Not for the destinations most South Africans ask about. On 25 September 2026 we read the official lists of five governments and South Africa was not on any of them: Australia (Working Holiday Maker programme, Department of Home Affairs), New Zealand (Immigration New Zealand), Canada (International Experience Canada), the United Kingdom (Youth Mobility Scheme, GOV.UK) and Germany (Federal Foreign Office). Do not build a plan around a working holiday visa until you have found your passport on the destination government's own list.
Correction. An earlier version of this guide said Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Germany offer South Africans a working holiday visa. That was wrong, and we corrected it on 25 September 2026. If any other page, ours included, tells you otherwise, trust the government lists linked below.
What each government's list says
| Destination | Official scheme | Where we checked | South Africa listed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) | Home Affairs Working Holiday Maker programme reports, 31 December 2024 and 30 June 2025, which list every partner arrangement | No. The live eligibility list on the visa page could not be read by our checker, so confirm it there. |
| New Zealand | Working holiday visas | Immigration New Zealand, who can apply | No |
| Canada | International Experience Canada, Working Holiday category | IRCC, IEC eligibility | No |
| United Kingdom | Youth Mobility Scheme visa | GOV.UK, eligibility | No |
| Germany | Working Holiday programme | Federal Foreign Office, Working Holiday FAQ | No |
Age limits and fees only matter once your passport is on a list, so we do not quote them here. For reference, GOV.UK lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea for ages 18 to 35, and Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay for ages 18 to 30, plus ballot places for Hong Kong and Taiwan.
How to check any working holiday list yourself
- Go to the destination government's own site, not a travel blog or a visa agent.
- Find the page that lists eligible countries or passports for the scheme.
- Look for South Africa by name. If it is missing, that government cannot grant you the working holiday visa.
- Read what the same page says about other visas. Immigration New Zealand, for example, says applicants whose country is not listed may be able to apply for a different visa that allows work.
- Only then look at age limits, fees and proof of funds.
What South Africans can do instead
The route depends on where you want to go, and each one has its own rules and fees that you should read at source.
- A structured internship visa tied to a confirmed placement. A host organisation confirms the placement and you apply for the category the destination offers for internships. Our guide to internships abroad for South African students and the South African passport visa guide cover the routes we see most.
- The US J-1 exchange visitor visa. It is the route for a structured US internship or training placement sponsored by a US Department of State designated organisation. Current fees are on ice.gov/sevis and travel.state.gov. See J-1 sponsor programmes for South Africans.
- Germany. With no working holiday scheme for South African passports, read our guide to an internship in Germany for South African students and the German embassy's visa pages.
- A university exchange or placement. Ask your institution's international office what agreements it holds.
It is late September, when southern-hemisphere summer plans and January intakes are being decided, so this is the month to find out which route your passport actually allows. Start by building your profile: see how your free profile works, use the free internship toolkit, and look at an example profile.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries offer South Africans a working holiday visa?
In the five official lists we checked on 25 September 2026 (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany), South Africa does not appear. We have not found a working holiday scheme open to South African passports, and we will not name a country until a government page lists South African citizens.
Can South Africans get an Australian working holiday visa?
Australia's Department of Home Affairs requires a passport from an eligible country. South Africa is not among the partner arrangements in its Working Holiday Maker programme reports for 31 December 2024 and 30 June 2025. The live eligibility list on the visa page could not be read by our checker, so confirm it yourself at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you plan around it.
Does New Zealand offer South Africans a working holiday visa?
South Africa is not on the list of countries on Immigration New Zealand's page for working holiday visas. The page states that if your country is not listed, a working holiday visa cannot be granted, and that you may be able to apply for a different visa that allows you to work in New Zealand.
Can I apply for a working holiday visa to Canada or the UK with a South African passport?
Not on the lists we read. Canada's International Experience Canada Working Holiday category does not list South Africa, and neither does the UK Youth Mobility Scheme list on GOV.UK.
What if a website says South Africans can apply?
Check the government's own list before you pay for anything. A visa can only be granted to passports on the destination government's list, and a summary on a third-party website, including ours, is not a substitute for that list.
What can I do instead if my passport is not on a list?
The route depends on the destination. Options include a structured internship visa tied to a confirmed host organisation, a university exchange arranged through your international office, or a sponsored programme such as the US J-1 exchange visitor visa, which is sponsored by a US Department of State designated organisation. Check current requirements and fees with the destination government.
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