Working holiday authorisation

Any US citizen, over the age of 18, who:

a) is currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or;

b) is currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to certificate/diploma leading to a degree described at a) above, or;

c) has graduated from a programme of study described at a) or b) above within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the relevant Consulate/Embassy may be considered eligible for the programme as long as they meet all other requirements.

Those studying for professional qualifications (e.g. nursing, accountancy), or who have completed such professional qualifications within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the relevant Consulate/Embassy may apply as long as evidence of recognition thereof by an official US professional body/institution is presented.

Any US citizen, over the age of 18, who:

a) is currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or;

b) is currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to certificate/diploma leading to a degree described at a) above, or;

c) has graduated from a programme of study described at a) or b) above within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the relevant Consulate/Embassy may be considered eligible for the programme as long as they meet all other requirements.

However a US postal address must be provided for correspondence.

The Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA), if issued, and other documents (e.g. US passport) will only be sent to a US postal address.

You should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate responsible for the area in which this address is located.

No. Only US citizens, over the age of 18, who:

a) are currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or;

b) are currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to certificate/diploma leading to a degree described at a) above, or;

c) have graduated from a programme of study described at a) or b) above within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the relevant Consulate/Embassy may be considered eligible for the programme as long as they meet all other requirements.

Applicants may be considered eligible for the Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) programme if their application and initial documentation are received by the relevant Embassy or Consulate within 12 months of the date of the conferral of their degree (i.e. the date on their degree or diploma).

If a degree or diploma has not yet been conferred, applicants can submit another form of proof such as their official transcripts or a letter from their university, to show that they graduated within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the Consulate/Embassy, or that they are still studying.

It is not necessary to have confirmed employment in Ireland before applying for a WHA or before travelling to Ireland.

The Working Holiday Authorisation does not impose any restrictions on the type of work participants can engage in, as long as it is in line with Irish law.

The WHA does not impose limits on the number of hours participants can work per day/week/month, as long as it is in line with Irish labour legislation.

US citizens who wish to wish to undertake an approved full time degree programme lasting more than 90 days in Ireland do not require a visa to enter Ireland.

However, they are required to register with the Garda Naturalisation and Immigration Bureau or their nearest Garda Síochána District Headquarters Station as soon as possible after arrival in Ireland, and within a maximum of 90 days of arrival. For more information, please visit the website of the Irish Immigration Service website.

Once an application has been approved, the applicant will receive a WHA document from the Irish Embassy or Consulate which grants authorisation to work and travel in Ireland for up to 12 months.

This 12-month period starts on the date of the applicant’s arrival in Ireland and the applicant must arrive in Ireland within six months of the date of issue on the WHA. For example, if the WHA was issued on 1 January 2015 it must be presented at an Irish port of entry by 1 June 2015.

If the applicant does not use their WHA to enter Ireland within this six-month period, the authorisation will be void and the applicant must apply again if they still wish to participate in the programme. 

No. The Working Holiday Authorisation is valid for 12 months only, from the date of arrival in Ireland.

Nationals of the United States who are already in Ireland with an immigration status other than that based on a Working Holiday Authorisation may not convert to permission based on a Working Holiday Authorisation without leaving the State and re-entering on the basis of the valid Working Holiday Authorisation.

Yes. US citizens may avail of the WHA programme on more than one occasion as long as they meet all of the requirements each time.

However, applicants may not apply for a second or subsequent WHA whilst their previous WHA is still valid. Furthermore, applicants may not apply for a second or subsequent WHA for at least one year after the date of expiry of their previous WHA.  Applicants seeking to apply to the WHA programme for a second or subsequent time must have abided by the terms of their previous WHA(s) and must have left Ireland before expiry of their previous WHA(s).

Applicants may not apply to the WHA programme while in Ireland. 

US citizens who are granted a Working Holiday Authorisation do not need to apply for a visa or employment permit, but they must register with the Garda Naturalisation and Immigration Bureau or their nearest Garda Síochána District Headquarters Station as soon as possible after arrival in Ireland, and within a maximum of 90 days of arrival.

At time of writing there is a charge of €300 for registration. 

Applicants must satisfy the Embassy or Consulate that they have adequate health insurance coverage in Ireland for the duration of their stay in the country.

This is to ensure that, should health coverage be required by the applicant while in Ireland, the cost of this coverage will not fall to the Irish State.

Applicants must provide evidence that they have health insurance to cover any medical treatment they may require whilst in Ireland for the full duration of their stay (i.e. 12 months or an alternative period of time as evidenced by their return flight tickets).

Many insurance policies will provide coverage abroad for a limited period of time only (e.g. 30 or 60 days) so applicants should take care to ensure that their insurance will cover them for the entire duration of their trip to Ireland.

No, but you do have to show travel tickets that indicate when you will arrive Ireland (from the US or another country) and that you will be leaving Ireland within 12 months of arrival (to the US or another country).

If travelling to/from a country other than the US, you must make sure you meet the visa/entry requirements for that country.

If it is not possible to purchase a flight ticket for your intended return date then we suggest you purchase a flexible return ticket and amend your return ticket once it is possible to do so.

However, the maximum validity of the WHA is 12 months from the date of arrival in Ireland and applicants must leave Ireland on or before this date.