Following the recent changes in the visa requirements for South Africans travelling abroad, and deplorable eradication of the Two-year working holiday visa to The United Kingdom, many young South Africans are wondering where to go next. In previous years, hundreds of thousands of South Africans have had the opportunity to explore the world and work in the UK, a trend that become synonymous with many a graduate looking for an exciting gap year abroad. It offered them a chance to grow as individuals, away from the comforts of home, and in return bring back money to help them start a new life in South Africa, especially following the growing strength of the Pound Sterling against the Rand.

Sadly, things are not looking too bright for the South African citizens as the U.K. Government will only allow in working holidaymakers from countries that offer a similar scheme for young British people. The South African Government does not have such a scheme in place and it does not appear likely that this will change. This is extremely sad news for young South Africans, because if this situation does not change they will no longer be eligible to enjoy working holidays in the U.K.
The good news is, that the UK is not the only country offering work opportunities for those of us ho wish to travel abroad. There are many more countries that believe South Africans to be a credible and hard-working labour force, and not only do they offer similar schemes to the previous one the UK offered, they have better weather too!

AUSTRALIA

Australia, the land Down Under, officially named the Commonwealth of Australia, and the home of the marsupial. Australia is also the world’s smallest continent, and has been a popular place for South Africans to settle in recent years. Known for its diverse and interesting wildlife, Australia has similar weather to South Africa and is a great place to put a shrimp (or wors) on the barbie (braai).

VISA/WORK PERMITS
With the exception of neighbours from New Zealand, everybody who wishes to enter Australia needs a visa. There are four different types of visa available: visitor, student, temporary residence and migration. Fees apply to almost every type of visa application, and the approval of your visa could take a few weeks, or even a few years. This is dependent on the level of visa required. Log on to www.immi.gov.au or visit your local Australian embassy for more information.  

Working holiday visas inject $1.3 billion into the Australian economy, so good news for South Africans is there is no cap on the amount of working holidaymaker visas issued. They are made available to people between the ages of 18 and 30 years, and allows holders to enter the country and work in order to fund travel and lodging. Unfortunately these are not yet available to South African passport holders, but if you hold a British, Canadian, Dutch or Irish passport you can apply for one from any country.

NEW ZEALAND

The Land of the Long White Cloud, situated 2000km south of Australia is noted for its geographic isolation. It’s incredibly varied flora and fauna has made it a popular destination for movie shoots, the most notable being the Lord of the Rings and the Last Samurai. Worshippers of the flightless Kiwi and home to a high GDP and standard of living, sheep are the last thing on their minds.

VISA/WORK PERMITS
With the exception of Australians, everybody who wishes to enter New Zealand needs a visa. Most other nationalities need permission on a temporary or permanent basis before their arrival. Temporary stays are granted visas or permits, and permanent stays are granted residency. However the rules in New Zealand change constantly and you must contact the NZ Immigration service for the latest updates or check www.immigration.govt.nz.

Working holiday visas are available for young people from 22 or so countries. You have to be between 18 and 30 years of age and not be accompanied by children, as well as being able to prove you have funds for return airfare.

DUBAI

Dubai, for the better part of the last ten years could easily be dubbed Boom Town. Booming, that is. No longer reliant on its natural oil and gas reserves, Dubai has enjoyed a massive injection into its tourism industry. And wherever there are tourists, there is money. Known for its tax free lifestyle, amazing architecture and first world appeal, Dubai has become a popular destination.

VISA/WORK PERMITS
Dubai subjects foreigners to a tightly controlled admission process, which can be exhausting to tackle on one’s own. Be careful if you are going this route: if you are denied access it’s likely you will be barred for a good period of time and you will have no room to appeal. However there is an easier way in: secure a job within a likely company and they will have hired a ‘red-tape professional’ who can clear up most visa and permit issues.

You will need a valid passport, at least six passport-size photographs, a marriage certificate (if applicable), birth certificates for all family members and those wishing to work might need a copy of their labour contract. You will experience problems getting in if you have an Israeli passport, or even if your passport has Israeli stamps in it. Consult with your UAE embassy regarding this issue. Even while you’re in Dubai, you will need to keep a passport or national identity card and appropriate entry and residence visas with you at all times, since it’s common for spot checks to take place.

CANADA

Canada is better known as the world’s second largest country, and officially is the home of the least dense population in the world at 3.5 people per square km. Most of the world’s freshwater is here, and by far more lakes than anywhere on Earth. Canada is also one of the world’s richest nations, in both money and wildlife and represents the easiest way to become just like an American...without actually being one.

VISA/WORK PERMITS
Canada is a country visited by up to 35 million people in all walks of life each year. The only available permission to enter comes in the form of a Temporary Resident Visa: either a tourist or transit visa or a study or work permit. On the plus side, you can apply for any of these solutions only by filling in one form. Remember that if you’d like to visit Quebec, the process is entirely different and more information should be sought from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, or at www.cic.gc.ca.

Every year nearly 100 000 temp positions for foreigners are made available in the case of temporary shortages.

The idea of taking a gap year is becoming an increasingly popular notion in today's society. More and more young people are realising the benefits a gap year can offer and opting to step out of the education system for a while. Where you go and what you do on a gap year depends where in the world you're interested in visiting and what you want out of your gap year. The only limit with a gap year is your imagination. You may want to backpack around the world, visit one particular country or do something really rewarding like helping out on a volunteer project in the Third World. It really is up to you. Whether you are looking for a way to make some extra cash for university or your first home, or you are looking for an opportunity to begin an exciting career abroad, travelling and working in foreign countries is a fascinating and thrilling way to spend your early 20s.