The 7 Best Countries for Seasonal Jobs Abroad

How to Get a Seasonal Job Abroad

The best way to get a seasonal job abroad is through the Working Holiday Visa. To cut a long story short, the Canadian Government has an agreement with over 30 countries allowing young Canadians to live and work across the world. This work permit gives you the opportunity to get a job, stay far longer than a tourist and experience a country like a local – all without draining your bank account! But with so many different countries to choose from (check out the countries where Canadians can do a working holiday), knowing where to go can be half the challenge. That’s where we step in. After much deliberation, our international team of travellers has rounded up the top seven countries to find seasonal jobs abroad…

The United Kingdom

The UK draws an unjust reputation for dreary weather, but the summer months are marked by long sunny days, with some of Europe’s best events to boot. Cultural capitals such as London, Manchester and Edinburgh come alive during summer with an endless roster of events; from gigs to global theatre tours, foodie pop-ups, iconic music festivals (we’re looking at you, Glasto), and so much more.

On our UK Camps Jobs Program, we’ll secure you a seasonal summer job abroad before you leave Canada. And not just any job, a summer camp job allows you to live and work in some of the UK’s most iconic settings. For a flavour of some of the seasonal summer jobs available, see our 2023 Guide to UK Summer Camp Jobs.

France

What better place to find a seasonal summer job abroad than France? From fresh croissants by the Eiffel Tower to long walks in the Champs-Élysées; basking in the sun of the French Riviera or wine tasting in Bordeaux, a French Working Holiday Visa will make all those dreams a reality.

The icing on the cake? The French Working Holiday Visa works in France’s overseas departments and regions. These include Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, La Réunion, Mayotte and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Some of these territories have different summer seasons, so you can spend an entire year chasing summer.

South Korea

The South Korean Working Holiday Visa allows you to work 25 hours per week so you’ll have plenty of time to experience South Korea’s summer. By which we mean the emerald waters of Jeju Island and the mud festival of Boryeong; the beaches of Busan and the many hikes of Seoraksan National Park. Not forgetting the vibrancy of summer in Seoul. These are just a few reasons why South Korea is the perfect place to find a seasonal job abroad.

Australia

A bit of a cheat, Australia is the perfect place to escape Canadian winters. As the weather grows colder in North America, Oceania’s summer begins. Expect warm weather, friendly culture, sandy beaches and plenty of other working holidayers. Whether you head to a big city like Melbourne or Sydney, a beach town like the Gold Coast or Byron Bay, or a smaller city like Adelaide or Perth, you’re sure to enjoy your winter Down Under.

Australia is a super popular destination for Canadians looking for winter seasonal jobs abroad. The infrastructure is quite similar, the language is the same and yet, it’s still plenty different enough to make it an adventure! As for finding work, check out some of the short-term job opportunities for Canadians in Australia.

Japan

Picture this: you clock off from working on the mountains to shred powder on the slopes. After navigating waist-deep fluffy powder, soak in onsens (hot springs) with friends and warm up with steaming bowls of ramen and sake. On the weekends, hop on the shinkansen for a trip to the city: Kyoto, Tokyo, Sapporo or maybe Hokkaido this time. You can experience it all on our Japan Ski Resort Program, as we’ll guarantee you a resort job in Japan’s top ski resorts, guide you on your working holiday visa, plus a whole lot more.

New Zealand

Remember the little season switch going on with Australia? New Zealand has that too. However, whether you choose to head to New Zealand during their winter or in the middle of our Canadian winter, you won’t regret it.

Home to breathtaking landscapes, the best road trips ever and cosmopolitan cities like Auckland; West Coast beaches, Hobbiton, and incredible Māori culture; not forgetting good vibes, great seasonal work opportunities and plenty of like-minded travellers and fun-loving Kiwis. Really, Aotearoa is a great place to be year-round.

Spain

There’s nothing that quite compares to Spain in spring. Once you’ve picked up a bit of Spanish, finding seasonal work abroad here is the start of a beautiful affair. From tapas to fiestas, siestas to glasses of sangria, whether in Granada, Barcelona or on Bolonia’s sand dunes, springtime is when Spain is best experienced (although, if we’re being honest, you can’t really go wrong with any season. Spain does, after all, experience summer year-round).

Japan

While Japan has already been featured as a great place to find a seasonal winter job abroad, it would be a disservice to the country to ignore its beauty in both spring and autumn. Cherry blossoms transform Japan into a magical land come springtime. Pink and white flowers take over cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, and as the season goes on they fall down – just like snow – and cover streets, rivers and parks in shades of pink.

In autumn, Japanese maple trees blush red and the foliage turns shades of yellow and orange. The oppressive heat of summer in Japan has receded and the soft breeze along with the colours breathes new life into the land of the rising sun. What season do you see yourself thriving in? Curious to learn more? Check out our Japan Working Holiday Programs.