Adventure Is Out There!

Are you between the ages of 18 and 30/35?  Are you bored with your life?  Dreamed of travelling to a foreign land and falling in love? Want to go on the adventure of a lifetime? Try an exotic dish in it's home country?  Then pay attention fellow roamers!  Travelling to that dream destination to live and work has never been this easy!

Today I want to tell everyone about this program we have in Canada.  It's called SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program) and it is a program operated through TravelCuts student travel agency.  Don't let the name of the program fool you!  Not a student?  That's not even a problem!  Even though it's called the STUDENT Work Abroad Program, as long as you are between the ages of 18-30/35, you can get a visa!

According the SWAP website (swap.ca) there are only 6 easy steps in travelling with SWAP!

1) Pick a destination

2) Register

3) Apply for a visa

4) Get ready to go

5) Receive overseas support

6) Live, Work, Play

What is Swap?
SWAP is a program that will help you through every step of your visa application process.  I've used it once before (I travelled to Japan in 2009-2010) and I would never do it by myself!  Especially applying to Japan, since they are VERY picky about their visas, and one silly mistake on your application could have resulted in a denied visa.  I'm glad I went through them, because knowing me, I would have missed something and been denied!

Destinations
SWAP has a TON of places you can go!  Dreamed of sitting in a traditional Irish pub, sipping Guinness?  Want to drink tea in the afternoon in England?  Shop in the famed Takeshita street in Harajuku?  Why not all of these and more?  Through SWAP, you can go to 11 different destinations!

• UK
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Austria (must be proficient in German)
• Germany (must be proficient in German)
• Japan
• South Africa*
• USA*
• Thailand*

USA has 2 strands: PCT & Intern and Summer (summer available to students/2014 graduates only) 

SOUTH AFRICA has a volunteer OR work visa (work visa for students or recent graduates)

THAILAND is a teaching visa open to Canadians aged 20-65!  BUT applicants must posses a Bachelor's degree in order to qualify.

Support Funds

What are support funds?  This is a specific amount of money (different depending on the country) you must have saved before they will grant visas.  This is not a fee, simply a bank statement saying that you have the specified amount in your bank account.  Essentially, they want to make sure you are not homeless or that if you have difficulties with anything, you have enough money to come home.

Fees

There is a registration fee (which includes the actual visa fee).  This can change depending on if the country you're applying for has an accommodation/ no accommodation application.  Japan has this, while Ireland does not.  CAUTION: some countries (such as Ireland) require extra fees once in the country.  Be sure to check this under the country's specific visa requirements page!

It's really this easy guys!  Whenever I tell people that I am moving to a foreign country, I always hear, "That's amazing" and "I've always wanted to travel!"  Now, there's no more excuses!  You want to do it?  Then do it!  It does take work, but it pays off tenfold in the end!  

I've just applied for an Ireland visa, and I hope to leave mid April for the land of green and shamrocks! I'm currently in the visa application process, and hope to send away for my visa in the next 2 weeks.  As much as I love Canada, I can't wait to begin a new adventure!

Happy Roaming!