Young Traveller Working Holiday Visa

What do I need for a young traveller (working holiday) visa for France?

First and foremost, it’s important that the main reason for your trip is tourism and exploring French culture. The goal behind these is to make longer trips accessible to young travellers by letting them supplement their travels with a bit of work. 

You’ll also need to be from a country or territory that has a signed agreement with France. Today, this applies to 16 countries or territories:

• Australia;
• Argentina;
• Brazil;
• Canada (agreement on youth mobility);
• Chile;
• Colombia;
• Ecuador;
• South Korea;
• Japan;
• New Zealand;
• Hong Kong;
• Mexico;
• Peru;
• Russia;
• Taiwan;
• Uruguay.

Each of these agreements will have specific conditions and financial requirements that you’ll need to meet. 

To be considered a young traveller in these agreements, you will need to be between the ages of 18 and 30 when you make your application. (Right up until the day before your 31st birthday.) This applies to everyone, regardless of where you’re from except if you’re from:

• Argentina, Australia and Canada where the maximum age is 35 years (up to the date of your 36th birthday).

If you’re from a country that’s signed one of these agreements, you need to file your application with the relevant visa centre in your country or territory. If you’re from Australia, Canada or Colombia and you live abroad, you can file your application with the French consular service in the country you live in.