The best way to get a work permit while traveling
Many countries around the world have different visa requirements for citizens of different countries, depending on their relationship with their home country. If you’re traveling to these countries and want to work in them, it’s important to know how to get a work permit and what types of visas are available to you as a citizen of your home country. This guide will give you the information you need about how to get a work permit while traveling around the world so that you can find legal work easily and avoid getting deported from the country or arrested.
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Know what you need
Whether you’re in Italy or Argentina, here are your options for making money on the go. There are three basic types of work permits: temporary, seasonal, and permanent. Temporary permits allow you to work during a certain period of time. A seasonal permit allows you to be employed only for a certain period of time (i.e., working only from spring through fall in Alaska), but it can be renewed annually if necessary (though it may not necessarily be). A permanent permit is one that doesn’t expire; it means that an employer has agreed to employ someone on a long-term basis, as opposed to just temporarily.
Make sure your passport is in good shape
While you don’t need your passport to find short-term job opportunities, having one will help. If your passport is in bad shape or you need to renew it, it’s generally easier and faster to do so before
leaving home. (You may also want a copy of your birth certificate.) If you plan on working abroad for more than three months, it’s worth applying for an alien registration card or Resident Identity Card so that immigration officials can easily verify that you are eligible for employment. For short-term work travelers, however, these cards aren't required but they can be helpful as they ensure employers know that you have proper authorization from local authorities.
Get your paperwork together before applying
The first thing you need to do before applying for a work permit is make sure you have all of your paperwork in order. In some countries, you'll need certified copies of previous school transcripts and/or degrees, letters of recommendation from professors, references from prior employers, written contracts with previous hosts or sponsors (in case you change them), an employment history and tax returns. Plan ahead by collecting these documents so that when it comes time to apply for your visa or permits, there will be no surprises about what's missing. Anytime an employer looks at hiring you internationally, they're making a big investment; as such, they should feel confident that they know everything about who they're bringing on board and why.
Check visa requirements
Before starting your job search, check visa requirements. You may need special papers or permits that allow you to temporarily live and work in another country. Visa requirements for each country vary; make sure you’re familiar with yours before leaving your home country. If you need a visa, plan ahead—requests can take months or years to process. Visa waiver agreements also exist among many countries; however, these agreements do not guarantee entry and are subject to change at any time. Before deciding on your next destination, do some research on its visa requirements as well as how long it will take to acquire one if necessary. By planning ahead, you’ll have time should something go wrong with your plans and ensure that all is in order before heading off into new territory.
Consider your options for obtaining travel jobs
There are three ways you can land a job as a traveler: 1) See if an employer will sponsor your work visa; 2) Find an employer who will hire you and then find out how they can obtain your visa; or 3)
Obtain your own visa, such as an H-1B or O-1. It is much easier (and faster) to find employment with option number one, so look at local companies that have offices in both locations and see if they might be willing to help.
Decide where you want to apply
As part of your research, it’s worth visiting local government websites for information about how and where you can apply for an entry visa. For example, if you want to travel in Europe as well as
Africa, it may be easier and cheaper to apply at your embassy in London than at any embassy or consulate along your route.
Research reputable companies/organizations online
Here's an easy and simple step that'll keep you from going down a rabbit hole. In order to get a job abroad, you need to apply for a working visa, which allows you entrance into that country for specified employment purposes. Research reputable companies and organizations online and find out how long it takes them (on average) to process visas. Note: This will vary depending on where you're going and what type of visa is required. For example, if there's an embassy or consulate in your home country, it could take less time than getting one in another country—in which case you might need to book additional travel expenses! That's why knowing your timeline is so important.
Prepare yourself emotionally, financially, and logistically
Before you sign on for any job, make sure you’re prepared emotionally and logistically. Getting traveler work permits is not as simple as showing up in a new city with your backpacking gear.
Different countries have different requirements and if they decide that you don’t meet their criteria, then it can be tough to find another job right away. Find out where to go in advance, know what
paperwork is needed, and look into visa sponsorship programs so that you don’t end up stranded without options.
Stay focused on the end goal
You’re probably no stranger to work permits; after all, if you’ve spent any time working abroad, you know that getting one can be incredibly tedious. Traveler work permits allow travelers who are not residents of a country to legally stay in that country for either three or six months. Getting an appropriate visa requires navigating many hurdles and making decisions about your future plans
before arriving at your travel destination. For example, if you want to extend your time there past what's allowed with your initial traveler work permit, you must make plans and keep track of deadlines for extending that visa status as well as renewing your original permission.