WWOOFing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) means staying as a volunteer on an organic farm: you help with farm work a few hours a day and, in exchange, the host gives you a bed and meals, with no money changing hands. To do it, you join the WWOOF organization of the country you will visit, which gives access to its list of farms. The network began in the UK in 1971.
This guide draws on the network’s official sites (wwoof.net and national sites), the WWOOF worldwide charter and the internal rules of WWOOF France, consulted 23 October 2026, with membership fees for WWOOF UK and WWOOF USA checked 12 November 2026. For travel abroad, we say what the immigration authorities we could read state, and what to do elsewhere: volunteering in exchange for room and board can be treated as work by some countries.
WWOOFing: the essentials
- WWOOF = Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, a movement that began in the UK in 1971.
- Present in more than 132 countries according to WWOOF France; each country has its own association (or goes through WWOOF Independents).
- The exchange: help with farm activities in return for accommodation and three meals a day; no wages, no employment relationship.
- Membership is country by country: WWOOF UK costs £25 (single) or £35 (joint) a year; WWOOF USA costs $45 (individual) or $70 (dual), valid for one year.
- Visas: check which visa fits: a tourist or visitor visa may not be enough.
How does WWOOFing work?
WWOOF connects volunteers, called « WWOOFers », with organic and small farms. According to the worldwide charter published by the Federation of WWOOF Organisations (FoWO), hosts provide clean, dry and safe accommodation and enough food for three meals a day; WWOOFers take part in farm activities « freely and voluntarily » for the agreed time. They receive no pay and must not replace an employee.
The network is not an agency: each country has its own national association, with its own rules and fee. According to wwoof.net, countries without a national organization are covered by WWOOF Independents. Membership therefore works country by country: being a member of WWOOF UK does not give access to the farms of Italy or New Zealand.
- Choose the country and go to its WWOOF association’s site (map of associations on wwoof.net).
- Join: the fee gives access to host profiles and messaging.
- Contact hosts, presenting your project and your dates.
- Agree on activities, hours and length of stay before you go: the charter asks for everything to be discussed in advance.
- Take out the insurance you need (see below) and check the country’s entry requirements.
What it costs and what is expected in the US and UK
| Association | Annual WWOOFer membership | What the association says |
|---|---|---|
| WWOOF UK | £25 single, £35 joint (one year) | Membership terms and help center, wwoof.net |
| WWOOF USA | $45 individual, $70 dual (access for 1 year from purchase) | Membership gives a member profile, access to the online host directory and messaging and booking tools; the participation WWOOFers offer is commonly the equivalent of five half days per week, with the exact schedule agreed beforehand; hosts provide room and board and you cover your own travel; a refund may be available up to 14 days from purchase, case by case |
| WWOOF France | €28 solo, €34 duo, €5 solidarity membership (2025 scale) | Internal rules adopted 4 March 2025 (see below) |
Cost: besides the fee, you pay your own travel to the farm and your personal expenses. As an illustration based on the published scales: a duo membership in France comes to €17 per person, and a solo WWOOFer who makes a single one-month stay pays about €0.93 a day in membership (Destination de Voyage calculation).
An example of national rules: WWOOFing in France
WWOOF France’s internal rules (adopted by its board on 4 March 2025) set precise commitments for hosts. They are useful to know what to expect and to spot abuse, and each country’s association sets its own.
| Point | What WWOOF France provides |
|---|---|
| Activity time | At least 3 hours a day, up to five half days a week, by mutual agreement |
| Meals | Varied, balanced food for three meals a day |
| Accommodation | Decent, clean, dry and safe lodging with access to sanitary facilities |
| Type of tasks | Mostly agricultural and food-related; no cleaning of tourist accommodation, restaurant work or cashier duties |
| Safety | Protective equipment provided if needed; no dangerous tools for a novice (chainsaws in particular) |
| Length | Maximum one month stay; hosting must remain occasional |
| Number | Two WWOOFers at a time at most for hosts who pay into a professional body |
| Age | Adult members; membership possible from age 16 for a French minor, under conditions |
WWOOFing abroad: which visa?
