Working holiday visas for American citizens

Every working holiday visa American citizens can apply for, in one place. Compare the age limit, cost, and how long you can stay, then go straight to the route that fits. Every option is checked against the issuing government’s own pages.

Compare your options

Where American citizens can go

Sort by any column to find the route that fits. Each row is verified against its government source and links through to the full requirements.

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Destination	Age limit	Visa cost	Maximum stay	Funds required	Quota or cap
AustraliaVerified 10 June 2026	18-30	AUD 670	36 months	ApproxAUD 5,000 for initial stay + onward fare	Uncapped
Work rights Any kind of work; usually max 6 months with the same employer. Tax + superannuation apply. Medical requirements Must meet health requirements. May need to undergo a medical examination Reciprocal healthcare No. You will need your own health cover. Funds required in full Approx. AUD 5,000 for initial stay + onward fare Application notes Dual nationals holding a 417-country passport can use 417 instead (no education requirement; some 417 countries allow to 35). Full Australia visa details →Government source →
New ZealandVerified 19 June 2026	18-30	NZD 100	12 months	NZD 4,200	CappedOpen (no ballot)
Work rights Any job, but: no permanent job; must work for an employer under an employment contract or contract for services; cannot operate a business as an owner (wording rolled out from 20 Apr 2026; France/Germany pages still show older wording). No per-employer time limit stated. Medical requirements Must meet New Zealand health requirements Reciprocal healthcare No. You will need your own health cover. Funds required in full NZD 4,200 Application notes Must be a US citizen and living in the USA when applying Full New Zealand visa details →Government source →

AustraliaVerified 10 June 2026

Age limit: 18-30
Visa cost: AUD 670
Maximum stay: 36 months
Funds required: ApproxAUD 5,000 for initial stay + onward fare
Quota or cap: Uncapped

New ZealandVerified 19 June 2026

Age limit: 18-30
Visa cost: NZD 100
Maximum stay: 12 months
Funds required: NZD 4,200
Quota or cap: CappedOpen (no ballot)

Once you've chosen

Get set up, wherever you land

Banking, SIM, tax, and a first-week checklist for the destinations you're weighing up.

Australia

Living guide →First-week checklist →

New Zealand

Living guide →First-week checklist →

Questions

Working holidays for American citizens

Which working holiday visa is easiest for American citizens?

There is no single easiest option. It depends on what matters to you: whether there is an annual cap, how much money you need to show, how long you can stay, and the work conditions. Compare every verified destination side by side in the table above.

Where can American citizens do a working holiday?

American citizens can currently apply for verified working holiday visas in Australia and New Zealand. Compare them side by side above, then open the route that fits for the full requirements and how to apply.

How many countries can American citizens do a working holiday in?

We currently list 2 verified working holiday destinations for American citizens. We add more as each route is checked against its official government source.

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