Working holidays between Ireland and Argentina

The programme allows 200 places a year for young Argentines, a stay of up to one year with optional work. The 2026 round opened on 1 June 2026 at 09:00 Argentine time. Applicants send one email each to the VFS address from the opening moment; the first 200 receive an appointment to submit documents; the embassy does not answer queries by phone, email or social media. Demand is far greater than the places, so the email, not merit, decides.

Eligibility at the time of application: an Argentine citizen with a valid Argentine passport; aged 18 to 35 years; no dependants unless they hold their own visa; not a previous participant; no criminal record; funds for the initial stay and a return ticket or the means to buy one (EUR 1,500 with a ticket, EUR 3,000 without), which may be checked on arrival; medical and accident insurance including hospitalisation and repatriation; payment of the consular fee.

Documents at the VFS centre in Buenos Aires: the application form in English, two passport photographs, a photocopy of all passport pages and a recent police good-conduct certificate issued no more than three months before; no biometrics, no flight ticket and no bank evidence at the centre, though solvency may be checked at the Irish border. Processing takes about one to two months, or within seven business days with paid express courier. The authorisation must be used to enter Ireland within 12 months of issue; there is no limit on employers. Passports for the 2026 round must expire after July 2028.

Fees per VFS's 2026 guidance: EUR 95 to VFS plus a mandatory EUR 60 embassy fee paid in pesos at the appointment, neither refundable. The embassy's own fee table lists the visa at EUR 80 in total; we show both until DFA reconciles them.

Annual quota 200 places; ages 18 to 35 inclusive; a stay of up to 12 months, not renewable; holders may enter and leave, work in non-permanent jobs and study or train for up to four months.

Documents, originals and copies, to the Argentine Embassy in Dublin: an Irish passport with a blank page; the application form; a photograph; an Irish criminal record certificate covering the last three years and an affidavit of no record elsewhere; a return ticket reservation or funds; proof of at least EUR 2,500 over three months of statements; insurance of at least EUR 30,000 including repatriation; the EUR 150 fee receipt; and a letter saying the main purpose is a holiday. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee a visa.

The Dublin embassy's own page asks for two photographs, a passport valid for a full year after entry, a police certificate dated as close as possible to travel, and certificates from every country lived in for more than a year in the last three; appointments are arranged by email to the consular section once the documents are ready. An applicant who has lived abroad should prepare for the stricter version.

Whether the 2026 Irish-side places were filled, and on what date, is not published. The current rule on registering a working holiday stay with ISD after arrival was not found on a current page. No opening date or window is published for the Argentine-side programme; it appears to run until the quota is used, but this is not stated.