Moving abroad is something many people consider, but don’t actually pull the trigger on – why is that? If you ask the majority of people what they would do if they won the lottery, they’d say they would travel the world. Many people think they aren’t currently in the place financially to travel, and put it off until they are older. Traveling or moving abroad are things we think we need a ton of money to do, which isn’t necessarily true!
There are many ways to travel or move across the world for little to no money. You can do these as a gap year after graduating high school or college, when you feel like you’re in a rut and need a change, or virtually anytime!
Ways to Move Abroad
Government Programs
The first way of traveling we’ll be talking about is teaching English programs run by different countries’ governments.
Teach in Spain with the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program (NALCAP or Auxiliares de Conversación):
This program places students from all across the world in the public schools of Spain to assist their English teachers.
You would aid their school students by being a native English speaker they can learn from and teach them about American culture.
This program requires you work 12-16 hours a week for 8-9 months and comes with a monthly stipend which varies by the region you’re placed in as well as health insurance. NALCAP is open to people from many countries.
The only requirement is being a native English speaker. They suggest you be conversational in Spanish, but there is no Spanish language requirement. The program accepts people aged 18-60, and many people renew and take part in this program for many years.
Housing is not provided, so participants figure this out on their own. Many schools know of places to rent and past participants can help you find housing as well.
NALCAP is the reason moving abroad to Ibiza, where I now live, was possible! People are placed all over Spain and have incredible experiences.
There is so much free time! You can learn Spanish, explore your town, and travel to nearby countries. If you have any questions, you can visit my more in depth post where I break down the process of applying for Americans.
Interested in applying? Click here to see my guide to applying to NALCAP, made as easy as possible.
If you’ve already applied, I have a straightforward guide through the stressful visa process here.
Here is the official website for the program: NALCAP website
Teach English in France with the Teaching Assistant Program (TAPIF or Assistants de Langue):
TAPIF places students into public schools across France, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and La Reunion. You’re job will be assisting the English teachers for 12 hours a week for a total of 7 months.
To be eligible, you must be between 20 and 35, as well as a native English speaker. This program does require intermediate proficiency in French, at least a B1 level.
Participants receive about 810 euro per month after tax. NALCAP recommends that you have at least 3k saved up before coming. Health insurance is also provided to participants.
Housing is not provided in this program. If placed at the secondary level, there is potentially a little to no cost option of living on school grounds. In more expensive areas of Spain, the stipend is increased to help cover rent.
Americans are able to partake in this program up to three times.
If you’ve studied French and are thinking of moving abroad to France for seven months at a time, this program may be the perfect fit for you!
Here is the official website for the program: TAPIF website
Teach English in Japan with Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET):
Around 2,000 participants are selected every year to work in one of three positions. Assistant Language Teachers work in the classroom with students from elementary to high school, Coordinators for International Relations who help create international exchange activities for communities, and Sports Exchange Advisors who support international exchange through sports. The majority of selected participants work as Assistant Language teachers
Participants are placed all throughout Japan, from large cities to rural villages for a duration of one year. This program will pay for your flights. People in this program will work 35 hours a week and make approximately $22k a year as well as health insurance.
Past members of this program say that the stipend allows them to live comfortably. Some get the luxury of having low to no cost housing available at their school.
There are many general criteria – some factors are having a bachelor’s degree and having the ability to hold a conversation in Japanese. They mention in the Q&A section that you can apply if you don’t know any Japanese, as long as you have the initiative to study the language for the duration of your stay, that can be acceptable.
An interview is a part of this application process as this program is more selective than the previous two. Once selected, they help you through the process of getting your visa.
To learn more about the program, visit here: https://jetprogramme.org/en/
Teach English in Korea with the English Program in Korea (EPIK):
Between 1,000 and 2,000 people are selected each year to teach English in Korea with the EPIK program.
To be eligible, participants need a bachelor’s degree or to be in your last year of college when applying and speak English as their native language.
The recruiting process starts with filling out an application and having two letters of recommendation in order to apply. EPIK has rolling admissions, so you can send in your application at any time throughout the year for one of their two starting times. If accepted, you get a contract to work for one year.
The payment depends on your level of education as well as by the region you are placed in. Participants receive a settlement allowance their first month to help cover the cost of housing. At the conclusion of the program participants also receive a severance pay of one month.
This is one of the most generous programs, making moving abroad simple, with little to no money housing costs, your flight is reimbursed, and you’ll receive medical benefits and vacation time.
Interested? Click here to view the program: https://epik.go.kr/contents.do?contentsNo=56&menuNo=286
Remember before making your final decision or signing a contract, to do your research! There are tons of reddit threads and facebook groups dedicated to these programs that will give you the nitty gritty pros and cons. Get all the information you can find before you commit to a program.
