Introduction
The UK allows for Commonwealth Citizens (therefore South African's) between the age of 17 and 30 inclusive to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. This section deals with how you go about getting a Working Holiday Visa and what to do once you land in the UK.
What is a Working Holiday?
The working holidaymaker scheme is an arrangement where a person aged between 17 and 30 inclusive, can go to the United Kingdom (UK) for an extended holiday for up to two years and you may also work full time.
How do I qualify as a working holidaymaker?
You qualify as a working holidaymaker if:
- You are a Commonwealth citizen, British Dependant Territories citizen or British Overseas citizen ie you are a South African Citizen
- You want to come to the UK for an extended holiday and intend to take some incidental employment.
- You are single or are married to a person who also qualifies as a working holidaymaker and you plan to take the holiday together.
- You do not have any dependent children who are aged five years or over, or who will be five before you complete your holiday.
- Your holiday, and not work is the main reason for your visit.
- You can support and accommodate yourself without help from public funds
- You do not have any commitments which require a regular salary ie house bond, car loan etc.
- You can pay for your onward journey and you plan to leave the UK at the end of your holiday.
- Evidence of your future plans on return to South Africa.
How long can I stay?
You can only stay in the UK for two years as a working holidaymaker, from the date your visa is issued. Any time you spend outside the UK during that period will be counted as part of the two years.
What type of work can I do?
You are permitted to work full-time.
What will I need to make my application?
You will need:
- A completed visa application form(VAF1)
- Your valid passport
- Two recent passport sized photographs
- The visa fee, which is non-refundable, and must be paid in Rands either by cash or postal orders where the applicant attends in person to the Consular Section in Pretoria or by postal order when an application is submitted through the TNT courier service or through the post or other couriers;
- Evidence of your financial standing and funds.
The Entry Clearance Officer may then be able to decide on your application without further enquiries. You may however, be asked to attend an interview and further documentation could be asked for at that time.
Applications must be made to the Consular Section in Pretoria either in person, or through the authorised TNT courier service, or any other third party or through South African post.
What funds will I need to qualify as a working holidaymaker?
There is no specific amount of money that you must have in order to qualify for entry as a working holidaymaker. However, you must be able to show that you have enough money to pay for your return journey and also pay for your accommodation and living expenses FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AFTER ARRIVAL WITHOUT RECOURSE TO PUBLIC FUNDS, OR FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IF YOU HAVE A JOB ARRANGED IN ADVANCE.
In order to establish how much money you will need we recommend that you make your own enquiries, for example through regional tourist offices or through UK websites and newspapers, about the area in which you wish to stay. This will help you find out how much you are likely to have to spend on accommodation, travel and other basic living expenses. You will then have a clear idea of how much money you will need.
What are public funds?
As a working holidaymaker you must be able to maintain and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:
- income support/Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA)
- housing and homelessness assistance
- housing benefit and council tax benefit
- working families' tax credit
- a social payment
- child benefit
- any disability allowance
