How to Spend a Gap Year in 2026: Best Destinations, Visas and Jobs Abroad

Sometimes jumping straight into the degree you’ve been dreaming of is the right move. Sometimes leaning into full-time work makes sense. But there are times when the best decision is to step away altogether, to go abroad, live freely, and immerse yourself in different countries for an extended period. A gap year doesn’t put you behind; it gives you the chance to see the world and discover more about yourself at a stage of life when you may never feel as young, energetic or open to possibility again.

A gap year in 2026 is not about “taking time off.” It’s about broadening your horizons, gaining skills you won’t learn in a classroom, building confidence, and experiencing cultures in a way no short holiday ever could. Whether it’s working a ski season in Canada, pulling pints in London, or spending weekends surfing in Australia, every step adds to a year that feels greater than the sum of its parts.

And the best part? You don’t have to do it on your own. At Global Work & Travel, we’ve been guiding travellers for years, making the complex side of visas, jobs and logistics simple so you can focus on the experiences that matter. We know which visas open the right doors, which destinations deliver the most, and which jobs make it possible to fund the adventures you came for.

If 2025 is the year you finally take the leap, this guide will show you the best places to spend your gap year, and how to turn it into an experience you will carry with you forever.

United Kingdom: Classic and Cultural

The UK has always been one of the most popular gap year destinations, and it’s easy to see why. The Youth Mobility Scheme visa gives eligible travellers aged 18–35 the chance to live and work here for up to two years (and with our UK Working Holiday Pack, you could stretch that to up to three years). That flexibility means you can settle into a café job in London or Manchester, try your hand at retail or festival work, or even land roles in offices, schools or creative industries, all while knowing you can hop on a budget flight to Paris for the weekend or take the train to Edinburgh when the mood strikes. Big cities deliver fast-paced energy and plenty of opportunities, but some of the most rewarding experiences come from smaller towns and seaside communities where jobs are easier to find and locals are eager to welcome you in. With Europe on your doorstep, a vibrant culture at home, and endless work opportunities to keep your travels funded, the UK is the kind of base that blends stability with adventure.

Make It Easy With Our UK Working Holiday Pack

A UK working holiday isn’t just about finding a job, it’s about unlocking experiences you simply won’t find anywhere else. With our UK Working Holiday (Plus) Pack, you’ll not only land work before you arrive but also step straight into the heart of British life.

• Live and work for up to 3 years, one of the longest working holiday options available.
• Work in a unique setting, from cosy English pubs and bustling London cafés to Scottish castles, historic manors, and summer camps.
• Kick off your stay with iconic London experiences, a hop-on-hop-off city tour, London Eye tickets, and a nightlife party tour to meet new friends.
• Make Europe part of your adventure, optional 2-night side trips to Oktoberfest, Barcelona, or surfing in San Sebastián.
• Flexibility on where you live and work, with host companies dotted across London, Oxford, Cornwall, Wales, the Lake District, Scotland, Guernsey, and more.

This pack gives you more than just a working holiday, it’s your gateway to building a life in Britain while keeping Europe at your doorstep.

Top things to do:

• Watch the sunset from Primrose Hill, London
• Explore the Scottish Highlands by train
• Dive into live music in Manchester’s Northern Quarter

Australia: Sun, Surf and Seasons

Australia has long been a favourite for gap year travellers, and it’s not hard to see why. The Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417 or 462) is available to travellers aged 18–35, giving you 12 months to live and work here, with the option to extend for a second or even third year if you complete specified regional work. That flexibility means you can start out bartending in Sydney, working at a resort in the Whitsundays, or taking café shifts in Melbourne, then switch gears to do a few months of farm, harvest, or construction work to secure your second year. Wages are fair, and work in hospitality or regional industries can quickly fund road trips, reef adventures, or long weekends away. With endless natural wonders and a social, welcoming traveller community, no two weeks in Australia ever feel the same.

An Aussie working holiday isn’t just about earning money, it’s about living the lifestyle that travellers dream of. With our Australia (Plus) Pack, you’ll arrive ready to dive straight in.

• Live and work for up to three years, extending your stay with regional work opportunities.
• Job match before you arrive, from buzzing Melbourne cafés and Sydney bars to island resorts in Queensland.
• Kick off your stay with a smooth landing: private airport transfer, first nights of accommodation, and a local orientation so you’re never navigating it alone.
• Enjoy iconic Aussie extras, discounts on the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, Great Barrier Reef trips, and surf lessons on the Gold Coast.
• Flexibility on where you live and work, with host companies across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, and remote outback towns.

This pack sets you up for more than just a job, it’s your chance to earn, explore, and live in one of the most beautiful, adventurous countries on earth.

Top things to do:

• Road trip the Great Ocean Road
• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
• Watch the sunrise at Uluru

Canada: Slopes and Wilderness

If your dream gap year is packed with mountains, lakes, and snow, Canada is unbeatable. The International Experience Canada (IEC) visa is open to travellers aged 18–35 from many countries, giving you up to two years to live and work in Canada. That means you can spend one season working as a lift operator in Whistler, then switch to a summer job in Banff National Park or even take a city-based role in Vancouver or Toronto. Work pays well, and jobs in hospitality, resorts, and camps make it easy to fund weekends hiking glaciers, paddling lakes, or hitting the slopes. The lifestyle here revolves around the outdoors, and with such a strong seasonal rhythm, your year in Canada feels like two adventures in one.

