A Working Holiday Visa (WHV) done well starts with a structured plan, ideally put in place 3 to 6 months before departure. France has bilateral agreements with 15 countries and territories, from Canada to New Zealand, taking in Japan and Argentina along the way. Each destination sets its own age requirements, proof-of-funds thresholds and, in most cases, mandatory travel insurance. The 10 tips below walk you through every key step, from checking your eligibility to landing on day one.
1. Check your eligibility first
The very first question to answer: do you actually qualify? Most destinations require applicants to be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application. Argentina, Australia and Canada are more generous, accepting applications up to the age of 35.
Other conditions shared by most countries:
- A valid French passport covering the full length of your stay
- No dependent children
- No criminal record
- Not having already used a WHV for that country (with limited exceptions for Australia)
Check the specific requirements for your chosen destination on the official embassy website or on France Diplomatie, which lists all 15 partner countries with their detailed criteria.
2. Choose your destination with your eyes open
The 15 countries and territories open to French nationals under the Working Holiday programme are: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Mexico, Peru, Taiwan and Uruguay.
Some destinations (Australia, New Zealand) have no annual cap, so you can apply at any time. Others set a limited quota each year. If you have your sights set on a quota-based country, find out when applications open and have your paperwork ready well in advance.
Factor in the cost of living, job prospects in your field and the maximum permitted stay, which is generally 12 months, though Australia and Canada allow up to 24 months under certain conditions.
3. Submit your visa application early
Processing times vary widely depending on the destination and the time of year. For Australia and Chile, the entire application is handled online through the respective government portals. For other countries, you submit your dossier directly to the embassy or consulate.
Start pulling your documents together as soon as you have made your decision: passport photos, passport, proof of funds, criminal record certificate and, depending on the country, proof of travel insurance. Required documents differ from one country to the next, so always refer to the official list published by the relevant embassy.
4. Prove your funds: the amounts required by country
Every country sets a minimum proof-of-funds requirement to ensure you can support yourself without relying on public assistance. The amounts vary by destination:
| Destination | Minimum funds required |
|---|---|
| Australia | AUD 5,000 (approx. €3,000) |
| Japan | €3,100 |
| Hong Kong | HKD 25,000 (approx. €2,900) |
| Mexico, South Korea and others | Approx. €2,500 |
| Canada | CAD 2,500 (approx. €1,700) |
| Taiwan | €2,100 |
Beyond the official minimum, build in a buffer for your first few weeks: temporary accommodation on arrival, transport, food and settling-in costs before your first pay cheque lands. A good rule of thumb is to hold one to two months of living expenses on top of the required threshold.
5. Take out travel insurance: often mandatory, always essential
This is one of the most overlooked steps, yet one of the most critical. For the majority of WHV destinations, insurance covering the full length of your stay is required to obtain the visa or enter the country. This applies to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, among others.
Watch out for bank card cover: the travel insurance bundled with premium bank cards typically covers stays of up to 90 days. It does not meet the requirements of a one-year WHV.
A suitable WHV travel insurance policy should cover at minimum:
- Medical expenses and hospitalisation abroad
- Medical repatriation
- Third-party liability
- Round-the-clock emergency assistance
Healthcare costs in countries like Australia or Canada can be eye-watering without adequate cover. Even where insurance is not legally required (Japan, for example), it is strongly recommended. For a clear picture of how travel insurance differs from your standard health cover, read our guide on the differences between travel insurance and health insurance.
Get my WHV insurance quoteIf you want solid cover without breaking the bank, our article on affordable online travel insurance helps you compare options by profile and destination.
6. Adapt your CV to local standards
If working while you travel is part of the plan (that is, after all, the whole point of a WHV), tailor your CV to the conventions of your destination. In Australia or Canada, the standard resume includes no photo, no date of birth and no marital status. In Japan, employers typically expect the official “rirekisho” format.
Have a native speaker review your CV if at all possible. Once you arrive, target the sectors that hire WHV holders most readily: hospitality, seasonal farm work, tourism, domestic care and language teaching.
7. Sort out your first accommodation before you land
Arriving in a foreign country without somewhere to stay can turn your first few days into a stressful scramble. Book a temporary option for at least your first week: a hostel, a flatshare found through a specialist platform (Flatmates.com.au in Australia, Kijiji in Canada) or a friend’s sofa.
Avoid paying several months’ rent upfront from France based on an unverified listing: scams targeting WHV holders do exist. Take the time to view a property in person before committing once you have arrived.
8. Tie up your admin before you leave
Heading abroad for a year or more involves a few formalities that are easy to underestimate:
- Social security: notify your health insurance fund of your departure. Look into the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE) if you want to keep French public health cover while abroad.
- Banking: check your card’s fees for foreign payments and cash withdrawals. A fee-free digital bank can be a useful backup alongside your main account.
- Tax: working abroad may change your tax status. Speak to the tax authorities before you go.
- Tenancy and home insurance: give your landlord notice within the legal timeframe and cancel any ongoing contracts.
For a full checklist of these admin steps, our guide on how to prepare for an extended stay abroad walks you through it all.
9. Pick up the local language before you go
You do not need to be fluent, but a few weeks of practice can make a dramatic difference to how confident you feel on arrival. For English-speaking destinations, language apps or immersive podcasts are a quick way to shake off the rust.
For Japan, South Korea or Taiwan, learning at least the basic characters used in everyday signage (hiragana and katakana for Japanese, hangul for Korean) makes daily life considerably easier and shows employers and locals that you are genuinely committed to fitting in.
10. Stay flexible throughout your stay
A Working Holiday is an adventure by its very nature. Plans shift, jobs wrap up sooner than expected, chance encounters send you in new directions. That is a feature, not a bug.
Keep an emergency fund, stay plugged in to the WHV community (forums, online groups, local expat associations) and do not hesitate to move to a different city or region if the right opportunity comes up. Australia, Canada and Argentina are vast countries with very different realities from one area to the next.
Keep your family and friends back home informed of your movements and always have your nearest embassy or consulate’s contact details to hand. The right travel insurance policy is also one that includes a helpline available at any hour, wherever you are in the world.
FAQ
Is the Working Holiday Visa only for under-30s?
No. The age limit is 30 for most destinations, but Argentina, Australia and Canada have raised it to 35. Always check the specific age limit for your chosen country before applying, as conditions can change.
How far in advance should I start preparing my WHV application?
Allow at least 3 to 6 months, and even longer for quota-based destinations. Some countries open applications just once a year: having a complete dossier ready on day one can make all the difference between securing a place and missing out.
Is my bank card travel insurance enough for a WHV?
No. The cover included with bank cards typically applies to stays of up to 90 days. It does not meet the requirements of a one-year Working Holiday visa. Dedicated travel insurance is mandatory in most participating countries and strongly recommended everywhere else.
Can I take out WHV insurance after I have already left?
Some insurers do allow this, but many countries require proof of insurance at the visa application stage, before you even leave France. It is always safer to arrange your cover in advance to avoid holding up your visa application.
Do I need to speak the local language fluently to find work on a WHV?
No, particularly in the sectors that hire WHV holders most often: farm work, hospitality, catering, domestic care. In Australia or Canada, functional English is enough to get started. Positions also exist for non-native English speakers in French-language teaching or tourism.
