Working Holiday Visas

If you fancy holidaying in Australia and picking up a bit of work to pay for it all, then look no further! This working holiday visa is ideal for travellers, backpackers and those looking to inject a bit of adventure in their lives. Here we’ll give you a brief guide to what you can and can’t do with a working holiday visa and what you need to apply. But please note folks, this is intended to be a guide only, for more detailed information on working holiday visas, visit the Australian Immigration Department.

Who can apply for this visa?

Passport holders of the countries listed below are eligible for this visa.

Belgium	Hong Kong
Canada	Italy
Cyprus	Japan
Denmark	Korea
Estonia	Malta
Finland	Netherlands
France	Norway
Germany	Sweden
Ireland	Taiwan
United Kingdom

You also need to be aged between 18-30 and have no dependent children that will be travelling with you.

You’ll need to be in fairly good health and be prepared for character checks.

You’ll also need to have enough financial resources to support you initially, usually around £2500.

What does it allow me to do?

You can stay and work in Australia for up to 12 months.  However you can only stay with the same employer for 6 months, making it ideal for those who want to travel around and find work as they go. 

You can also attend a study or training course for up to 4 months.

You can also leave and re-enter Australia as often as you like during your 12 month stay.

What if I want to extend my visa?

You can extend the visa for another 12 months as long as you have proof that you have completed at least 3 months of seasonal work.

I’ve had this visa before, can I apply for it again?

Yes, it’s basically the same procedure, but referred to as a second working holiday visa. You can apply for the visa either in or out of Australia, so long as you are still there once your visa comes through.

What will it cost?

The cost is around £115.00 subject to currency changes and any additional charges.

How do I apply?

You must be outside of Australia when you apply for this visa. The quickest way to apply for it is online with the Australian Immigration Department’s website. However you can also go to a specialist travel operator who will go through the application process with you.

Once your visa arrives, you’ll have 12 months to activate it.

That’s really all there is to it! So why not grab life by the horns and do something a little different this year?

Read all the latest Australia visa news and our feature on working holidays in Australia gives you all the information on where to go and what to do.

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