Planning a year long trip and I need some help!

Im 18 years old from Canada (Ill be 19 before we leave). I am planning on back packing for a year with my friend. We just recently started to plan the trip and we are looking for some help. We plan on leaving at the end of August or September which gives us about 10 months to save up. Our first stop will be Europe for about 4 months, my friends uncle lives in Spain and is willing to let us stay there aswell as work for him. I have looked into getting a visa to work in Europe and I have come accross the Schengen long stay visa which allows you to stay for more than 3 months and study/work etc... What im am wondering is what is the process of getting it/ am I able to get it from here in Canada. Also is there any options out there for me being able to work in Europe?

Thanks

*not a hundred percent sure

Edited by: laancaster

Hi Lancaster

Canada has reciprocal arrangements with some European countries for Working Holiday Visa's. Unfortunately Spain is not one of them. The UK, France, Sweden, Austria and many others are, but apart from UK and Ireland you will have a language barrier (unless you can speak French being a Canadian?) to gaining employment.

But if your mates uncle is willing to let you work, it is most likely cash in hand, or work for your board & lodgings. So the less we say on this forum the better.

I do not believe you will be able to get more then a 3 month visa for the Schengen Zone easily or at all. Do not see this as a barrier. See it as a opportunity to visit another part of Europe for 1 - 2 months.

Going to Africa from Asia is a bit of back tracking and then going to Australia will add substantial costs to your airfares.

Use this site to start perusing airfares, www.skyscanner.com . Play around with different locations and you could come up with some bargain airfares. Maybe consider visiting Egypt after Europe, or Turkey on your way to Asia.

Asia is a the biggest continent, with many options. For someone your age I would recommend the tried and tested South East Asia route, consisting of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. You could also add Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia into the mix, but not all of them.

Australia is a great place to visit, but is very expensive. Even though I am an Aussie, if you are on a tight budget I would recommend avoiding as you get more bang for $$$'s elsewhere.

Other Asia options that are cheap and easy to get to from Europe are China and India. India is a punch to the face to your cultural senses and probably the most different from Canadian culture. But it can be hard work travelling there.

Budget is dependent on the person. If you want to party all the time it adds significantly to your budget.

Breaking it down though, the travellers main expenditures are food/drink, accommodation and transport. These are what you look to save money on. Catching local buses rather then taxi's or tours. eating at local restaurants or self catering rather at places aimed at tourists. Basic hotels/guesthouses or hostels, then star rated places.

Me personally, for 1 year, I would be wanting to take $25000cad with me. But I enjoy a beer and do not like to work when I travel. A lot of people would of it for a great deal less. India and South East Asia are relatively cheap. Egypt is also. Europe for the most part I would consider expensive for a backpacker and will be the place you will spend the most money apart from Australia.

Seeing you are in Spain you could catch a ferry to Morocco for 1- 2 weeks to give you a taste of something different.

Visa's. Once you have an idea of where you want to go. Use Google to look up the visa requirements of each country as their are to many to through on here when you have not specified a more exact itinerary.

Happy planning

Pretty much agree with #2

Very unlikely you will get the long stay and have enough time to find a legal job AND travel around Europe as well (and if you are working,you are not travelling anyway..they are two completely different things).

You can divide your 4 months between Schengen and non-Schengen easily enough..most of Eastern Europe,Turkey,North Africa,the UK and Ireland are all outside Schengen.

AS gerard suggests..if you want to see a bit of North Africa I'd do it then...rather than after Asia.You won't have time to get into Africa much,but a week or two in Morocco or Egypt is certainly possible.

Then on to Asia.
It is a massive continent,with different visa regulations in different countries.

You need to narrow it down a lot!

The last part (Oz and NZ)will be the most expensive (except for some major West European cities maybe).

Budget depends on many.many things,some of which are pointed out above.Where you stay,what and where you eat,how many paid 'attractions' you want to see and do,how you travel,how fast you travel (faster is more expensive).which countries exactly you go to,how much alcohol you drink ;-) etc etc.

I have looked into getting a visa to work in Europe and I have come accross the Schengen long stay visa which allows you to stay for more than 3 months and study/work etc...

Such thing doesn't exist. All long term visas are country specific and only valid for the country that issued them. You can stay longer than 90 days in the country that issued that long term visa but your time in the rest of the Schengen Area keeps being 90 days in any 180 calendars day period (assuming you are Canadian). In addition, if you get a work visa for, let's say Spain, you can work in Spain but not in other country member of the Schengen Area. If you wanted to work in other country member of the Schegen Area, you would need to get a work visa for that country. The same applies if you get a study visa (i.e.: you can study in the country that issued it but not in other country of the Schengen Area). BTW, verify what you are allowed to make with your visa and what not (e.g.: work could be forbidden with a study visa).

BTW, be aware the Schengen Area covers only a part of Europe. There are countries that aren't members of the Schengen Area so if you are interested in any of those countries you should look for the requirements of the specific country (or countries) that interests you.

What im am wondering is what is the process of getting it/ am I able to get it from here in Canada.

In order to get a long term visa for a country member of the Schengen Area, you must get in touch with a consulate (or the consular section of the embassy) of the relevant country in Canada to ask about the requirements of the specific visa you want to get (a work visa, a study visa, a working holiday visa -if they offer it to Canadians-...). Most times the requirements can be consulted on the web of the relevant embassy or consulate so it could be a good idea to consult it. But don't forget if you find work in other country, your visa won't be valid and you'll need to apply for a work (or WHV) visa at a consulate (or consular section of the embassy) of the other country...

Also is there any options out there for me being able to work in Europe?

If you have a work visa for one country, you are allowed to work legally in that country. A requirement to get your visa could be proof of employment... take a look at the web of the embassy in Canada of the country where you would be interested in working (or get in touch with them).
BTW, be also aware of the high unemployment rate on some countries (e.g.: in Spain is over 25%).

After we spend our 4 months in Europe we plan on back packing through Asia for about 4-5 months. Will I need a visa there aswell?

Where in Asia do you want to go?
Each country has different requirements about visas...

Thanks for the info! We have changed up the plan a little, we r planning on going first new zealand then hopping over to oz and then from oz up through Indonesia malaysia thailand a bit of china and then india. We want to then go to europe but are not totally sure about our route there might fly because of the issues with the middle east. Of the countries i mention before (oz nz Indonesia malaysia thailand china and india) which ones need visas? Also we have scratched the working visa part cuz i dont think we have the time to cover that much distance and work. Also do u guys have any suggestions on specific areas we should visit within asia oz and nz?

Thanks

Of the countries i mention before (oz nz Indonesia malaysia thailand china and india) which ones need visas?

As you are Canadian, this web could be useful for you (choose the relevant countries from the drop down menu -where it says Select a destination-)