve probably ever experienced. And the weather is truly miserable. Basic clothing can be more cost effective over in the UK, especially with the range of speciality cheap stores like Primark, but you get what you pay for.
Conclusion
In the end, whichever country you choose, you’ll have the time of your life. England is a lot more hectic than Canada, but you’ve got access to Europe. Canada is more chilled, but you have the USA at your feet. This is one of those rare occasions where there is no wrong answer. Wherever you go, you’ll have the time of your life.
Top mistakes made by Working Holiday makers
- Choosing accommodation that’s way out of your price range
- Applying for higher paying jobs because the idea of earning 25K is depressing
- Not having enough cash initially
- Spending too much money in the first few weeks and then playing catch up for the rest of your trip
- Not doing your research and underestimating how long things take and how much things cost to set up.
