The short answer
- Who: young citizens of 11 countries and areas, mostly aged 18 to 30 or 35. US students and recent graduates of any adult age.
- How long: up to 12 months from arriving, 2 years for Canadians. No extensions.
- How: apply from home to the Irish embassy (ISD for Taiwan), with money, health insurance and usually a CV.
- On arrival: register for an IRP card (Stamp 1, €300) and get a PPS number.
- Work: casual or temporary, to fund your holiday.
Check your working holiday
Working holiday checker
Whether you qualify, for how long, and how to apply.
To register for the first time
From each Irish embassy’s working holiday page, and ISD for Taiwan. Nothing you enter is sent or saved. Places and dates change each year: check the embassy page before applying.
Country by country
| Passport | Age | Money to show (with a return ticket / without) | Apply to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | 18–30 | €2,500 | Embassy, Madrid |
| Argentina | 18–35 | €1,500 / €3,000 | Embassy, Buenos Aires (VFS) |
| Australia | 18–35 | AUD 2,500 / AUD 5,000 | Embassy, Canberra |
| Canada | 18–35 | Enough to support yourself | Embassy, Ottawa, or SWAP |
| Chile | 18–30 | €1,500 / €3,000 | Embassy, Santiago (VFS) |
| Hong Kong | 18–30 | HKD 40,000 / HKD 60,000 | Consulate General |
| Japan | 18–30 | JPY 500,000 | Embassy, Tokyo (VFS) |
| New Zealand | 18–30 | NZD 2,500 / NZD 5,000 | Embassy, Wellington |
| South Korea | 18–34 | €1,500 | Embassy, Seoul |
| Taiwan | 18–30 | €2,500 / €4,000 | ISD |
| United States | 18+, students or recent graduates | $1,500 | Consulate or Embassy for your state |
Every programme lasts 12 months, except Canada’s 2 years. Some have a yearly cap: 25 places for Andorra, 200 for Argentina, Chile and Hong Kong, and 400 for South Korea (by random draw) and Taiwan.
Ages are at the time you apply. Places, application dates and fees change each year, so check your embassy’s page before you apply. Some countries (Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea) also require you to live there when you apply.
How it works
- Apply from home to the embassy for your passport. Most ask for your passport, photos, a CV, proof of education, bank statements and health insurance covering hospital and repatriation for the whole stay.
- Get your authorisation and travel within its window: within 6 months for US citizens, 90 days for Hong Kong, 12 months for Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders.
- At the border, an immigration officer decides whether to let you in, and may ask to see your money.
- Register with immigration for an IRP card, Stamp 1, for €300: you need it to stay over 90 days.
- Get a PPS number to work.
Work rules
- Casual or temporary work to fund your holiday, not a permanent job.
- Australians: up to 6 months with any one employer. Hong Kong: up to 3 months. Canadians: no limit, and career-related work is welcome.
- Study: short courses are usually fine, up to 6 months for Korea and Taiwan.
- ISD warns that casual work is competitive, with plenty of students and young Irish and EU workers looking too.
Other routes
Not eligible, or want to stay longer? Look at coming to Ireland to work, coming to study, or, with an Irish grandparent, citizenship through a grandparent.
Common mix-ups
Common questions
Which countries have a working holiday agreement with Ireland?
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.
How old do I have to be?
It depends on the country: 18 to 30 for Andorra, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan; 18 to 34 for South Korea; 18 to 35 for Argentina, Australia and Canada. US citizens must be over 18, with no upper limit, but must be full-time students or graduates of the last 12 months.
How long can I stay?
Up to 12 months from the day you arrive, or up to 2 years for Canadians. It can't be extended.
Can I apply from inside Ireland?
No. You apply from home (or, for some countries, from where you live), and travel once you have the authorisation.
Do I need to register when I arrive?
Yes. To stay more than 90 days, register with immigration for an IRP card (Stamp 1), which costs €300. Canadians are asked to register within a month. US participants can book their appointment before they leave.
What work can I do?
Casual or temporary work to fund your holiday. Some countries limit time with one employer: 6 months for Australians, 3 months for Hong Kong participants. Canadians have no limit.
Can I do a second working holiday?
Most programmes are once only. US citizens can go again at least a year after their last authorisation expired, if they kept to its terms. Canadians can do the working holiday and the co-op internship authorisation once each.
Can I switch to a work permit or another permission while I'm here?
Not from inside Ireland. To stay on another basis, you leave and apply from outside.
Is my place guaranteed at the border?
No. An immigration officer still decides when you arrive, and may ask to see your money and insurance.
Sources
All sources checked on 4 Oct 2026.
- Working holiday authorisationDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Working holidays in IrelandImmigration Service Delivery
- US-Ireland Holiday Working Agreement (J1)Department of Foreign Affairs
- Working holiday programme (Canada)Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa
- Working Holiday Authorisations (Australia)Embassy of Ireland, Canberra
- Working holiday authorisation (New Zealand)Embassy of Ireland, Wellington
- Working Holiday Programme (Japan)Embassy of Ireland, Tokyo
- Working Holiday Authorisation (Hong Kong)Consulate General of Ireland, Hong Kong
- Working Holiday Programme (South Korea)Embassy of Ireland, Seoul
- Working Holiday Agreement (Chile)Embassy of Ireland, Santiago
- Working holiday programme (Argentina)Embassy of Ireland, Buenos Aires
- Andorran Working Holiday AgreementEmbassy of Ireland, Madrid