Get TEFL Certified to Teach ANYWHERE
If you want to teach English in a country that doesn’t have a government program, or you want the flexibility of teaching wherever you want, you should get TEFL certified.
The TEFL is the international certification that you are qualified to teach English. This can be in a foreign country or online to non native English speakers.
There are tons of schools, online and in person, that can prepare you for the exam. Your school must meet certain standards, like having a qualified teacher, 100 hours minimum of coursework, and 6-20 hours of live teaching or observation.
Many people after becoming certified will teach full time in the country of their choosing, as well as teaching part time or privately online.
Many people teach English full time online and have the freedom to travel and live wherever they want.
If you want to make a career of teaching English overseas, this can be a great option.
Travel with Worldpackers and Work Away
These two websites both connect people looking to travel with potential hosts all around the world. With these two sites, you can look at potential opportunities to volunteer or work abroad in exchange for housing.
Both have a yearly fee to access their website, but what makes these two options different?
Work Away has a $44 annual fee for a solo traveler to access their website. This website has opportunities galore – it has 50,000 options in 180 countries. Participants only can work or volunteer up to 25 hours a week at their location, leaving time to explore your location or also work as a digital nomad. All volunteers receive payment for their help to make their trip more affordable. They also have a function on their website to help match travelers together to make friends on your trips.
Worldpackers has a $49 annual fee for a solo traveler to access their website. They have opportunities in 150 countries and can have their volunteers work up to 32 hours a week. Volunteers do not always receive payment, but the website shows all negative reviews that have been left and provides trip insurance to their travelers.
There are many articles about the pros and cons of each website. If you want to use either of these, make sure you get a discount on the annual price! Many blogs offer discounts – if you decide you are going to pay for one, might as well pay less!
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program connects accepted American students in their senior year of college to one of their 140 opportunities across the globe.
Accepted students can either conduct research, pursue an advanced degree, or teach English with the grants provided by this program. Fulbright has a strong emphasis on the importance of connecting with the local community and gaining an appreciation of different view points across cultures. This program is highly competitive and has a ton of benefits if selected.
There are many rules for eligibility and ineligibility, so if you are around the time of your college graduation, this is a program you should check out.
Here is the link to the website: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/
Move through the Peace Corps
If you are a US citizen, there are travel opportunities through our government in the Peace Corps.
There are tons of open volunteer opportunities that you can apply for in a variety of career fields in a variety of countries. Roles range from youth and sport development coordinators in Belize, to climate resistance educators in Tonga, to a business development advisor in Uganda.
Housing is provided along with a living stipend, and after two years of working in a Peace Corps program, participants are provided with $10,000 to get back on their feet. The program covers your first arrival and flight home at the end. Participants also get two days off a month to travel around the surrounding area.
There are many other benefits, like dental and medical coverage, a TEFL certificate program, student loan aid, and decreased tuition at many universities.
These programs are normally on the longer side, so your moving abroad experience can be more deep and community oriented than any other means of moving.
Sound interesting? Check out their website: https://www.peacecorps.gov/
Getting a working visa
If you want to work and live in another country, take advantage of the different types of visas offered in different places.
Work in Canada with the International Experience Canada:
For people ages 18 – 30/35, depending on your country, you can apply for this program to work and live in Canada.
If you want to get a job in Canada, already have one, or your a student with a job offer or internship in Canada, this visa is for you.
This visa gives people the opportunity to move abroad and work in Canada for up to two years depending on which type you apply for. The moment you arrive, your one or two years begins from then.
To see if you are eligible or for more information, here is the website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html
Moving Abroad with Working Holiday and Digital Nomad Visas:
If your thinking of moving abroad to a new country to work for a few years, there are many countries that will let you come under Working Holiday and the Digital Nomad Visas.
If you don’t have a job, you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa and start applying to jobs in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, Canada, and South Korea. Once you get accepted, you can work and live in that country.
If you have your own business, work remotely, or work only online, you can apply to work in even more countries under the Digital Nomad Visa. There are currently 49 countries that offer these, and more countries get them every year.
For more information, look up the countries you are interested in to see the eligibility and what you need to do to apply.
There are many ways to make traveling or moving abroad for little to no money, for short durations to a gap year to a few years, that are available to you. For shorter term travel, you can check out websites like EF group trips, or just go on a trip yourself! I know it sounds daunting, but solo traveling is super fun once you commit and try it out! I have posts all about beginner solo travel tips as well as how to do things alone linked here.
Don’t let not having enough money deter you from traveling and seeing the world!