This is the point most guides gloss over. WWOOFing is unpaid, but some countries consider that work done in exchange for lodging and meals is still work. The right visa therefore depends on the country, your nationality and the length of stay. Here is what the official sources we read say:
| Country | Entry status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Your own country (WWOOF UK or WWOOF USA) | No entry formalities for citizens | The framework is that of the national association: see the fees and rules above. |
| New Zealand (visitor stay) | Visitor visa or NZeTA, depending on nationality; a visitor visa allows a stay of up to 6 or 9 months depending on the type | Immigration New Zealand says visitors cannot work in New Zealand; it defines work as an activity done for gain or reward, and gain or reward includes any benefit that can be valued in money, with accommodation (board or lodging) and food given as examples. Unpaid volunteering is generally not treated as work, but if you intend to get a gain or reward from it, you are not considered a volunteer. We found no INZ page that mentions WWOOF, so ask Immigration New Zealand before WWOOFing on this status. |
| New Zealand (working holiday) | Working holiday visa, depending on your nationality and age | Check the eligibility rules of the working holiday scheme for your country on the Immigration New Zealand website. |
| Other countries | Varies by country | Read the country page of travel.state.gov (US citizens) or the GOV.UK foreign travel advice (UK citizens), and the immigration authority’s site; if in doubt, ask whether volunteering for room and board is allowed on a tourist visa. |
For a long stay in Australia, New Zealand or Canada, a working holiday visa is often the safest option, with age limits and countries that depend on your nationality. For Australia, see our guide to the Australia visa.
Insurance and safety
The WWOOF charter reminds everyone that they must be properly insured against the risks of their activities. WWOOF France states it does not take out a policy for its members: each WWOOFer undertakes to cover themselves for the length of their stays and gives a liability certificate to their host. Abroad, add travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation, and check that it does not exclude farm work.
On safety, the charter asks hosts not to involve a WWOOFer in a high-risk activity and WWOOFers to assess the risks themselves. It also provides for members to report an inaccurate profile or behavior contrary to the charter: do not hesitate to cut short a stay that does not match what was agreed.
WWOOFing, volunteering, humanitarian trips: what are the differences?
| Option | In return | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| WWOOFing | Room and board in exchange for taking part in life on an organic farm | Discovering organic farming, traveling on a small budget |
| Working holiday visa | The right to work for pay during your stay | Young adults who want to fund a long trip |
| Humanitarian trip | Depends on the organization, often paid | A supervised solidarity project |
To compare, see our guides to volunteering abroad and choosing a travel backpack.
Frequently asked questions
Is it WWOOFing or woofing?
Both are read, but the official name is WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), so we say WWOOFing and WWOOFers.
Is WWOOFing paid?
No. According to the WWOOF charter, WWOOFers receive no pay; the host provides accommodation and meals.
How much does WWOOF membership cost?
WWOOF UK charges £25 single or £35 joint for a year; WWOOF USA $45 individual or $70 dual for one year; WWOOF France €28 solo or €34 duo. Membership is specific to each country.
How many hours do you work when WWOOFing?
WWOOF USA says commonly the equivalent of five half days per week, with the schedule agreed beforehand; WWOOF France sets at least 3 hours a day and up to five half days a week. Elsewhere it is agreed with the host.
Can you WWOOF on a tourist visa?
It depends on the country. In New Zealand, a visitor visa does not allow work, and Immigration New Zealand counts accommodation and food as a gain or reward: ask the immigration authority before you go.
How long does a WWOOFing stay last?
In France, one month at most per farm. Elsewhere, the length is agreed with the host.
Our sources
- WWOOF UK and WWOOF USA, membership terms and help center (help.wwoof.net; docs.wwoof.net), checked 12 November 2026.
- WWOOF France, wwoof.fr (home page) and Internal rules (adopted 4 March 2025), consulted 23 October 2026.
- Federation of WWOOF Organisations, wwoof.net and WWOOF Charter (September 2026), consulted 23 October 2026.
- Immigration New Zealand, visitor visa pages and knowledge base, consulted 23 October 2026 and checked 12 November 2026.
- Wikipedia, « WWOOF », consulted 23 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.