Working Holidaymaker

Commonwealth citizens aged between 17 and 30 inclusive can come to the UK on holiday for up to 2 years during which time they are permitted to take employment incidental to their holiday. A working holidaymaker is permitted to work full-time for up to 1 year providing that the employment which they take does not constitute “pursuing a career”. After a working holidaymaker has been in the UK for a period of 1 year, they can apply to switch into work permit employment if they are entering a "shortage occupation".

To qualify as a working holidaymaker, the applicant must:

be a commonwealth citizen;
be aged between 17 and 30 inclusive, (or was so aged when first given leave to enter in this capacity);
be unmarried, (or married to a person who also meets the requirements) and the parties intend to take a working holiday together;
have the means to pay for his onward journey;
be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds;
intend to take employment incidental to the holiday but not to engage in business, provide services as a professional sportsman or entertainer, or pursue a career in the UK;
not have dependant children of 5 years of age or over or who will reach that age before the end of the working holiday;
not have any commitments that will require him to earn a regular income;
intend to leave the UK at the end of the working holiday;
if having previously spent time in the UK as a working holidaymaker, is not seeking leave to enter to a date beyond the 2 years granted from initial entry to the UK; and
hold a valid entry clearance.

A working holidaymaker cannot apply in the UK to vary his status to business person, self-employed person, personal of independent means or investor, or fiancée.

If the working holidaymaker is a non-visa national, they can apply to vary their status to that of student.

Please contact David Robinson or Evan Remedios on +44 (0)20 7038 3980 or at info@rlegal.com if you would like to discuss your immigration requirements.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this brief guide is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, it is written as a general guide only and it is strongly recommended that specific advice is sought before action is taken.