Working Holiday Visa

The Working Holiday Visa

The working holiday program allows Working Holiday visa to have an extended holiday in Australia by supplementing their travel funds through incidental employment, and to experience closer contact with a local community.

The working holiday visa allows the holder to:

·         If you are granted this visa you can:

• enter Australia within 12 months of grant
• stay up to 12 months
• leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid
• work in Australia for up to 6 months with each employer
• study for up to 4 months.

If you hold a second Working Holiday visa, you may return to work for a further 6 months for an employer with whom you worked on your first Working Holiday visa.

Countries & Regions Participating in Working Holiday Program:

Below is the lists the countries and regions involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia. If you hold a passport for one of these countries, you may be eligible to apply for this visa.

• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Netherlands
• Japan
• The Republic of Ireland
• The Republic of Korea
• Malta
• Germany
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Norway
• Hong Kong SAR of the Republic of China
• Finland
• The Republic of Cyprus
• Italy
• France
• Belgium
• Estonia
• Taiwan

Criteria for visas

All Australian Working Holiday visa applications must be made overseas. Applicants need to be:

• Aged between 18-30 years
• Not accompanied by dependent children
• Be applying no more than 12 months before you intend to travel to Australia
• Have not previously entered Australia on a WHM Visa.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have funds of AUD$5,000.
• Upon arrival be able to provide an outward ticket or sufficient funds for one.
• Hold a passport for a country or region participating with Australia in the Workig Holiday program.

Important: Applicants must have turned 18, but not turned 31, at the time of visa application.

Work conditions

Working holiday visas are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature. As the main purpose of the visit is for holiday and travel, work for longer than 6 months with any one employer is not allowed. Working holiday visas should be paid according to Australian award rates and conditions.

"The Working Holiday visa provides opportunities for resourceful, self reliant and adaptable young people to holiday in Australia and to supplement their funds through incidental employment."

Applying for the Working Holiday visa:

You do not need to pay a migration agent / company to do this, as it is a very simple application.

Make this direct with the Australian Department of Immigration by starting your application online.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need a return ticket? No, not if you hold a working holiday visa, but you will have to show sufficient funds for one upon arrival (we advise approx $1,000) this is in addition to your AUD$5,000 funds.

When should I book my flight? The Australian High Commission request that you do not book your flight until your visa has been granted.

Do I Need a Medical Examination? All applicants are required to meet health criteria. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to undertake a medical examination which may include a chest x-ray, HIV, Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C test.

All required health examinations must be completed before a decision can be be on your visa application.

If you need a medical examination, the cost is not included in the visa application charge (fee) you pay when you lodge your application.

How long is the visa valid? The working holiday visa gives you 12 months to travel to Australia from the date it is issued and allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you enter.

What are the work conditions? The type of work you can do is not restricted but you are only allowed to work for any one employer for up to 6 months at a time. The main purpose for this visa allows you to supplement the cost of your holiday through short-term employment.