A Canadian working holiday is all about adventure, and with our Canada (Plus) Pack, you’ll be set up to make the most of it.

• Live and work for up to two years under the IEC program.
• Guaranteed job match before you arrive, ski resorts like Whistler, Banff, and Jasper, or summer camps and national parks in the Rockies.
• Smooth landing covered: airport transfer, hostel accommodation, local orientation, and SIM card so you’re connected from day one.
• Seasonal perks like lift passes, discounted ski hire, and access to après-ski staff events.
• Flexibility on where you live and work, from big cities like Vancouver and Toronto to small mountain towns built around the slopes.

This pack gives you more than just a season on the mountain, it’s your gateway to living the Canadian lifestyle, year-round.

Top things to do:

• Ski or snowboard Whistler in winter
• Paddleboard on Lake Louise in summer
• Explore multicultural food scenes in Toronto

United States: Cultural Capital

The US doesn’t offer a traditional working holiday visa, but that hasn’t stopped it from being one of the most iconic gap year destinations. Through cultural exchange programs like the J-1 Visa, you can spend a season working at a summer camp, take up an internship in New York, or live in California with a cultural placement. It’s not the kind of trip where you’ll be working hospitality shifts on the side, instead, it’s about immersing yourself in American culture while building skills and experience. From the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the open highways of Route 66 and the surf of California, this is a country where you’ll never run out of things to see or do.

The US might seem complicated to arrange, but with our USA Pack, we make it smooth, structured, and exciting.

• Experience America through cultural exchange, with summer camp placements and internships arranged before you arrive.
• Live and work outdoors at summer camps, with accommodation, food, and pay included.
• Explore career-focused placements in industries like business, tech, and hospitality, depending on your visa type.
• Pre-departure visa support so the J-1 process isn’t overwhelming.
• Flexibility to travel across the States during or after your placement, making it easy to see more of the country.

This pack gives you the best of both worlds,  authentic cultural immersion and the freedom to road trip America’s most famous landmarks.

Top things to do:

• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge in New York
• Road trip Route 66
• Explore the Grand Canyon and national parks

New Zealand: Nature at Its Best

For travellers who want to feel at home while being blown away by nature, New Zealand is a dream. Compact, friendly, and endlessly adventurous, it’s the kind of place where you can hike a glacier one day and explore glowworm caves the next. The NZ Working Holiday Visa is open to most travellers aged 18–30 (sometimes 35 depending on nationality), giving you 12 months to live and work here, with extensions possible in certain industries. That means you could spend a season at a ski lodge in Queenstown, help with vineyard harvests, or work in a café overlooking one of the country’s iconic lakes. The lifestyle is relaxed but adventurous, with an easy-going culture that makes it simple to meet people and settle in quickly.

A Kiwi gap year is about more than just work, it’s about living in one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. With our NZ Pack, we’ll make sure you’re set up to thrive.

• Live and work for up to 12 months (with options to extend).
• Job match before you arrive, vineyards in Marlborough, ski resorts in Queenstown, or lakeside cafés in Rotorua.
• Smooth landing included: airport transfer, hostel stay, and a local orientation to help you get your bearings.
• Adventure perks like discounts on bungee jumping, glacier hikes, and Hobbiton tours.
• Flexibility on where you live and work, from the South Island’s rugged peaks to the North Island’s bustling cities.

This pack makes your gap year in New Zealand effortless, so you can spend more time exploring and less time stressing.

Top things to do:

• Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
• Go bungee jumping in Queenstown
• Explore glowworm caves in Waitomo

Travel Hacks to Make It Easier

At the centre of every successful gap year is access to the right opportunities, and that is exactly what the Global Work & Travel SuperLite App delivers. This is the only platform built exclusively for the working holiday lifestyle, giving you an advantage before you even leave home. The AI-powered resumé builder removes the stress of applications by creating a professional, polished CV in minutes. No formatting issues, no second guessing, just a resumé that gets noticed. From there, you step straight into a private job board you will not find anywhere else, designed to match jobs to the lifestyle you are chasing.

Travel insurance is not just a formality, it is what keeps your gap year on track when the unexpected happens. With the Global Travel Cover insurance, you are protected worldwide with medical cover, zero excess, and built-in protection for things most insurers treat as extras, such as snow sports, lost valuables, trip interruptions and political evacuations. You do not need to be back home to activate it, and coverage can start instantly, giving you the freedom to travel, work and explore with the confidence that you are backed by a policy designed for working holidaymakers.

Final Thoughts

A gap year in 2025 is your chance to design a chapter of life that feels entirely your own. It can be the thrill of chasing adventure across continents, the satisfaction of building real-world skills that move your career forward, or the freedom to pause, reset and see the world from a new perspective. Whatever version you choose, the foundations are the same: the right visa to unlock the journey, a job that pays the way, and the confidence that comes from having Global Work & Travel in your corner.

This is more than just a holiday. It is the chance to live, work and grow in places you have only dreamed of, surrounded by people who are on the same path. With smart planning, a little courage and the right support, your gap year becomes something bigger than twelve months abroad, it becomes a story you will be telling for the rest of your life.

This is the year to make it unforgettable. And we are here to help you make it happen.