Working Abroad
Want to become the real-life explorer, jetting off to discover beautiful countries and far off lands? Well, why not go one better and earn some cash while you’re at it!
Spending your summer break traveling and working abroad, or even heading off for a year or more, will provide you with a wealth of new skills, some extra cash in the bank and most importantly a rewarding experience that will be sure to impress future employers.
But to be able to really enjoy your time away with the confidence that you’re covered for any accidental mishaps, insure yourself with a TopDog Travel Insurance Policy. TopDog provides the first-class cover for all you adventurers wanting to fly the nest and work abroad. We specialise in providing great value travel insurance for young people wanting to travel and work at the same time. With policies covering all the key aspects to find, as well as many optional extras, such as Gadget Cover and Winter Sports, you can build the perfect travel insurance policy to suit your exact needs.
Whether you want to holiday rep in everyone’s favourite party destination of; Ayia Napa or be a ski instructor for a season in France’s Three Valleys or Canada’s Banff resort. Maybe you want to teach English to children in China or make a few Aussie dollars working on a farm in the Tamar Valley, Australia. Whichever your route, having a TopDog policy gives you real peace of mind that you’re covered 24/7, so you can make the most of your time working overseas.
Working Abroad Travel Insurance Benefits
As a standard part of any Top Dog Travel Insurance policy, you will be covered for some forms of work. Benefits include:
- Top Dog’s Gap Year Travel Insurance will allow you to work in your choice of destination for up to 18 months. Within your time away you are allowed to return home one time for up to 14 days, so you can catch up with friends and loved ones or attend a special event, without invalidating your policy.
- What about upgrading your policy with Gadget Cover, so if you are taking away a laptop or iPad to keep you entertained on the long journeys between destinations, then we will have you covered if you were to accidentally leave it on public transport or have it stolen.
- If you plan to hit the slopes while you’re away don’t forget to add on Winter Sports Cover.
- Over 100 sports and activities are covered, providing you with an array of choices of activity to keep you occupied whilst away.
- The important things are of course included such as medical cover, cancelled or delayed flights, loss of valuables, repatriation… the list goes on. Take a look at our Policy Wording to see for yourself the extensive cover we offer at Top Dog.
- Always feel protected knowing we offer a 24/7 emergency
Which Policy Is Best Suited To Working Abroad?
Choosing the most suitable policy for you all depends on how long you are planning on working abroad.
If you are planning on working for one year or anything less then TopDog’s Long Stay Travel Insurance [LINK] is probably your best choice. You can cover trips up to 12 months in duration, to multiple destinations if you wish.
If you are planning on being abroad for longer, then we would suggest our Gap Year Travel Insurance [LINK]. With this policy, you would be covered for up to 18 months with the option to return home once for a period of 14 days.
You can add our Gadget Cover and Winter Sports Premium to any of our policy types.
Working Abroad Visa’s
Working abroad sounds amazing and of course, the experience of working away from home is unforgettable. But before the fun begins you need to think about the legal side of things, with a working visa being a top priority.
Having a working holiday visa is compulsory for entering a country if you are planning on working there. Most countries not in the European Economic Area require you to have a job offer before you even begin the visa process which in some cases can take up to six weeks to complete.
Depending on the country you choose to carry out your work experience, there are different rules on the duration of stay and legal regulations.
Fancy a job working down under? Work in some of the country’s most desirable cities, escape city life by working on a vineyard in the incredible outback or make boat life your new life by becoming a deckhand on Australia’s stunning Gold Coast. The options really are endless.
However, if being away from home for the full 12 months is a daunting prospect, don’t worry as once you hold a working visa you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like. On top of this, your CV is going to stand out and impress future employers with all the new skills and experience you will gain!
Click here to find out more about obtaining your working holiday visa.
