Australia’s Working Holiday Visa allows young people to live and work in Australia for up to 1 year. The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) in Australia is a temporary visa that allows young people from eligible countries to travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months.
The visa is designed for travelers aged 18 to 30 who want to work and travel in Australia for a short period of time. Here’s everything you need to know about Australia’s Working Holiday Visa.
Living and working in Australia
The Working Holiday Visa for Australia is a visa that allows young people from eligible countries to travel to Australia and work for up to 12 months. This visa is designed for people who want to work and travel in Australia for a short period of time, and is a great way to get to know the country and its culture.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa, you must be between 18 and 30 years old and must hold a passport from an eligible country. Some of the eligible countries include the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Ireland, and many others.
The Working Holiday Visa is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and during this period you can work for any employer in Australia for up to 6 months with each employer. This means you can work for multiple employers during your stay in Australia, but you cannot work for the same employer for more than 6 months.
Main types of work visas in Australia
Australia offers several types of work visas, adapted to different profiles and needs. The main ones include:
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (subclass 482): intended for skilled workers to fill temporary vacancies;
- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189): for skilled workers who do not have a sponsor;
- Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190): requires a nomination from a state or territory government;
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (subclass 186): for skilled workers who have been nominated by an Australian employer;
- Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417): for young people from certain countries who wish to spend a holiday and work temporarily in Australia.
Australia Working Holiday Visa: List of Eligible Countries
Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the Working Holiday Visa in Australia:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom.
Please note: Eligibility criteria and requirements may vary depending on the specific visa type and country of origin, so it is best to check with the Australian Government or a registered migration agent for the most up-to-date information.
Requirements for obtaining an Australian work visa
Requirements vary depending on the type of visa, but generally include:
- Professional qualification: you must have a profession that is on the list of occupations in demand in Australia;
- Work experience: relevant experience in the field of activity may be required.
- English proficiency: exams such as IELTS or TOEFL are commonly required.
- Nomination or sponsor: Some visas require a nomination from a state government or employer sponsor.
Required Documentation
Documents vary, but typically include:
- Valid passport;
- Proof of professional qualifications, such as diplomas and certificates;
- Updated CV;
- Reference letters from previous jobs;
- English test results;
- Medical examinations (if necessary);
- Criminal record certificate (if required);
- Proof of appointment or job offer (if applicable).
Australia Working Holiday Visa: How to Apply
To apply for a Working Holiday visa, you must complete the online application form and provide all the necessary documents, such as your passport, proof of financial support and criminal record. You will also need to pay a visa application fee, which can vary depending on your country of origin, but costs around AUD$510.
Once you have received your Australian Working Holiday Visa, you can enter the country at any time within 12 months of the visa being issued and can remain in the country for up to 12 months after entry. During this time, you can work, study and travel as you wish, and you can even apply for a second Working Holiday Visa if you meet the eligibility criteria.
More about the visa
According to the Australian government website, with the Australian Working Holiday Visa you can do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday. In addition, you can study for up to 4 months and travel to and from Australia as many times as you like. If you do 3 months of specified work to become eligible for a second Working Holiday visa, you can reapply for the visa.
It is important to note that you can do any type of work with this visa, but you can only work for the same employer for 6 months. If the main purpose of your stay in Australia is to work, it is best to consider a work visa. To study, you can use the Working Holiday Visa and study for up to 4 months (17 weeks) in Australia. However, if the main purpose of your stay is to study, it is best to consider a student visa directly.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The Australian Working Holiday Visa is a temporary visa and you must enter Australia within 12 months of the date the visa is granted. The government says it will not extend or postpone this period and that the visa becomes active on the date you enter Australia. Once you enter and activate the visa, you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months, and leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like within that 12 months.
Processing times vary, with 25% to 50% of applications taking less than 1 day to process. 75% of applications take up to 2 days, and 90% of applications take 14 days. Processing times may be delayed if the applicant has not completed the application correctly or has not included all required documents.
Important: The Australian Government recommends that you take out health insurance to cover any unforeseen medical treatment you may need in Australia.
How to extend the time of your working holiday visa in Australia?
If you are already in Australia and want to extend your stay, there are several options for extending your visa.
But here’s an incredible tip from Information Planet: our 7 agencies in Australia help you with this renewal process, analyzing your profile and what the next step is that you need to take.
Always check the specific requirements and deadlines for each type of visa on the official immigration website.
