Help! Working Ski Season in Europe

[Isaac]

Hey guys, I know there are a few threads on this but they all seem to have unique circumstances and there doesn't seem to be a consensus...

I'm looking to go over to Europe for the 2017/18 Ski Season and work while I'm over there, trouble is that it seems incredibly difficult to do that. I just have an AU Passport (can get a WH Visa) no EU or UK so that makes things more difficult.

Is anyone able to give any advice on how I can go about finding a job? Not fussed about the country I just don't even know where to start...

Thanks!

 

[Hermannator]

Euro Youth Hotel, Bad Gastein. Give them a call.

 

[Isaac]

Euro Youth Hotel, Bad Gastein. Give them a call.

Fantastic thanks man! I'll give 'em a buzz

 

[Johnb007]

How do you get the WH Visa? My son is 24 and wants to go to Europe later this year. He is staying with a friend in Innsbruck who lives there. How can he get this working holiday visa for Austria and the UK? Thanks.

 

[Isaac]

How do you get the WH Visa? My son is 24 and wants to go to Europe later this year. He is staying with a friend in Innsbruck who lives there. How can he get this working holiday visa for Austria and the UK? Thanks.

Before asking general questions like that, google will give you more information than I can give in a forum post. Unless he is an NZ citizen he will not be able to get an Austrian WH visa.

 

[Johnb007]

Yes I just did that a few hours ago and yep ONLY NZ passport holders can get a WHV for Austria. I have seen just do many posts on here about people working in the Austrian ski fields etc that I assumed it was possible and easy. Maybe all those people saying they work seasons in the Austrian ski fields have Austrian passports, German passports, work there illegally, are bullshitting, or ?? Anyway getting a WHV anywhere in Europe looks difficult. Even the UK has something like a 350 pound application fee, plus a 150 pound health levy (even though he will have 100% comprehensive travel insurance), plus having to prove 1900 pound in the bank and blah blah. He will only work a few months so it is hardly worth it. The fees will be more than he earns! I guess it is more aimed at people going to the UK for 2 years to work, not a few months maximum like he plans to do. Oh well. He will just have to work extra hard here in Oz to earn enough to not have to work over there.

 

[Apresski]

How do you get the WH Visa? My son is 24 and wants to go to Europe later this year. He is staying with a friend in Innsbruck who lives there. How can he get this working holiday visa for Austria and the UK? Thanks.

@dawooduck I think his son works in Austria.

 

[dawooduck]

@Apresski .... my kids have EU passports via parentage so EU is visa free for them.

As an interesting aside, #1 son was deemed as an International student in the UK even with his UK passport. Something to do with residency provisions.

To the question, many people work without visa but more in France than Austria. Others have visa via employment, ski school and the like.

 

[Hermannator]

Yes I just did that a few hours ago and yep ONLY NZ passport holders can get a WHV for Austria..

Interesting - this must have changed in the last 12 years, since back then an Aussie guy used to work with me in Austria and he didn't have a EU passport (pretty sure the company sponsored him and set up the visa).

Full disclosure: I have a British passport (not sure what use that'll be in this post-Brexit era), hence I had unrestricted working and abode rights in AUT 12 years ago.

If work rights are too hard in Austria, try Switzerland - the pay is better.

 

[Johnb007]

Interesting - this must have changed in the last 12 years, since back then an Aussie guy used to work with me in Austria and he didn't have a EU passport (pretty sure the company sponsored him and set up the visa).

Full disclosure: I have a British passport (not sure what use that'll be in this post-Brexit era), hence I had unrestricted working and abode rights in AUT 12 years ago.

If work rights are too hard in Austria, try Switzerland - the pay is better.

I inquired about Switzerland too and that is almost impossible to work there legally. Of course if you have specialist skills it is a different matter but this is just holiday work eg bar work etc. Anyway it looks like lots of people posting on here about working in Euroland, ski seasons etc have EU/UK passports so that is a totally different ball game.

 

[davekinkead]

Get a WHV for Germany and head to Garmisch Partenkirchen in Bavaria. Snow isn't as good as over the boarder but the place has a magical atmosphere (and with the happy ski pass, you get access to the glacier and nearby tirolean resorts). Lots of English spoken / needed due to the American base nearby. I did my first Euro season here and had an amazing time. Way too many people come for a few weeks and stay for a few years! It will also give you 12 months visa free in the EU.

Best of luck!