Working Holidays in Australia
Live, Travel and Work in Oz
Working Holidays in Australia provides opportunities for eligible young people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Australia and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment. The working holiday program was established in January 1975 with the main purpose to "promote international understanding by enabling young people to experience the culture of another country."
There are almost no limits to what employment a working holiday maker visa holder can undertake, and although traditionally most of the jobs have been in hospitality or harvest work, many are finding opportunities in finance, education, health care and other industries.
Until recently the Australian working holiday visa was a one-year, once in a lifetime opportunity, but recent legislative changes now allow any visa holder who has spent a minimum of three months as a seasonal worker in regional Australia to apply for a second working holiday visa.
The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months from the date of first entry to Australia, regardless of whether the holder spends the whole time in Australia. The visa holder must validate the visa (enter Australia) within a year of issue. The holder may enter and leave Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the visa. Time spent outside of Australia is lost and cannot be re-claimed towards the one year validity period of the visa.
The visa allows the holder to seek employment in Australia. Employment should be 'incidental' to travel and of a temporary or casual nature. People working in Australia on a Working Holiday visa are entitled to the same pay and work conditions as Australian residents and citizens.
'Course, you don't have to work, but it's a great way to get extra cash so you can travel more and get to know the real Australia. Whether you're a beach babe wanting to chill by the sea, the rugged outdoor type looking for adventure or a party person for the clubs, bars and restaurants of our dynamic cities, Australia's got everything you could ever want.
So apply for a Working Holiday Visa and get yourself down to Oz.
Working Holidy Visas for Australia
To be eligible for the Australian Working Holiday Visa, applicants must be:
- Aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) and without dependent children.
- Eligible passports holders from the following countries with at least one year until renewal on their passport:
• Argentina
• Indonesia
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Canada
• Chile
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong SAR
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States
- Able to show sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay. A sufficient amount is regarded as being a minimum of AU$ 5,000, although the amount may vary depending the length of stay and how much traveling is intended during that stay. A return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia if travelling on a one way ticket is also necessary.
- Be of good character and of good health.
- The application for a first working holiday visa must be made outside of Australia - in most cases this can be from anywhere outside Australia. However, the following passport holders must lodge their application in the country or region that issued their passport:
Conditions for a Working Holiday Visa to Australia
- Work should be incidental to travel (the main purpose for your visit must be tourism).
- You must not work for the same employer for more than 6 months
- You must not study for more than 4 months.
- 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.
- You must have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. Generally, AU$ 5,000 may be regarded as sufficient, but the amount may vary depending on your length of stay and the extent of your travel.
- You should also have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia.
Second Working Holiday Visa
Working holiday visa holders may be eligible for a second working holiday visa entitling them to another year in Australia if they have worked as a seasonal worker in regional Australia for a minimum of 3 months. Applications for a second Australia Working Holiday Visa can be made both offshore and onshore in Australia.