Partner countries
Young citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States
What you get
- An eligibility check against your country's programme rules
- Help to prepare and submit your application to the right embassy or office
- A review of your documents and finances
About this service
Working Holiday Authorisation
The Working Holiday Authorisation lets young people from partner countries spend up to a year in Ireland (two years for Canadians), travelling and taking casual work to fund their stay. It's issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs through Ireland's embassies, and places are limited. We check your eligibility, prepare your application and guide you on registering when you arrive. Each country's working holiday programme has its own application window, fee and documents, and places are limited. We check your country's current rules and help you apply as soon as the window opens.
€615
Fixed fee
5
Areas we cover
6
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
Taiwanese citizens
Taiwanese citizens, who apply to ISD under a separate programme
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Citizenship and age
You're a citizen of a participating country and within its age limit (usually 18 to 30, and up to 35 for some, such as Canada)
02
Apply before travelling
You apply from outside Ireland, before travelling
03
Funds
You have enough funds to support yourself, at least at the start of your stay
04
Casual work
Your work is casual and incidental to your holiday
05
Programme rules
You meet your country's programme rules, such as passport validity and insurance
Our promise
What's included
Working Holiday Authorisation
€615
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 6 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We check your eligibility and your country's programme rules.
- 2Step 2
We prepare your application and check every document.
- 3Step 3
You submit it to the embassy or office with the fee.
- 4Step 4
We support you until a decision is made.
- Step 5
After arrival, you register your permission if you'll stay more than 90 days.
Good to know
Our fee
€615 VAT included. Government fees are separate.
Government fees
Set by each programme, for example CAD $150 for Canadians. Registration in Ireland costs €300.
Processing time
Varies by embassy, for example 4 to 6 weeks for Canadian applications.
Stamp 1, no renewals
The authorisation is on Stamp 1, can't be renewed, and can't be changed to another permission in Ireland.
Limited places
Places are limited, and some programmes process applications in batches, so apply as soon as your programme opens.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
A Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) lets young people from Ireland's partner countries spend up to a year in Ireland, travelling and taking casual work to fund their stay. Canadians can stay for up to 2 years. The programmes are based on reciprocal agreements, and Ireland currently has them with Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, with a separate programme for Taiwan run by ISD. Unlike most Irish immigration permissions, the WHA is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs through Ireland's embassies and consulates, and each country's programme sets its own age limits, fees and documents: usually ages 18 to 30, and up to 35 for some, including Canada. Applicants need enough money to support themselves at the start of their stay, and they must apply from outside Ireland. Holders staying more than 90 days register their permission on Stamp 1, and they can take short courses of up to six months. The authorisation can't be renewed or changed to another permission in Ireland, so holders must leave when it ends.
Yes, you can take short courses of up to six months.
No. You must apply before you travel.
Not on this permission. You must leave by the expiry date and apply for any new permission from outside Ireland.
Nationals of participating countries generally don't need an entry visa for Ireland, but you remain subject to the normal checks at the border.
The authorisation is for casual work that supports your holiday. It isn't designed for a permanent job with one employer.
Yes, if you stay more than 90 days. You register your permission and pay the €300 fee.
Ready when you are
Get started with Working Holiday Authorisation
€615
€615
Working Holiday Authorisation