Working Holiday Visa

The working holiday program allows working holiday makers 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:

• Stay in Australia for 12 months
• Be in Australia mainly for a holiday, with work being purely incidental and to provide funds for travelling
• Work in Australia, but for no more than 3 months with any one employer unless written permission has been obtained from the Department of Immigration

An applicant must have a return ticket, or show that there are sufficient funds available for a return or onward fare from Australia.

Note also that if a holder of a 417 visa leaves Australia during the 12 month period for any reason the visa is NOT extended to allow for the period spent outside Australia.

Australia has reciprocal working holiday maker arrangements with 16 foreign countries:

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

Estonia will soon be added to the list

People who hold valid passports of most of these foreign countries are able to apply for a Working Holiday visa in any country (except Australia). Applicants who hold a valid passport from Japan, Korea, Malta, Germany, Hong Kong SAR (or a British National Overseas passport) or Cyprus, must apply in the foreign country which issued the passport.

The reciprocal nature of the arrangements ensures young Australians are also offered similar opportunities for cultural understanding through working holidays overseas.

Criteria for visas

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

• passport holders from arrangement countries
• aged between 18 and 30, and
• without dependent children.

Their main reason for coming to Australia should be to holiday; any work they do should be to support themselves while they holiday. They should have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay.

Working holiday makers are permitted a stay of 12 months from date of initial entry to Australia regardless of whether or not they spend the whole period in Australia. They are allowed to study or train for up to three months.

Work conditions

Working holiday makers 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 three months with any one employer is not allowed. Working holiday makers should be paid according to Australian award rates and conditions.

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

To work in Australia you need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa this cannot be granted in Australia you must apply for it before you arrive. You must be a citizen of a country with whom Australia has mutual working holiday agreements.

Working Holiday Maker Visa Conditions

• Aged between 18-30 years
  Not accompanied by dependent children
  To apply in the UK you must be a citizen of the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland or Norway.
  Show your main reason for coming to Australia is to holiday, and any work you do is just to support yourself whilst in 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.

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? No doctors letter is required but if you are hoping to work in healthcare, childcare, nursing homes or be in a classroom situation for more than 4 weeks you will have to provide a chest x-ray as standard.
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 3 months at a time. The main purpose of your trip should be to travel, not to work.

Are you eligible for the visa ? Register for near instant advice

http://www.australia-migration.com