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Working

Nowhere does money grow on trees (though Let’s Go ’s researchers aren’t done looking), but there are still some pretty good opportunities to earn a living and travel at the same time. As with volunteering, work opportunities tend to fall into two categories. Some travelers want long-term jobs that allow them to integrate into a community, while others seek out short-term jobs to finance the next leg of their travels. In Europe, people who want to work long-term should look for jobs like teaching English, taking care of local children, and other opportunities that can be found through a bit of research and luck. People looking for short term work have options like picking fruit and working for summer programs abroad. Transitions Abroad (www.transitionsabroad.com) also offers updated online listings for work over any time span.

Employment opportunities for those who want short-term work may be more limited and are generally contingent upon the city or region’s economic needs. In addition to local papers, international English-language newspapers, such as the International Herald Tribune (www.iht.com), often list job opportunities in their classified sections. If applicable, travelers should also consult federally run employment offices. Note that working abroad often requires a special work visa; see the box below for info about obtaining one.

  • Visa Information.EU Citizens: The EU’s 2004 and 2007 enlargements led the 15 previous member states (EU-15) to fear that waves of Eastern European immigrants would flood their labor markets. This fear caused some members of the union to institute a transition period of up to seven years during which citizens of the new EU countries may still need a visa or permit to work. EU-15 citizens generally have the right to work in the pre-enlargement countries for up to three months without a visa; longer-term employment usually requires a work permit. By law, all EU-15 citizens are given equal consideration for jobs not directly related to national security.
  • Everyone else: Getting a work visa in Europe is difficult for non-EU citizens. Different countries have varying policies for granting work permits to those from non-EU countries. It is possible for students to work part-time without a work permit in some countries. In 2007, the EU introduced the “blue card” program, aimed at long term, skilled workers, which requires an employment contract in place before immigration.

  • Long-Term Work
  • If you’re planning to spend more than three months working in Europe, search for a job well in advance. International placement agencies are often the easiest way to find employment abroad, especially ...more

  • Short-Term Work
  • Believe it or not, traveling for long periods of time can be hard on the wallet. Many travelers try their hand at odd jobs for a few weeks at a time to help pay for another month or two of touring around ...more



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For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.

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