We all understand how tough it is to get a working holiday visa in Canada, Japan, or any other country. And with countries closing their borders amid the spread of the new Delta variant, many people are facing their working holidays visas expiring without getting a chance to use them.
What Does the Delta Variant Mean for Working Holiday Travelers?
For starters, that implies that we’re already seeing changes in travel restrictions and public health measures, and we’ll likely continue to see them.
We’ve begun to see some countries (like the Bahamas) that were allowing vaccinated passengers to enter without a COVID-19 test add a testing requirement not long after countries in Europe, as well as Canada, the UK, and many other destinations announced reopening plans. The United States is considering requiring international visitors to be vaccinated. Some countries, including Italy, France, and Puerto Rico, have made vaccinations mandatory for entry into venues such as hotels, restaurants, museums, and theaters.
However, does the Delta variant mean you will no longer be able to go on a USA, Japan, or Canada working holiday? Fortunately, that’s not the case. If you are fully vaccinated and hold a working holiday visa in Canada or any other country, you can still travel to that country and stay there for as long as 12 months. The entry and quarantine requirements are different depending on the country you are currently residing in.
All passengers must confirm that they have a suitable quarantine or isolation location upon arrival, where they will have access to basic needs such as food and medicine. Travelers will also be required to arrange ahead of time where they will isolate or quarantine before arriving in the country where they want to work on a working holiday.
Should You Cancel Your Travel Plans?
The decision to cancel or continue with travel arrangements is influenced by a number of factors.
Changes to your travel plans should depend on your destination and what you want to do there, as well as how you intend to get there and your risk tolerance. If you’re fully vaccinated, you’ve done the most important thing you can do to guarantee a safe and healthy trip: vaccination.
According to experts, travel groups with varied vaccination statuses, such as those with children who are not yet vaccinated, should rethink their trip, particularly if the planned travel location is undergoing a surge in COVID-19 cases.
If you have members of your family who are unvaccinated or who have been vaccinated but are still susceptible to infection or serious sickness from COVID-19, you may want to reconsider your travel plans or postpone your trip if your destination is undergoing a COVID-19 outbreak. This is especially important if the health care system at your destination or at home is overburdened.
How to Navigate Your Travel Safely
If you are unvaccinated and intend to go on your working holiday in Canada, the USA, or New Zealand anyway, getting vaccinated is the best way to ensure your safety. There are also a number of additional precautions you may take to reduce your COVID-19 risk when traveling, including:
- Wearing well-fitting masks
- Choosing travel activities wisely
- Plan thoroughly and take all factors into account.