Want to create a personal Kiwi adventure for yourself? Obtaining a working visa for New Zealand could be the best option for you. Earn some extra cash whilst exploring this incredible country. Whether you want to involve yourself in some manual labour on a sheep farm or work in a more corporate role in the city, there is a great variety of work. Or maybe you want something a bit simpler like bar work, shop work or barista work in a trendy coffee shop.
The visa itself comes at a cost of £205, allowing you to work for up to 12 months, study for six months and reside for up to 23 months. And don’t worry we know 23 months sounds like a long time to be away, but the visa actually allows you to leave and re-enter New Zealand as many times as you like. So, if the homesickness does kick in you won’t need to worry.
The one thing to be aware of is that obtaining a visa requires you to have $350 in your account for every month spent in the country as well as having enough money in your bank to afford a return ticket home. But if you’re working, the pay in New Zealand will not disappoint you.
Click here to find out more about obtaining your working holiday visa.
The USA to us Brits is an expansive country filled with many different cultures and endless places to explore. However, working abroad in the USA is slightly tougher than the other countries mentioned with the restrictions on a working visa being much more demanding.
Click here to find out more about obtaining your working holiday visa.
If working in Canada tickles your fancy, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible for us Brits to work on a temporary basis. But you will have to take action fast as there is a limited amount of visa’s up for grabs each year.
To work in Canada, you will need a work permit from ‘International Experience Canada’ (the IEC) who are the immigration and citizenship department of the Canadian Government.
To be eligible you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years.
Click here to find out more about obtaining your working holiday visa.
Why Choose TopDog Insurance?
24/7 Emergency Helpline
100+Activities Covered FREE
Up to
£10m Medical Cover Per Person
Up to
£7,500 Cancellation Cover Per Person
Preparing Yourself For Working Abroad
Travelling to a new destination to explore is always a daunting prospect; let alone travelling to a new place to begin a new chapter with temporary job placement.
Whether you’re teaching English to children in China, staying with your own organisation but moving to their Sydney office for a six-month placement or trying your hand at ski instructing in The Rocky’s for a season; we want you to feel prepared.
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Research your new area
One way to overcome the shock of moving to a different country is by finding some similarities from your home life. For instance, you may enjoy playing tennis, or visiting museums for art. So, it would be a good idea to find where you can do this in your new home.
You should also think about how you will be moving around your new home. Are you old enough to hire a car? Or are you more comfortable sticking to trains and buses? Whichever option you choose, having this prepared will make the transition a lot less stressful and smooth running for you.
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Research costs
This is very important as you don’t want to find yourself out of pocket in a foreign country. And while it might sound boring, sometimes you have to think about the necessities to ensure you have an incredible time living and working abroad.
We would suggest making a list of everything you need to live comfortably and then research how much those things will cost in your destination. For instance, you will need to think about the phone, internet, rent, transport, leisure activities and of course food.
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Cover yourself with travel insurance (a Top Dog policy of course!)
Insuring yourself whilst away should be top of your priority list before travelling. While we don’t like to think about it, if you were to fall ill or get injured during your time away, then being insured will give you peace of mind and safety blanket as medical bills in foreign countries can be ridiculously expensive!
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Have some reserve money
Working abroad means you do not have to save as much before travelling as you will be earning money in your chosen destination to keep you going and it is mostly cheaper to travel on local currency as there will be no exchange rates involved.
BUT…… always plan for the worst by having some spare cash put aside so you can retain your independence and cover unforeseen situations, like a gap in pay or having to put down a deposit on accommodation, that may arise.
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Prepare your paperwork
Having all your important paperwork in one file when moving to a different country will keep you organised and not worried that you have forgotten something vital. Make sure you have all the necessary pieces of paperwork for your new job, such as; certificates, references, CV and a police check if needed. As well as your employment, it is important to remember your visa documents and any papers relating to the visa process.
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Create your bucket list
Lastly, the fun bit! Create a list of everything you want to do, see and experience in your new home country. Remember your bucket list is essential and will help drag you through the tougher times when the homesickness kicks in. Many fun adventures await you!