Staff Stories / UK
5 ways becoming a digital nomad shaped my career
Isis Loyola Delgado
Sep 2023
A passport full of stories on how a decade of working holidays can impact your future career. Over to Isis...
Read more
Jenza Work UK
Working holidays in the UK
Four countries in one, it’s like a BOGOF deal on working holiday visas. Work for up to two years in the UK with visa help, a pre-arranged job and London accommodation when you land.
Fancy a yarn?
Let's talk
Take the bother out of working in Blighty with London arrival accommodation, visa help, job access and more.
Bottom's up
Why do a working holiday visa in the UK?
Home to Yorkshire Puddings (not actual puddings), wet weather (not true all the time) and dry humour (this bit is true) – the UK is a complete one off. Small and mighty, it embraces every culture, food, music, language and opportunity within its sandy shores. And the UK is equally inclusive when it comes to working holidaymakers. You can use your two-year working holiday visa to give your career a leg up, do casual work to fund your adventures, or even set up your own company to work as a freelancer, consultant or tradie. Jobs a good ‘un as they say in England.
The Jenza difference
Roadtested experiences
Hear from travellers who’ve been there and worn the ‘I heart London’ tee. Our roadtesters trial every JENZA experience to ensure it serves our travel community first.
Unlimited job access
Our Dream Jobs team (genuine job title) source and vet hundreds of UK jobs. Interview before you go, when you land and for the whole of your visa.
Yes to no stress
From guiding you through the working holiday visa process to bed nights, socials and bank account set-up when you land – we help work out all the details.
Is it for me?
18-35 years
24-month visa
Depart year-round
Pre-arrange a job
Work in 4 countries
5 nights’ accommodation
$949
Hello Blighty!
Work UK | $949
We provide the visa assistance, pre-arranged job and arrival support to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
As down to earth and friendly as Londoners might be, it can also feel like a crazy town when you land – full of escalator etiquette, rush hour rules and confusing beer temperatures (by confusing, we mean warm). We take the stress out of London life with five nights’ accommodation at the capital’s favourite hostel, National Insurance and UK bank account set-up, and local tips and trips from JENZA’s London HQ – including a walking tour, pub meet and train fare to Brighton. (Think boho British seaside vibes).
About the visa
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Who and for how long
To do a working holiday in the UK, you must have the ‘right to work’ via either a two-year UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa (formerly known as the Tier 5 visa) or five-year UK Ancestry visa.
Both visa processes consist of an online application and in-person biometrics appointment. JENZA is here to advise you throughout, but all forms and payments are submitted directly to UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI).
To be eligible for the two-year UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa, you must be:
- Aged 18-30 (inclusive)
- Have an Australian, New Zealand or Canadian passport, or hold one of these passports
- Be able to provide proof of £2,530 in support funds
- Be able to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge* currently £1,552 for a two-year visa
You must enter the UK within six months of your visa application being accepted
To be eligible for the five-year UK Ancestry visa, you must be:
- Aged 17+ and a Commonwealth Citizen
- Have proof that a grandparent was born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
- Be able to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge* currently £5,175 for a five-year visa
Be able to show that you can and plan to work in the UK, and can maintain and accommodate yourself without access to public funds
*It’s mandatory for anyone staying in the UK for six months or more to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This entitles you to use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
Make it work
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Where and what you can do
The UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa is one of the most flexible working holiday visas. Other than working as a professional sportsperson (darn, that’s your fencing career down the drain), you can pretty much do any job for up to 24 months – giving you the option of casual backpacker work or more career-related roles. You can also set up your own limited company to work as a freelancer or on a self-employed basis.
If you’re looking to do casual work, hospitality and retail jobs are easy to come by – with pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants currently crying out for bar staff, runners, chefs and baristas. You can expect to be paid the minimum wage – currently £11.44 for age 21 and over – or above (especially in London where salaries are higher). It’s customary in the UK for a 10-12.5% tip to be added to a bill, which should also be split between staff (although this depends on your employer).
You can also work in industries related to your career, education or trade, where the sky’s literally the limit. Here your earning potential will be much higher, especially as you can work for two years with the same employer to really build up your career and connections.
Departure dates
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Starts London
- 8 Apr 23
- 13 May 23
- 17 June 23
- 8 May 23
- 17 Jun 23
- 15 Jul 23
- 12 Aug 23
- 9 Sep 23
- 14 Oct 23
- 11 Nov 23
- 9 Dec 23
JENZA Work UK inclusions
Everything you need to get your visa, get hired and get on the plane – with one-on-one support from people who’ve been.
