The digital nomad lifestyle is getting a lot of press lately, but for many of us, it's not a realistic goal and may not be one we aspire to live. But living in different countries in our twenties as a casual worker or professional (or both) can be a reality for many through reciprocal working holiday arrangements that usually permit one to two years residency and full working rights.

living in different countries in our twenties can be a reality

Unlike work permits, which generally require a degree in a high demand field or hard-to-fill position, at least a few years experience and a reasonable command of the local language, working holidays are easy to get and are stress-free while they are valid. As a work permit holder you're tied to a company and in most cases it will need to be renewed every so often, which can be timely and costly for your employer. Depending on the country (e.g. Switzerland), you may also be tied to a limited geographical area as little as a 20-minute travel radius. As a working holiday visa holder, you're free to live anywhere in a country, do any type of work and change jobs as you please.

The major drawback of a working holiday visa is if you want to move from one country to another. As an Australian (meaning, you'll be far from pretty much everywhere) and depending on the region or country you're currently living in, this could mean returning to and staying in Australia for a period to lodge your next working holiday visa. This can be costly in many ways, so it's best to plan ahead or check what options you have for visa lodgement in advance.

Most working holiday visas are limited to 18 to 30 (some to 35) year olds at the time of application and are usually based on a bilateral agreement between your country and the destination country and possibly population-based quotas. This is partly why as an American citizen there are so few options – because the offer isn't made in return.

Other factors to consider in terms of obtaining a working holiday visa are financial requirements, such as a return ticket or in place of that, a minimum amount of savings to show you'll be able to afford a ticket later, how much work you can do during your stay (e.g. a few years ago you could only work for three months in Germany, but stay for 12), and what you need to do upon arrival.

Some countries are highly bureaucratic and have a list of offices you need to register or appear at in a particular, sometimes chicken-or-egg, order. The same goes when you leave. Also note, based on personal experience, don't be quick to drop one visa for another as once you have registered (and deregistered), you lose access to that visa forever, even if you've only used it for a week.

A number of publications exist that elaborate on the requirements and conditions by country, but as the rules can change unexpectedly, it's best to contact the local consulate or embassy of the destination country. Be sure to ask specifically about:

• Application requirements (e.g. age, funds).


• How far in advance you need to apply.


• How long you can work and stay (per week and in relation to how long you can live there).


• What you need to do upon arrival.


• If you're planning on an immediate follow-up visa, ask the second country's consulate for advice on how to do that from the first destination country.