A step-by-step guide to travelling and working overseas
1. Gather information about travelling and working
- Talk to people who have worked overseas recently.
- Read travel guides from your local library.
- Attend information evenings run by travel agencies, recruitment agencies and embassies.
- Consider finding a travel partner or group to travel with if you are not comfortable travelling on your own.
- Browse the Internet for information about your destination, as well as recruiting websites.
2. Get your official documents ready
- Check you have a valid passport (if you are applying for a new passport or renewing, this can take 10 working days).
- Apply for a work permit (you usually need to do this at least three months ahead of time, and from your home country).
- Ensure you have certified copies of your academic transcript and/or qualifications and registration for when you are applying for jobs.
Department of Internal Affairs - information on New Zealand passports
3. Start looking for a job
- Prepare your CV - make sure it's tailored to the country and industry you want to work in.
- When you write referees' contact details, provide international phone codes and an email address, in case of time differences.
- Register with a recruitment agency in the country you want to work in. Sometimes you need to show proof of this before you are granted a work visa.
- Alternatively, get in touch with New Zealand recruitment agencies that have branches in the country you wish to travel to.
How to find and apply for jobs
4. Sort out your finances
- Save money to support yourself until you find a job. You often need to prove that you have the means to provide for yourself once you arrive - sometimes this is a specified amount of money.
- Get a reference letter from your bank. If heading to the United Kingdom, open a bank account first as it can be difficult to set up an account once you are there.
5. Purchase flights and insurance
- Purchase flights (sometimes immigration rules require to purchase a return airfare, check this first).
- Consider getting travel insurance.
6. Arrange your luggage and accommodation
- Arrange for somewhere to stay when you arrive (immigration usually asks where you are staying, and you may need to provide this to be granted a work visa).
- Arrange your luggage - what will you take with you?
- Get tenancy references to use if you will be flat hunting.
7. Stay in contact with family and friends
- Set up an email account that you can use from anywhere in the world and pass it on to your friends and family.
- Leave a list of personal contact details with your closest family members.
- Leave photocopies of your official documents, such as your passport, with close family members for safe keeping while you travel.
