Aside from strict regulations and eligibility criteria, another challenge many tech professionals often deal with is proof of funds or income to show that they can support themselves while living abroad. In many cases, the financial threshold set by traditional work or study visas is high, even for applicants who already have in-demand skills.
As a result, countries have introduced different visa options to cater to this gap, creating pathways for people who want to stay, work, or study without meeting heavy upfront financial requirements. Although temporary, they still allow applicants to live legally, earn income, and gain international exposure.
One such pathway is the Working Holiday Visa, valid for 12 to 24 months depending on the country. It allows young travellers, around the age of 18 to 30 or in some cases up to 35, to work in the issuing country to fund their stay, while also supporting cultural exchange and short-term mobility.
In 2026, several countries are already issuing Working Holiday Visas and have confirmed active programs for eligible applicants.
Below are 10 countries with active Working Holiday Visa programs for 2026, along with key details on fees and proof of funds to qualify.
/1. Canada (International Experience Canada or IEC)
Application Fees: CAD 184.75 ($136.27)
Age Limit: Mostly between 18 and 35 years old
Proof of Fund or Income: At least CAD 2,500 ($1,844) to cover expenses.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa:24 months
Family Inclusion: Does not allow direct inclusion of family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Takes 56 days (8 weeks) for the first stage and 2 to 3 months to get the visa.
/2. Japan
Application Fees: No direct application fee, but agency fee may apply
Age Limit: Mostly between 18 and 30 years old
Proof of Fund or Income: Around 770,196 Yen ($5,020), depending on your country.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa:12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not allow direct inclusion of family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of switching to a work-based visa.
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes 5 to 14 working days.
/3. South Korea(H-1)
Application Fees: Between ₩57,000–₩130,000 KRW ($40–$90), depending on your country
Age Limit:18 to 35 years old; however, this age varies depending on partner countries
Proof of Fund or Income: Roughly ₩3,000,000 KRW ($2,088) to cover expenses.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa: 12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not include family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Processing takes 10 to 20 working days.
/4. Australia (Subclass 417)
Application Fees: AUD670 ($471)
Age Limit:18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries)
Proof of Fund or Income: At least AUD$5,000 ($3,516) to cover expenses.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa:12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not include family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes 39 to 61 days.
/5. New Zealand
Application Fees: Between NZD $280 ($170) to NZD $840 ($508), depending on your country
Age Limit:18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries)
Proof of Fund or Income: At least NZ$4,200 ($2,541) to cover expenses.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa: Generally, up to 12 months, 23 months for Canadians, and 36 months for British citizens
Family Inclusion: Does not include family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes within 20 working days.
/6. United Kingdom (Youth Mobility Scheme visa (T5))
Application Fees: Roughly £319 ($440).
Age Limit: Mostly between 18 and 30 years old (18 to 35 for residents of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).
Proof of Funds or Income: At least £2,530 ($3,486) in savings.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa:24 months
Family Inclusion: Does not allow direct inclusion of family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of switching to a work-based visa.
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes 20 working days (around 3 weeks).
/7. Chile
Application Fees: Usually from $50 to $150, depending on where you are applying from
Age Limit: 18–30 years old for most countries, except for Canada, Hungary, New Zealand, and Switzerland, which are 18–35 years old.
Proof of Funds or Income: Roughly $3,000, depending on your nationality.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa: 12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not include family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes 15 to 20 working days.
/8. Germany
Application Fees: €75 ($90).
Age Limit: 18–30 years old for most countries, except for Canada (18–35) and South Korea (18–34).
Proof of Funds or Income: Roughly €2,466 ($2,943) to cover expenses.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa: 12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not include family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes within 20 working days (around 2 to 3 weeks).
/9. France
Application Fees: €99 ($118).
Age Limit: Often within the range of 18-30 or 18-35, depending on your country.
Proof of Funds or Income: Around €3,000 ($3,581).
Duration of Working Holiday Visa:12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not allow direct inclusion of family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of switching to a work-based visa.
Processing Timelines: Generally, processing takes around 2 to 8 weeks.
/10. Poland
Application Fees: Around PLN 900 ($255)
Age Limit: 18 to 30 years old
Proof of Fund or Income: Minimum PLN 2,500 ($710) to cover expenses.
Duration of Working Holiday Visa: Valid for a maximum of 12 months
Family Inclusion: Does not include family members
Pathway to Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Does not directly lead to permanent residence (PR) but can serve as a means of getting other visa types
Processing Timelines: Takes between 15 calendar days and 8 weeks.
David Adubiina