Pre-departure inclusions
Expert advice from people who’ve been
Your working holiday ride or die, our JENZA Support Squad have all worked the world so can give you firsthand advice on moving abroad. As well as being a geeky bunch of travel nerds and visa whisperers, we're also all mental health awareness trained. Which means we know how to connect like humans – not customer service bots.
On top of being at the other end of an email or video call throughout the booking process, we also include a group call with a live Q&A before you go to answer all your questions.
Visa inclusions
Visa application support
UKVI doesn't allow us to apply for your visa on your behalf, but we're with you the whole way – with the correct forms, step-by-step guides and one-on-one calls to ensure your application is on track.
The two-year Youth Mobility Scheme visa fee is currently £298 and the five-year UK Ancestry visa fee is currently £637 – both are paid directly to UKVI. You must also attend a biometrics appointment at a designated biometrics centre to have your photo and fingerprints taken, the cost of this is included in your visa fee.
The process for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa can take around three weeks, with a UK Ancestry visa taking longer due to the additional ancestry documentation required.
Job inclusions
Unlimited pre-vetted working holiday jobs
We include the option to pre-arrange a job before you go, plus unlimited working holiday jobs on the road. It's how we work.
Our Dream Jobs team scour the planet finding employers who are looking to take on working holidaymakers right now. They’re pre-vetted to make sure everything is legit, and as soon as you’ve paid your full payment, you’ll get access to our JENZA Job Hub where you can start searching and interviewing for jobs.
If you want to sort a job before you go, we work with some of the UK’s top hospitality employers, such as Dishoom. (Pretty much the only way to get in there without an hour’s queue is to work there!). The cost of living in the UK can be high, so we also try and source seasonal employers such as activity holiday centres that include subsidised staff accommodation – also great if you’re an outdoors rather than an office person.
If you’d rather wait until you land, your arrival orientation in London includes job and CV advice from the JENZA team. You’ll also have access to the Job Hub for your whole visa.
Scroll the page to check out some of our UK employers.
In-country inclusions
Arrival orientation with 5 nights' accommodation
- 5 nights at the Generator hostel in London
- In-person orientation at JENZA HQ
- UK and Europe travel workshop
- Welcome pub drinks
- London walking tour
- Sky Garden visit (or alternative roof garden depending on availability)
- Self-guided day trip to Brighton
Work essentials
UK bank account, NI number and SIM
This is all the un-sexy stuff, but essential and legal stuff you need to start working in the UK. When you arrive, the JENZA team will help you get set up with:
- National Insurance number
- UK bank account
- SIM card
Jen-setter benefits
Plus, these JENZA community perks
Free (or close to free) stuff Our favourite F word. Score hundreds of overseas discounts with our virtual JENZA X IYTC card.
Earn extra cash Shot it? Share it. We pay for blogs, vlogs, images and videos. DM us on Insta and send us a pitch.
Ask an alumni Hear from people who've been. We try to have an alumni on every pre-departure call to answer all your questions.
Find a friend Meet people like you. Connect with travellers arriving at the same time on our JENZA Discord group chats.
Book now pay later Secure your spot with $200 deposit, paying the balance when you’re ready to start looking for positions.
About our pricing Our mission is to make working abroad more accessible. Meaning we do everything we can to pay our team, support our partners and make a profit – without screwing over the people who matter. Find out how our pricing works and the people involved in making your JENZA happen.
We also walk the walk, donating 5% of profits to our overseas scholarship fund.
What’s not included
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.
Travel insurance
To cover against cancellation, we recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book.
Support funds (UK)
As a requirement of your visa, you’ll need to show proof of £2,530 in support funds.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
2-year Youth Mobility visa £1,552 / 5-year UK Ancestry visa £5,175
UK visa fee
This is paid directly to UKVI and currently costs £298 for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa, and £637 for the UK Ancestry visa.
Euro Summer '24
The UK is the gateway to Europe
Just over two hours by Eurostar, you can be knocking off work in London and eating-your-body-weight in Paris by 8pm. And with heaps of low-cost airlines out of the UK, spending your weekends clubbing in Ibiza, sailing in Croatia or skiing in the Alps.
