If you are enjoying your time overseas, you can stay until your visa expires to explore another part of the country. Alternatively, you could find another new seasonal role to work in for the next few months. However, if you are missing y
Looking for a way to travel without draining your savings? Seasonal jobs abroad allow Canadians to earn money while experiencing life in a new country. With a Working Holiday Visa, you can live and work in more than 30 destinations, whether you’re chasing summer in Europe or a winter ski season in Japan.
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.
| Country | Best Season | Popular Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Summer | Summer camps, hospitality |
| France | Summer | Tourism, hospitality |
| South Korea | Summer | Hospitality, tourism |
| Australia | Canadian winter | Hospitality, retail, tourism |
| Japan | Winter | Ski resorts, hotels |
| New Zealand | Winter & year-round | Tourism, hospitality |
| Spain | Spring | Hospitality, tourism |
Learn more about how we can help you secure a seasonal job abroad and start the adventure of a lifetime!
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 Guide to UK Summer Camp Jobs.
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. Once you’ve picked up on a bit of French, explore the seasonal work that France has to offer.
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.
Seasonal work is available in cafés, restaurants, hotels, vineyards, tourism, and holiday resorts, especially during the busy summer months.
The South Korean Working Holiday Visa allows you to work 40 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.
Common seasonal roles include cafés, restaurants, hostels, tourism, and customer service positions in major cities and coastal destinations.
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.
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.
Common seasonal jobs include:
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.
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.
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).
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.
Most employers recruit several months before each season begins.
General timeline:
| Season | Apply |
|---|---|
| Summer | January–April |
| Winter Ski Season | July–October |
| Spring | November–January |
| Fall | May–July |
Seasonal jobs abroad are a fantastic way to combine travel, work, and cultural exchange. From skiing in Japan and working at a UK summer camp to soaking up the sun in Australia, there’s a destination to suit every season.
With the right Working Holiday Visa and a little planning, you can earn money while exploring some of the world’s most exciting destinations.
Get in touch to find the program that’s the best fit for your travel goals.
If you are enjoying your time overseas, you can stay until your visa expires to explore another part of the country. Alternatively, you could find another new seasonal role to work in for the next few months. However, if you are missing y
There is nothing that prevents you from applying for a role before you leave home! Even though it can be tricky to secure an open ended contract before you leave Canada, it does tend to be easier to land seasonal positions in advance. As seasonal employers know their staffing needs quite far in advance, you should consider the time of year when roles are usually filled. In most cases, this tends to be around 3-6 months before the contract start date, but there may still be some positions available soon after the season begins. Roles advertised after the season begins tend to be for an immediate start, and are usually only available because customer demand has suddenly increased more than expected. This means that the range of roles available will likely be less, and you will have more competition to secure an offer.
Many seasonal roles include shared staff housing for either free, or a subsidized rate! This is a great option to save some money, and live close to your workplace. Alternatively, another option is to rent a private shared home with your new colleagues, or with some other locals from the area. This can be preferable for those who prioritize privacy over cost efficiency, or for those who already have friends living in the area.
While past work experience may help, enthusiasm and transferable skills (such as great communication abilities and attention to detail) can go a long way! Writing a detailed cover letter will help to convey your passion for the role, and you will also have the opportunity to promote yourself and your abilities during your interview. Large resorts and employers tend to have so many jobs available, that there is usually a role out there to suit you!
Looking for seasonal jobs abroad? Explore the best countries for Canadians, including Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand, and the UK, plus visa and job search tips.
While choosing a working holiday destination is not an easy task, we list our top five working holiday destinations for Canadians.
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