The short version
- Americans can work abroad in five main ways: a working holiday, a government teaching programme, a job with a local employer, a remote job for a company back home, or freelance work.
- Each way comes with its own visa. The visa decides what work you can do and for whom.
- Six countries in our data give working holiday visas to US passports. Australia's asks for a high school certificate, not a degree.
- Japan's JET Programme and Korea's EPIK take US citizens with a bachelor's degree to help teach English.
What jobs abroad can Americans get?
Most jobs abroad fall into five groups, and each group has its own visa. The visa matters more than the job title: it sets who you can work for and for how long.
| Kind of work | Visa that fits | Who you work for |
|---|---|---|
| Short jobs while you travel | Working holiday visa | Local employers |
| Teaching English | A government programme's work visa | Schools in that country |
| A career job | An employer-sponsored work visa | One local employer |
| Remote work | Digital nomad visa | An employer or clients outside that country |
| Your own business | Freelance visa | Your own clients |
The sections below take them one at a time, with the official rules we read on 18 October 2026.
Which countries give Americans a working holiday visa?
Six in our data: Australia, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal and South Korea. A working holiday visa lets you take local jobs while you travel, for up to about a year or more.
| Country | Who can apply | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 18 to 30, with a high school certificate or equivalent | 12 months |
| New Zealand | 18 to 30, with at least NZD 4,200 to live on | Up to 12 months |
| Ireland | 18 or over, full-time students or graduates of the last 12 months | 12 months |
| South Korea | 18 to 30, students or graduates of the last year | Up to 18 months |
| Austria | Graduates of the last 12 months, 100 places a year | Up to 12 months |
| Portugal | 400 places under its deal with the US | Up to 12 months |
Each one has its own work rules. In Australia, you can do any kind of work, but usually for the same employer for no more than 6 months. In New Zealand, you can take any job that is not permanent. In South Korea, teaching a foreign language needs a different visa (E-2).
Compare all six, with fees and official links, on working holiday visas for Americans. New to the idea? Read what a working holiday visa is.
Can Americans teach English abroad through a government programme?
Yes. Japan and South Korea both run one, and both take US citizens with a bachelor's degree.
- Japan, the JET Programme. The JET Programme hires Assistant Language Teachers (ALT), Coordinators for International Relations (CIR) and Sports Exchange Advisors. You must be a national of the country where you apply, not just a permanent resident, and hold a bachelor's degree by the arrival date. The CIR role also needs Japanese at level N1 or N2. The programme's country figures show 2,866 US participants on 1 July 2026.
- South Korea, EPIK. The English Program in Korea takes citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, the US and South Africa. You need a bachelor's degree from one of those countries, and a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate of at least 100 hours, unless you hold a teaching licence or studied education. You must have an E-2 visa before you arrive.
JET's rules are set by three Japanese ministries and CLAIR, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations. EPIK places teachers where Korea's regional Offices of Education ask for them.
Do you need a job offer before you apply?
Often, yes. A job-based work visa is usually tied to one employer and one job, so the offer comes first.
The UK's Skilled Worker visa is a clear example. GOV.UK lists these rules:
- An approved employer. The UK employer must be approved by the Home Office.
- A certificate of sponsorship. The employer gives you one, with the details of the job.
- An eligible job. The job must be on the list of eligible occupations.
- The offer first. You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply.
Other countries set their own lists and rules, so check the government page of the country you have in mind.
Can you keep your US job and work from abroad?
Yes, in countries with a digital nomad visa. These visas are for remote work for an employer or clients outside the country, not for local jobs.
Our digital nomad visa finder lists 41 countries, with the income each one asks for, the length of stay and the fee. See them side by side on the country list. For the steps in order, read how to become a digital nomad.
Can you freelance abroad as an American?
Yes, with a freelance visa in some countries. These let you live there and work for your own clients.
Our freelance visa finder covers 31 countries, with the money needed, what to show, the length of stay and the fee. The country list puts them in one table.
These visas usually ask you to show income, savings or clients. Read how to earn money online before you move for where to start.
Do Americans still file US taxes when they work abroad?
Yes. The IRS says US citizens follow the same filing rules abroad as at home, and report their income from all sources worldwide.
To see how living abroad can change what you owe, read how the foreign earned income exclusion works.
Which way to work abroad fits you?
It depends on your age, your degree and how you earn now. One simple way to sort the options:
- Aged 18 to 30. A working holiday visa lets you take local jobs while you travel. Australia's asks for a high school certificate, not a degree.
- A bachelor's degree. JET and EPIK both ask for one.
- A remote job. A digital nomad visa lets you keep it.
- Your own clients. A freelance visa lets you move them with you.
For the countries with the lowest bar overall, see the easiest countries to move to from the US.