For many, seasonal work is a lifeline. Doing work on farms, for migrant workers, is a great opportunity to find a job abroad. For many countries – the UK, Spain, France, or Australia – the routine of seasonal work is as common and steady as a harvest.
How does working abroad actually work?
Working abroad is not limited to a number of teaching opportunities. Rather, rural communities with farmlands and fields routinely need a helpful hand in harvesting crops likes fruit or vegetables. This demand grows at certain peaks in the year according to the seasons and consumers. To get quotas to the surrounding supermarkets, farm owners require seasonal work to ensure their fruit and vegetables are available commercially.
What are the popular seasonal jobs?
Hiring seasons vary, but work on farms is stable mostly throughout the summer months and autumn. To improve your chances of getting into work abroad, start your search early and reach out to recruiters with any questions.
Some of the most popular seasonal jobs include:Farm work
Resort jobs
Vineyard work
Hospitality work
Retail
Au Pairing
Read our guide to the best seasonal jobs.
What’s the best way to find seasonal jobs abroad?
Start by researching the best seasons and places for work. With working abroad, often job availability is driven by seasonal demand. Planning your work around seasonal schedules can guide the kinds of work you fall into.
Likewise, destination is often key. Certain countries will offer more attractive working rights and benefits, meaning you could earn more from your labour. Planning your next destination might even mean understanding whereabouts within a country you’d like to work.
Getting work on a UK farm as fruit picker, for example, means that you’re more likely to be out in the countryside. If so, you’ll need to consider practical issues like transport, living accommodation, and meal planning. An ideal destination will offer transport links, on-site or nearby accommodation, access to surrounding towns, and more.
How do seasonal job visas work abroad?
The two most important pieces of documentation for working abroad include visas and passports. However, obtaining a visa is often unclear and frustrating. It helps to understand the requirements and eligibility of a visa before entering into a foreign country for work. If your work is salaried (and therefore taxed), then you’ll need a visa and will have to declare that before entering the country.
Start with a quick search for an embassy in your desired country.
Many European territories hand out “tourist visas”, which are for holidays, rather than employment abroad. It’s important to hold the right (and legal) documentation before entering a new country for work.
The requirements for a visa to work abroad will vary between countries. So, before accepting a role abroad, discuss with your consulate anything that might affect your chances of international employment.
Working with an agency or consultant
One of the quickest ways to secure work abroad is by actively contacting agents, who oversee work availability, or through direct contact with the employer. Agencies can be invaluable in connecting you with available jobs abroad and can take away much of the hassle involved with foreign employment.
If an employer lists contact information, reaching out and enquiring about working with them is often easier than it sounds. Many farms, like Hall Hunter, are easily contactable and even help guide you through the visa process.
Working Aboard Checklist
Must haves
Work visa (for you)
Proof of identity (i.e. passport, driver’s licence)
Banking details and cards (to receive payments)
Plan to bring cash (as a backup)
Accommodation confirmation (including address)
Think about communication (like a phone & your provider)
For more information about seasonal work on farms in the UK, get in touch with Hall Hunter.