Age to apply for an Australia Working Holiday Visa
At the time of application, you must be within the eligible age limit for your passport country:
- Belgium – 18 to 30 years old
- Canada – 18 to 35 years old
- Republic of Cyprus – 18 to 30 years
- Denmark – 18 to 35 years old
- Estonia – 18 to 30 years old
- Finland – 18 to 30 years old
- France – 18 to 35 years old
- Germany – 18 to 30 years old
- Hong Kong – 18 to 30 years old
- Republic of Ireland – 18 to 35 years
- Italy – 18 to 35 years old
- Japan – 18 to 30 years old
- Republic of Korea – 18 to 30 years old
- Malta – 18 to 30 years old
- Netherlands – 18 to 30 years old
- Norway – 18 to 30 years old
- Sweden – 18 to 30 years old
- Taiwan (except official or diplomatic passport) – 18 to 30 years old
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – 18 to 30 years
The government says that if you apply for a visa when you are 30 (or 35) but turn 31 (or 36) before the decision is made, authorities may still grant the visa.
How much money is required?
It is important to note that you must have enough money to support yourself while you are in Australia. According to the government website, the initial amount is usually around AUD 5,000 for your initial stay. However, you will also need to have money for your flight to the country you intend to travel to after leaving Australia.
Health requirements for an Australian working holiday visa
If you are applying for a WHV from a country with a high risk of tuberculosis, you may be required to have a medical examination and chest X-ray.
You should also note that you are responsible for any health debts you incur whilst visiting Australia. You should ensure that you take out sufficient travel or health insurance to cover illness and accidents during your stay.
How to find a job for the Work and Holiday Visa?
As we get hundreds of messages on our comment section and social media handles on how to find a job for your 88 days of mandatory work to renew your visa, I decided to separate the best websites and groups so that you can get the job you dream of.
List of the best websites (in my opinion) to get a job to do your “88 days”:
Facebook groups:
Backpackers Jobs in Australia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/408990885895704
Farm work & Fruit Picking jobs in Australia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/farmworkfruitpickingjobsinaustralia/
Farm Workers, jobs, Fruit Pickers, Labor Hire, Australia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2997417223839189/
Jobs in Queensland QLD
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jobsinqueensland/
Tasmania Backpackers & Locals – Work, Car, Accommodation
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hellobackpackersandlocalsintasmania/
Tasmania Backpackers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1278007408944773/
Cairns Job Board QLD
https://www.facebook.com/groups/153146158062153/
Backpacker Jobs Australia 2024 – 2025
https://www.facebook.com/groups/workingholidayjobsaustralia/
Backpackers Brisbane
https://www.facebook.com/groups/backpackersbrisbane/
Farm work Australia – 88daystowork for Backpackers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/800572720125333/
Jobs Vacant and Wanted Tasmania
https://www.facebook.com/groups/JobsVacantandWantedTasmania/
Jobs in Northern Territory NT
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jobsinnorthernterritory/
AUSTRALIA JOBS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustraliaJobs1/
Farm Jobs in Australia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/farmjobsinaustralia/
Australia – Work and Holiday Visa
https://www.facebook.com/groups/workandholiday/
Working Holiday Jobs Australia/Backpacker Jobs Australia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/972980922745640/
Backpacker Jobs in Australia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/backpackerjobsaustralia/
Always consider the benefits of the job. A good job will usually provide you with free accommodation and food. This is not a rule, but it will make a big difference in the end.
Usually, vacancies offer you accommodation at a lower price, 100 dollars per week, more than that is not worth it.
But everything goes down to the scales: Amount paid per hour and benefits, which are the penalty rates. Take into account vacancies that pay +31 dollars/hour. With penalty rates you will receive a little more, they are amounts paid due to nighttime fees and above x hours worked.
An example:
In my first job, I was paid $31 an hour, $36 an hour on Saturdays and $42 on Sundays. And on mornings after 7:00 p.m. we were paid $36 an hour, and after 48 hours worked in a week, my hourly rate went up to $46, excluding holidays when we were paid $62 an hour.
I know it’s a mess to calculate this, and I only figured it out when I got my first payslip.
So don’t worry about it at first, or you can ask your employer how it works.
After all, is it difficult to get an Australian working holiday visa?
Getting an Australian work visa can seem challenging, but with the right preparation and help from experts, it is completely doable. The key is to:
- Choose the visa that best suits your professional profile and personal circumstances;
- Prepare complete documentation;
- Ensure that all necessary documents are in order and up to date;
- Meet the necessary requirements;
- Meet all specific criteria for the chosen visa, such as professional qualifications, work experience and English proficiency;
- Count on the support of specialized consultants.
Conclusion: Australia Working Holiday Visa
The Australian Working Holiday Visa is a great way for young people to get to know the country and its culture, while also earning some money to pay for their travels. If you are between 18 and 30 years old and hold a passport from an eligible country, you may be eligible for this visa. For all the official information, visit the Australian government’s immigration portal and get all your questions answered.
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