Guide to working abroad when you’re over 30

Typically, many working holiday opportunities are for odd jobs designed for people fresh out of school, like bartending, picking fruits at an orchard or serving customers. It’s a common way for young adults to get out and see the world, gain work experience and make a little cash while on a gap year or backpacking.

But that doesn’t mean you’re automatically excluded if you’re over 30, so don’t worry about having missed out by not taking off overseas sooner! Some countries still allow over 30s to apply for this type of visa and there are more opportunities beyond the traditional working holiday visa.

If you want to see the world on a budget, make sure you prepare your passport, visas, luggage and travel insurance before getting on the plane! No matter the reason you’re travelling overseas, it’s still important to take out travel insurance before you go.

When getting travel insurance quotes, you should check the policy wording to ensure you have adequate cover. Not all travel insurance policies will cover you if something happens that you need to claim for while working for wages or as a volunteer. If you plan on working overseas, it’s important to check the PDS to ensure you understand the cover provided if you need to claim for a loss or incur any legal liabilities while working. If you’re still not sure, you should discuss this with your insurer.

Need help looking for the right policy? Try our free travel insurance comparison service and be ready for adventure in no time.

Getting a working holiday visa over 30 can be difficult, but a few countries may have working holiday visa options for you. As of July 2025, there are seven eligible countries for over 30s’ working visas.¹ Their current age limits for working holiday visas are:

• Canada – 18 to 35 years
• Denmark – 18 to 35 years
• France – 18 to 35 years
• Republic of Ireland – 18 to 35 years
• Italy – 18 to 35 years
• The United Kingdom (UK) – 30 to 35 years.

In addition, New Zealand doesn’t require a visa application to work and has no age limit for Australian passport holders.² The working holiday visa conditions may also vary from country to country so be sure to research the criteria for your preferred destination.

The expectations for your working day (e.g. how long it will be and what you will be required to do) will be made with your host family. You will live in your host family’s home, eat meals with them and work with them on the farm during the day.

If the idea of visiting an amazing destination and understanding the everyday life of the locals appeals, this may suit you. However, if you need your own space and are looking to develop your own social life, it may not. If your farm job requires manual labour, be sure to consult your travel insurance provider to see if this type of work is covered under your policy.

If you choose to go WWOOFing, there are no essential costs except for your flight and travelling to the farm. It’s one of the most inexpensive ways to complete a working holiday. However, it’s always good to have enough funds to support yourself if any of your hosting situations fall through or you want to travel as a tourist as well.

If earning money and having a bit of freedom around how you spend your after-work hours appeals to you, this could be the one for you. However, teaching is a hard gig, so don’t take it on lightly.

It’s perfect for someone with experience in teaching or working with young people, or who enjoys helping people in their jobs. Teaching also takes maturity, so it could be a good gig if you’re over 30 and looking to work overseas.

If you’re interested in travelling to specific countries, consider checking whether that country has any programs to support you, such as the Jet Program in Japan.

You’ll get paid, but the rates will depend on the school you’re teaching at and the general rates for teachers in that country. However, since you’ll have incoming pay packets, money should be less of a worry than when you’re just travelling. Be aware of rental rates and standard costs of living compared to the agreed income when choosing your destination.

If you want to work abroad and travel cheaply while giving back to the communities you’re spending time in, this is a great way to do it. However, as with WWOOF, you’ll be interacting with the people you work with 24/7, so it depends on what your wants and needs are.

One benefit, however, is that many of these jobs are not full-time and give you greater opportunity to explore and involve yourself in a new culture. Like with WWOOF, check visa requirements before travelling overseas to work on a farm.

This is another way to travel long term without spending a lot of money, as your flights will likely be the most expensive purchase you’ll need to make. Some hosts may require you to purchase and cook your own meals, and others may include meals in exchange for your work, so be sure to research your host and understand exactly what’s included before you depart.

Depending on the organisation, volunteering will suit you if you have an appropriate skill (or are volunteering through a program that allows unskilled workers) or if you enjoy working to benefit disadvantaged people and communities. When you volunteer in a program like this, you make a real contribution to a community, and you’ll develop a real understanding of another culture.

When it comes to volunteering, costs can vary quite significantly. For example, if you’ve been chosen for a program by Australian Volunteers, you’ll likely be paid a monthly stipend to cover food and board while away, though the amount may vary depending on what job you’re doing.

Some volunteer opportunities require you to pay for the experience, which can cost up to a few thousand dollars. But if you’re just working for food and accommodation, this is another way to travel long term without spending a lot of money; your flights will be the most expensive purchase you’ll need to make.

If you love dogs, cats and pets in general, you might love house sitting as the willingness to take care of pets is particularly desirable. House swapping is a great option for someone who lives in their own home and in an interesting area. However, it’s important to look for reputable hosts to stay safe on your travels.

These scenarios can be quite cheap in terms of accommodation, but you’ll still need money for day-to-day expenses, and it’s a good idea to have enough money to cover accommodation in case something falls through. If you combine these accommodation hunting strategies with teaching or working elsewhere, this would be a great way to experience a new city.

This could be for you if you have an appropriate skill and like the idea of working somewhere you can meet lots of different people and travel by sea to different overseas destinations. What’s more, you may benefit from this arrangement if you prefer having your visas and travel arrangements taken care of for you.

However, working on a cruise ship typically means you’re working seven days a week for the entirety of your contract, which isn’t for everyone. Any exploring at different ports can only happen if your schedule aligns.

You’ll be paid a wage and your accommodation and food on board will be provided, so your money can be spent more on having fun then necessities. You might only need to spend money on additional snacks, toiletries or anything you purchase while exploring a port destination.

While working overseas is different to your typical holiday, you still need the same kind of benefits to be covered for the length of your trip. Even if you plan to stay primarily in one place, you can never predict when something might go wrong, so consider purchasing travel insurance that covers working holidays with medical cover before you depart.

Remember that you can’t work on a visitor visa (but sometimes you’re allowed to volunteer), so before signing up to work overseas, you should check your visa requirements. The type of visa you may need will vary depending on the country you want to visit, so research well in advance before committing to an overseas job.

Many overseas job opportunities involve staying directly with your employers and working alongside them without any official work protections. Before departing on a volunteer trip or WWOOF adventure, be sure your employer is who they say they are; check reviews and comments from past workers, ask questions and have a backup plan if your host accommodation doesn’t work out.

On a tourist visa you can travel with your children, but your eligibility is different when wanting to become a working holiday maker. Dependent children are usually not allowed to accompany you on your trip so this type of travel may not be possible for everyone.

If you’re planning on travelling to a country that doesn’t speak English as their native language, gain some language skills before departing, such as trying your hand at Spanish if you’re heading down to Argentina. Not only will it endear you more to the locals, but it’ll also make communicating on a daily basis much simpler, particularly if you plan on staying longer than a few weeks.