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Thousands of kiwis every year travel to the UK with their Working Holiday
Visa in search of the excitement and opportunity that is on offer. The
OE Travel Co.is the specialist in the marketplace and offers you a bit
more of a clue as to what you are heading into, covering from before departure
to European trips and everything in-between. A wee bit o’ planning is
the key to the best hassle free time.
Firstly look at your budget. Cashflow is King! This in many cases will
be a size large factor on when you depart, other “when” factors you may
consider are covered When? click here or for the Calendar of Events click
here.
Budgeting to travel
Airticket $1300
Working Holiday Visa documentation $580
Accommodation enroute or on arrival $300
Travel Insurance $600
Backpack/Accessories $500
UK Bank Account funds £2000 @ .37 = $5400
Cash/Travellers cheques/Eftpos/Visa funds $300 TOTAL - $8680
This takes into account that you already have a passport, and that you
are flying on one of the cheaper direct flights. It could easily go up
or down if you already have a pack, a change on exchange rate, or stopover
for a longer or shorter time.
Working Holiday Visas
UK Visas -The OE Travel
Co. has full information, including downloadable forms and Brit High
Comm link.
Ask about - Irish Working Visas
- Argentinean Working Visas
- Canadian Working Visas
NZ’ers are entitled to a two year Working Holiday Visa for the UK providing
that you are between the ages of 17 to 30. The visa allows you to work
for 12 months of your 2 year stay. The clock starts ticking once you have
entered UK passport control, if you travel to Europe you do not get an
extension. The current cost is $580.00 + $7 for the courier. Allow for
2 months to process. There are other visas for Skilled, Grandparent or
Right of Abode entry. We have a specialist Visa organisation we use, please
enquire for any help.
Airfare options
The OE Travel Co. knows One Way OE airfares -
go to the airfare page
Stopovers
In conjunction with an airfare, the first thing you should decide is if
you are going to have a stopover. I think these are good things, and say
go for it. When else would you get the opportunity to get to somewhere
new - for what is in many cases not a penny more in airfare cost. What
would it cost you to get there if you were to fly to that destination
from NZ? Loads! Tick another one off! Budget accommodation can make a
stop almost anywhere viable. It gives you the chance to check somewhere
out to see if you want to go back to explore further.
Bank Account and London Orientation
Pre opening a bank account can save you a bag load of problems, such as
not getting paid until you have an account. The English banking system
is very slow and can take a long time to process your application. Ours
was set up in the 60's theirs in the 1800s! You
can set up the account with our Orientation Pack in London, click this
for details. This will save you time and hassles, as well as giving
you many other benefits.
Insurance Real Insurance Claims
Don’t go without travel insurance. We have both budget, and fully comprehensive
policies to cover you whilst in transit, in the UK, Europe or to all other
destinations Worldwide. Claims can be unbelievably expensive, tens of
thousands of dollars - you wouldn't drive your car without at least 3rd
party insurance, so for a few dollars a day why would you not cover yourself?
What you are covering are the eventualities that don't even come to mind.
($10 000 cost for a man who swallowed a hotdog “incorrectly”, or a nurse
to sit by you Business Class on a return flight are not cheap options),
And with the fact that if you do not have cover - do you maybe want the
burden of someone else paying for your bill perhaps for many years to
come? Check the real claims above!
Work
There are many agencies available and wanting for you to sign on to their
books - they are keen to get you work as they earn their living from you
as a percentage of your wage. The UK economy needs part time workers.
1st contact Kickstart package can help with this. You’ll need to reformat
your CV to the English style – we can help with this here Additional Information
on CV Prep. You can earn good money with the GBP exchange rate - How much
will you earn? As an example, taken from a recent UK/kiwi paper – pub
job £6 p/h, Live-in nanny £190 a week, Hair Stylist £240 week, Accountant
- £25 -£30 p/h, teachers to £134 daily.
Check the - Employment Section
Cost of Living in the UK
We know that moving overseas can be quite daunting, especially when the
cost of items and services is unknown. Below is a price list of some everyday
items that you would normally purchase at home. Remember, once you’re
earning pounds it is all relative – so don’t convert.
Rent £100 - £150pw
Weekly Travelcard Zone 1 – 2 £22.20
Pint of beer in pub £2.50 - £4.50
Glass of house wine £2.50 - £4.50
Pub meal £5 - £10
CD – latest release £14 - £17
Movie ticket £5 - £10
Theatre ticket £7 - £40
Loaf of bread 40p – 70p
Milk – 1 litre 70p – 80p
Can of cola 50p – 80p
Newspaper 35p - £1.50
Haircut – men £10 - £20
Haircut – women £10 - £50
Petrol 95p (Unleaded) and 93p (Diesel) per litre
Bus ticket £1.20
Dry cleaning 2 Piece Suits £8 - £15 ; Work Shirts - £2
Phone cost per SMS (Pay as you Go) 8p – 12p
Phone cost per minute (Pay as you Go) 15p – 25p
Gym contract (per month) £30 - £60
What to take
Not too much. Say again - not too much. Considering that you
are going to spend the next two years in shopping
nirvana it's a good idea to limit yourself with what you pack as you
are going to buy more overseas. The amount of what you take will be limited
by your bag size, but more by weight according to your routing - via the
States 46kg, or Asia 20kg.
You will have to take into account the season you are travelling to,
and pack your normal and work clothes accordingly. It does get very cold
in England. Things like padlocks for lockers, extra passport photos and
Swiss Army knives (not carried on the plane!) are good to take to help
you out of potentially sticky situations and save a few pennies. A moneybelt
is essential for carrying your passport and tickets around.
Invest in a good pack if you do not have one - you will not regret the
money you spend, We have seen inferior models blow out - it's no fun for
3 weeks carrying your life on your back by just one strap.... (oh
yes - reality backpacker incident) We DO believe in buying Kiwi –
Macpac, Fairydown or Great Outdoors please.
Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.
Other areas that will be of interest on your OE -
OE Travel Co.'s OE Frequently Asked Questions
Airfare Options
UK and Europe Tours and Transport Options
London Starter Pack Options and Accommodation
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