What is an Australian Working Holiday Visa?
An Australian Working Holiday Visa is a visa for young individuals from other countries, aged between 18 and 30. This visa gives them the opportunity to travel in Australia while being able to work and earn money to continue their travels.
Working holiday visas are becoming incredibly popular in Australia, and if you’ve been considering heading to the land Down Under to work and travel, there are several things you will need to consider beforehand.
What can you do on an Australian working holiday visa?
- Study in Australia for up to 4 months
- Leave and re-enter the country as much as you like (while the visa is valid)
- Stay in the country for up to 12 months, potentially 24 months or more but more info on that later
- Work for a total of three months
Who is Eligible for Working Holiday Visas?
There are two different categories of Working Holiday Visa in Australia. Each depends on what country you are applying from.
Two Visa Categories: Subclass 417 and Subclass 462
Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417
The subclass 417 visa is considered the most popular of the two. It is available to individuals from the following countries:
- United Kingdom
- Belgium
- Canada
- The Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- The Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- The Republic of Korea
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong
*With subclass 417 visas, as Australia’s farming and agricultural industries are currently in such high demand, anybody on one of these visas that have worked in the farming and agricultural industry for three months or longer, can renew their visa for a 2nd consecutive year.
Working Holiday Visa Subclass 462
Applicants for the subclass 462 visa must be between 18 and 30-year old and are looking to visit and work in Australia for just twelve months.
This visa is eligible for people from the following locations:
- Chile
- Bangladesh
- USA
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Argentina
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
Before Applying for a Working Holiday Visa
Before you apply for your visa, there are a few things that you will need to consider.
You will only have one chance to use your Working Holiday Visa, so if you plan on only visiting for a short amount of time because you are thinking of returning for a longer period later, you may wish to hold off on working until you are sure you can work for at least three months. If not then consider a tourist visa for three months which doesn't allow you to work in Australia.
When you enter the country, you must have enough money to be able to support yourself financially, before you begin work, or begin looking for work.
Basic Requirements for Working Holiday Visas
The basic requirements for obtaining one of these visas are:
- At the time of your visa application, you must be 18 years or older, but not have turned 31 or older.
- You must not have entered Australia on a Working Holiday Visa in the past.
- You must be outside of Australia when you apply for the visa.
- Individuals will need to ensure that they apply no longer than 12 months before they intend on travelling to Australia.
- You must undertake a form of temporary employment.
- You must pay a visa fee of $635 AUD.
- Within the 12 month period, you can enter and leave the country as much as you wish.
- You are allowed to enter Australia at any time within the first 12 months of the grant date of your visa.
- You must be in possession of a passport from an eligible country with at least six months left until renewal.
- You cannot have a child dependent accompanying you.
- You must not have any serious criminal convictions.
- You must not have any medical issues which could be deemed as critical.
Applying for a 2nd Year Working Holiday Visa
Individuals working in specified industries (farming and agriculture, plant and animal cultivation, fishing, mining and construction, and tree farming) have the option to renew their Working Holiday Visa for a second consecutive year willing allow them to extend their stay in Australia from 12 months to 24 months. These 2nd-year applications can be made onshore in Australia, as well as offshore.
