Your Journey

How Internship Abroad works

From creating your free account to your first day on the job abroad. A clear path with real SA-specific support at every step - including visa guidance that most agencies don't offer.

The Process

Five steps to your internship abroad

Everything starts with a free account. From there, you decide how far you want to go.

1
Free

Create your free account

Sign up in 30 seconds. You immediately get a smart preparation checklist tailored to your destination, SA-specific visa guides (SA passport holders face more complexity - we explain it all clearly), exclusive student deals on insurance, flights and banking, a budget calculator with real ZAR cost data, and a community of SA students heading abroad. No payment, no commitment.

Create free account →
2
R149 one-time

Build your Living Profile

Replace your CV with something that actually shows who you are. Add a video introduction, portfolio, skills, and experiences. Your profile becomes visible to 300+ verified partner companies across 30+ destinations. Companies can discover you directly. Think of it as LinkedIn, but built specifically for internships abroad - and R149 is less than a tank of petrol.

3
From R14 900 · pay-on-success

Personal session and Full Service

Want us to handle everything? We start with a personal intake session where we get to know your goals, academic requirements (WIL or otherwise), preferred destinations, budget in rands, and timeline. We also assess which destinations are most feasible for your passport and budget - no point setting your heart on something that won't work. You pay a small deposit to start, and the rest only after you are successfully placed.

4

Matching, visa, and logistics

Our local teams review your profile and curate a shortlist of companies that genuinely fit you. Once matched, we handle the full logistics: SA passport visa application guidance (this is where most agencies fail - we do not), accommodation that is safe and vetted, insurance, travel planning, and any university documentation your SA institution needs for WIL credit.

5

Arrive with real support

Your local mentor meets you when you arrive. They help you settle into your accommodation, introduce you at your workplace, and are there throughout your placement. Weekly check-ins, a community of fellow interns at your destination, and a 24/7 support line for anything urgent. For SA students especially - being far from home in a country where you needed a visa to enter - knowing you have genuine backup matters.

SA student during international internship
Our Story

Built by people who have been there

We started Internship Abroad because we went through it ourselves. The agencies were expensive, the information was scattered, and the support disappeared the moment you landed. So we built what we wished existed: a platform where everything is transparent, every company is verified, and there are real people on the ground in every destination.

We built the South Africa platform specifically because SA students face challenges that European students don't. Visa applications that require embassy visits. ZAR budgets that make some destinations feel out of reach. A job market back home that rewards international experience more than almost anywhere. We wanted to solve all three.

We are a small team based between the Netherlands, Bali, and Sardinia. No corporate office. We work the way our students do: internationally, flexibly, and with genuine care for the outcome. That is why everything starts free.

Why Us

What makes Internship Abroad different for SA students

SA visa guidance is our specialty

Most international internship agencies are built for EU passport holders who can move freely. We specialise in the extra complexity SA students face - Schengen applications, J-1 sponsors, Working Holiday permits.

ZAR pricing, no surprises

We price everything in rands. Our budget calculators use real ZAR data. You will never get quoted in USD or EUR and then discover the actual rand cost is three times what you expected.

Local teams, not remote agents

We have permanent staff in every major destination. They know the companies, the culture, and the city. When something comes up, there is a real person nearby - not someone in a call centre in a different country.

Every company is verified

Our team personally visits and vets every partner company. We check working conditions, mentoring quality, and past intern feedback. No anonymous listings, no surprises.

WIL-compatible placements

We work with SA universities to ensure placements meet Work-Integrated Learning requirements. Documentation, learning agreements, and supervisor reports - we handle the admin your faculty needs.

24/7 support line

Emergency support around the clock. Anywhere in the world, any time zone. For SA students who are often further from home than most European interns, knowing backup is one call away is not a small thing.

By the Numbers

Internship Abroad at a glance

30+

Destinations worldwide

From Dubai to Bali, Barcelona to Nairobi - opportunities on every continent.

300+

Verified partner companies

Every company personally vetted by our local teams for quality, safety, and learning value.

15+

Local support teams

Permanent staff on the ground in major destinations - not freelancers, not call centres.

Student Stories

SA students who have been there

★★★★★

The visa guidance alone was worth it. I was terrified about the Schengen application as an SA passport holder but the team walked me through every document. My Barcelona placement was everything I hoped for.

TM
Thabo M.
Wits University - Business Science, Barcelona 2025
★★★★★

Dubai was my top choice but I didn't know where to start. The team assessed my options realistically, sorted the visa in 2 weeks, and the local mentor was incredible. I came back with a job offer.

NK
Nadia K.
University of Pretoria - Commerce, Dubai 2025
★★★★★

My Bali placement counted as my WIL at UCT. The team handled all the university documentation so I could focus on the actual work. The sustainability project I worked on is now a case study in my degree.

LP
Lerato P.
UCT - Environmental Science, Bali 2025
Common Questions

How it works - FAQ

From initial consultation to confirmed placement typically takes 3-5 weeks. We recommend starting at least 4-5 months before your desired start date to allow for visa processing - Schengen visas for SA passport holders can take 4-8 weeks from application to approval.

No prior work experience is required. Our partner companies offer positions suitable for all levels, from first-year students to final-year undergraduates. Your Living Profile helps showcase your skills, personality, and potential beyond a traditional CV.

Absolutely. During your consultation, we discuss preferred destinations and match you accordingly. We also advise honestly on which destinations are most feasible for your SA passport in terms of visa complexity, lead time, and cost in rands.

In most cases, yes. We work with SA universities including UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UP, and UJ to ensure placements meet WIL requirements. We provide formal documentation, learning agreements, and supervisor reports. Share your faculty's specific requirements and we will confirm compatibility before you commit.

Your local mentor is there to resolve any workplace issues. If a placement genuinely does not work out, we will work with you and our partner network to find an alternative at your destination. Your wellbeing always comes first - and given you have gone to the effort of getting a visa and flying halfway across the world, we take that responsibility seriously.

Every Full Service student has a local mentor who handles onboarding, runs weekly check-ins, and resolves any issues. You also get our 24/7 emergency support line and a community of fellow interns at your destination. For SA students, this means there is always backup regardless of the time zone you are in.

Your global career starts here

Create a free account in 30 seconds. SA visa guides, budget tools, community. Then decide how far you want to go.

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