Guides
Working holiday guides
Practical, no-nonsense guides to money, tax and visas on your working holiday.
Australia
How to open a bank account for Australia working holiday
No utility bill, no fixed address, no two-week wait. Here's how working holiday makers actually get an Australian account set up — and get paid on payday one.
The 45% backpacker tax — and how to claim your refund
No tax file number means your boss withholds a brutal 45%. Here's how to avoid it — and claim back the average ~$2,600 refund when you leave.
How to claim your superannuation when leaving Australia
Your employer paid super on top of your wages — and you can claim it back when you leave. Billions sit unclaimed. Here's how to get yours via the DASP.
How to choose a super fund on a working holiday
Your employer pays 12% super into a fund for you. Choose well once and it follows you between jobs; choose badly and you're stuck with it. Here's the 60-second framework.
Best bank for a working holiday in Australia
Big-4 banks, Wise, Revolut, or Tern — which is actually best for working holiday Australia? Here's what to compare before you land.
How much money for a working holiday in Australia?
The visa costs AUD 670. You'll need AUD 5,000 in the bank plus an onward flight. Here's what your first month in Australia actually costs — and how to land with enough buffer.
Your first week in Australia: the money checklist
Get the financial foundations right in your first week and every paycheck after that will land cleanly. Here's exactly what to do — day by day.
Australia's Work and Holiday visa (462) for Latin Americans
Latin American and want to work and travel in Australia? The 462 visa is your path. Here's what you need to know: who qualifies, how the annual caps work, and what differs from the 417.
New Zealand
Opening a bank account in New Zealand on a working holiday
No IRD number means your employer withholds tax at 45%. Here's how to get banked quickly, grab your IRD number, and start receiving pay in NZD.
Best bank for a working holiday in New Zealand
ANZ, BNZ, or Tern — which is actually best for working holiday New Zealand? Here's what to compare before you land.
How much money for a working holiday in New Zealand?
You need NZD 4,200 in accessible funds plus an onward ticket. The visa fee varies by country. Here's what your first month in New Zealand actually costs — and how to land with enough buffer.
NZ tax for working holiday makers: the full guide
No IRD number means your employer must withhold tax at the brutal 45% no-notification rate. Here's how to get one, pick the right tax code, and claim your refund.
Canada
Banking in Canada on a working holiday (IEC)
You can't legally work in Canada without a SIN. Here's the fastest path to a SIN, a bank account, and your first CAD paycheck — in the right order.
Best bank for working holiday Canada (IEC)
Not every Canadian bank account is built for WHV travellers. Here's what to look for — and which options work best from day one.
How much money do you need for IEC Canada?
IEC fees total around CAD 370 before you even land. Add CAD 2,500 proof of funds and health insurance for your whole stay. Here's exactly what to budget.
UK & Europe
Opening a UK bank account on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa
No UK bank account means no pay — and the proof-of-address loop catches almost every new arrival. Here's how to break it fast.
Opening a bank account in Ireland on a working holiday
No PPS number means your employer taxes you at 40% emergency rate. Here's how to get banked, grab your PPS, and dodge the emergency tax trap.
Opening a bank account in Germany on a working holiday
You need an address to open a bank account, but you need a bank account to rent a flat. Here's how to break the Anmeldung loop and get paid in euros.
Japan
Before you leave home
Japan admin checklist before your working holiday: pension, health insurance, and tax
A working holiday of a year or more means sorting out Japan-side paperwork first. Pension, health insurance, resident tax, and bank accounts all need attention before you fly.
Korea-side admin checklist before your working holiday
From pausing your National Pension to keeping your Korean phone number active, here's the Korea-side admin list working holiday makers often miss before departure.
Taiwan departure checklist for working holiday makers
Visa approved, flights booked — but is the Taiwan admin done? Sorting health insurance, labour insurance, household registration, and banking before you leave means one less headache once you land.
Germany admin checklist before your working holiday
Leaving Germany for a year abroad means more than booking flights. Deregistration triggers consequences for health insurance, pension, taxes, and your bank account — here is what to do before you fly.
France admin checklist before your working holiday (PVT)
Heading off on a PVT to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand? The French admin side matters too — PUMa coverage, departure tax return, CFE vs private insurance, and keeping your bank account. Here is the full checklist.
Italy admin checklist before your working holiday
A working holiday of a year or more means sorting out Italy-side paperwork first. AIRE, health insurance, tax residency, SPID, and your bank account all need attention before you fly.
Funding your working holiday from Latin America
Getting your Latin American savings to Australia is harder than it looks. Currency controls, card taxes, Spanish-language bank statements, and uneven transfer rails all add friction. This guide shows you the way through.
Working holiday for Brazilians: what actually exists
Many Brazilian blogs list destinations that simply don't exist for Brazilian passport holders. This guide covers what's real: New Zealand (300 spots), France, Germany, Australia 462 — and explicitly what isn't (Canada IEC, Japan, Ireland, Portugal).
Brazil admin checklist before your working holiday
A 1-year working holiday may or may not justify filing Brazil's Declaração de Saída Definitiva. Understand the double-residency risk, what to do about INSS, your bank account, PIX, and SIM card before you board.