Going abroad is many people’s dream. There is a chance to travel, learn, and earn money at the same time. It is a working holiday. The Gazette would like to introduce this great chance.

● Working Holiday
A working holiday is a system that allows people to travel and work and to experience and learn about the culture of the countries which have concluded working holiday agreements with Korea. In other words, it is working and a holiday. Anyone can apply for it, regardless of his or her academic background, if he or she is over 18 but under 30. Married people can also apply if they don’t have children. People can be issued a visa only one time in their life by each country. People have to enter the country within 12 months of being issued a visa and the length of stay is 12 months from the date of entry. The visa can’t be changed to another visa from the working holiday country, but people can enter and leave the country freely.

● Countries with working holiday agreements with Korea
Korea has made agreements with 11 countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Taiwan, and Hong Kong). Among them, 4 countries (Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark) have no restriction as to quota for working holiday visas. Now, working holiday agreements are in the works with 5 countries (the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Israel).

About 40,100 Koreans participated in working holidays in 2008, 52,900 in 2009, and 49,100 in 2010. Among them, people who visited Australia comprised about 70-80%, followed by Japan, Canada, and New Zealand. The Gazette would like to introduce the working holiday to Australia, Canada, and Japan in this issue.



● Australia
Korea concluded its first working holiday agreement with Australia. A lot of Koreans visit this country for a working holiday because people can be issued a visa more easily than another country and the country is beautiful to travel around.

● Requirements
- Normally people have to have AU$5,000 and money to buy an air ticket.
- People can’t work for the same employer for over 6 months. If people work at a government assigned farm for over 3 months, they can extend their visa by 1 year.
- It costs AU$270 (about 300,000 won) to get a working holiday visa for Australia.
- You can study language for 17 weeks at most.
- You have to have MCHI (Medical and Comprehensive Hospitalization Insurance).
- You have to apply for a TFN (Tax File Number). It is a tax number that is needed to work in Australia legally. If you don’t give it to an employer within 28 days of starting work, the employer can collect 45% of your pay.

People usually work at farms, restaurants, gift shops, and shopping centers. Some people work as a cook or in construction. The minimum wage in Australia is $15.51 an hour. However, if you are good at English, you can get more money.

● Lodging
- A homestay is living in an Australian’s house. If you try a homestay, you can get much information from your homestay family and you can learn English and culture easily, but it is more expensive than other lodgings.
- A backpackers is a hostel for travelers where you can meet many foreigners. Usually, people look for roommates by staying for 2-3 days at a backpackers.
- Rent is looking for a house personally, and the contract is usually for 6 months.
- Sharing is sharing a room with a roommate.
- If you work at a farm, you can experience a farmstay, which is sharing a house with some people. It is cheap, so many people stay. In addition, people live in a caravan park.



● Japan
Japan is the second most popular working holiday country for Koreans.

● Requirements
- People who are over 18 but under 25 can apply.
- The number of working holiday visas for Japan is 7,200 each year, and it will be extended to 10,000 in 2012.
- The period for applying for the visa is divided into 4 quarters.

●Lodging
-You can find a house through real estate agents, magazines or the Internet.
- If you live in an apartment, you have to pay the rent once a month.
- A leopalace is a room which has furniture and home appliances. You can contract monthly or long-term for over 3 months.
-In addition, you can stay in a boarding house or dormitory.



● Canada
Canada is the third most popular working holiday country for Koreans.

●Requirements
- The number of working holiday visas for Canada is 4020.
- The period for applying for the visa is divided into 2 quarters, and it costs $150 to apply.
- You have to carry a SIN (Social Insurance Number) card to guarantee the right to work in Canada.

●Lodging
- Couch surfing is a community of people who want to provide their couch or floor to travelers. You can apply for it through http://www.couchsurfing.com/ and it is free.
- B&B (Bed & Breakfast) is run by a family. It is like the Korean minbak.

Next, we would like to introduce how to find a job during a working holiday.

● Finding work
- Look for work on Websites. There are some famous Websites to find work.
Australia (www.jobsearch.gov.au, www.mycareer.com.au)
Japan (http://weban.jp, http://froma.yahoo.co.jp)
Canada (http://www.monster.ca/)
- Find bulletin boards in universities
- Read magazines or newspapers
- Go to a career fair or an employment agency



● Au pair
An au pair is a person who plays a dual role as a nanny and mother’s helper. Au pairs live in a home and can learn language and earn money. They work about 40 hours a week, but it is different by family. The pay is about $150-350 a week. Every woman who is over 18 but under 30 can apply to be an au pair, and they can apply to any country which has concluded a working holiday agreement with Korea. If you want to apply to be an au pair in America, you have to be issued a J-1 visa. Women who are over 18 but under 26 can apply to be an au pair in America. Applicants should have over 100 or 200 hours experience looking after children. They usually take care of children for 8 hours. They can go to school or enjoy their free time in their spare time.

Nowadays, the countries which have concluded working holiday agreements with Korea are increasing. The Gazette hopes many Keimyung students apply for a working holiday visa and make their experience by themselves. The age limit is 30. Hurry up!