Work in the UK / Summer job
Hiring: Leaders at PGL holiday camps, various locations, UK
Jobs available: Activity Leaders, Hospitality. Pay is £10.50/hour and includes subsidised accommodation and meal packages. Plus, the cost of your visa back if you pass probation! Book Work UK to apply on the Job Hub.
Jobs available: Activity Leaders, Hospitality. Pay is £10.50/hour and includes subsidised accommodation and meal packages. Plus, the cost of your visa back if you pass probation! Book Work UK to apply on the Job Hub.
Work in the UK / Summer job
Hiring: Activity Leaders at XUK summer camps, London or Wiltshire
Jobs available: Activity Leader. Pay is £9.40/hour and includes free accommodation and meals! Work in either the London day camp or residential camp in Wiltshire. Book Work UK to apply on the Job Hub.
Jobs available: Activity Leader. Pay is £9.40/hour and includes free accommodation and meals! Work in either the London day camp or residential camp in Wiltshire. Book Work UK to apply on the Job Hub.
Work in the UK / Hiring now
Hiring: Team members at Beds and Bars, Various bars in London, UK
Jobs available: Team Member (bar staff). Pay is £11/hour. Onsite accommodation may be available, plus 50% off food and drinks, staff trips and recognition program. Book Work UK to apply on the Job Hub.
Jobs available: Team Member (bar staff). Pay is £11/hour. Onsite accommodation may be available, plus 50% off food and drinks, staff trips and recognition program. Book Work UK to apply on the Job Hub.
Work in the UK / Hiring now
Hiring: Room Attendants at The Reubens at The Palace, London
Jobs available: Room Attendant. Pay is £10.57/hour, plus free meals on shift and food and beverage discounts. Work in a historic 5-star luxury hotel in Central London overlooking Buckingham Palace. Book Work UK now to be the first to apply.
Jobs available: Room Attendant. Pay is £10.57/hour, plus free meals on shift and food and beverage discounts. Work in a historic 5-star luxury hotel in Central London overlooking Buckingham Palace. Book Work UK now to be the first to apply.
Where to live on your UK working holiday
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Location location
Work in London
Most working holidaymakers choose to start in London. Some even manage to leave. (Although the revolving door of pop-ups, markets, gigs and events make it really hard to tear yourself away). A place where royal palaces rub shoulders with graffitied alleyways and quirky cobbled streets – London is fast-paced and free-thinking. Where you can be anyone and do anything. When it comes to jobs in London, the UK's capital is a powerhouse that attracts leading global talent from the worlds of fashion to finance. Sure, rent in London can be high and you'll pay a few extra quid for a pint – but the pay off to live in one of the most exciting and creative cities in the world is worth it.
Work in the UK
A four-for-one bumper deal, your UK working holiday visa allows you to work in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland. And we’d encourage you to explore outside the M25 (big noisy road, circles around London). From the castles and snow-capped peaks of Scotland, to the rolling green hills and surf beaches of Wales, and the dramatic rugged landscapes of Northern Ireland – the UK punches seriously above its weight when it comes to diverse places to live and work. There's music mad cities, chocolate-box villages, and wilderness national parks to call home. And if that fails to float your boat, Europe is just a two-hour hop across the water for holidays and weekends away.
Travel you can trust
Our Extra Mile Promise
Every JENZA experience has been shaped by our Youth Advisory Panel, roadtested by our travellers, and backed by 60+ years of work abroad expertise. But if we still don’t rock your world, we’ll refund the part of your JENZA program you’re not happy with. T&Cs apply
The JENZA blog
All the intel and inspo on work & travel
You shaped travel
What our Work UK roadtester had to say
Before you’re even let loose on one of our JENZA experiences, it’s roadtested by either a JENZA ambassador or member of our Youth Advisory Panel. Because if it didn’t fly with them, it’s sure as heck not going to fly with you. Here’s Tamara’s top tips on moving from Toronto to London.
Who you gonna call?
Let's talk UK
Get some facetime with our amazing JENZA Support Squad. When they’re not posing for pool pics, they’re making your work aboard adventures happen with their endless enthusiasm and mad traveller skills. These include: parent whispering, visa geekery and the ability to pack a backpack in 30 seconds flat.
More ways to work the world
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Did someone say ‘gap decade?’
JENZA Travel (NZ) Ltd trading as “JENZA” and “BUNAC” in Australia and New Zealand is a company registered in New Zealand with company number 8177942 and registered address at 336 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North, 4414, New Zealand.