Young people can enjoy an extended holiday in Australia and work to fund their travels with Australia's Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program. If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 (or 35 in some cases) and you come from one of the more than 40 partner countries, you have the opportunity to travel the country and work on the side. Depending on your country of residence, there are two Working Holiday Visas you can apply for, allowing you to travel and work in Australia for up to one year. And if you're not done having fun and exploring the land Down Under, you can potentially extend your stay for one or even two more years. Read on for more about Australia's Working Holiday Visas.
The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is available to young adults who want to enjoy an extended working holiday in Australia. To be eligible for the Subclass 417 visa, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, or 18 and 35 if you are from Canada, Denmark, France, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, the United Kingdom, or Northern Ireland. You must also hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:
Belgium
Canada
Republic of Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Republic of Ireland
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including British National Overseas passport holders)
The subclass 417 visa is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months. During this period, there is no limit on the number of times you can leave and re-enter the country, and you are also able to study for up to four months. The subclass 417 visa allows you to do any short-term work to help fund your travels, but you are usually only allowed to work for the same employer for six months.
This visa costs AUD 670 (USD 438) and you apply online via an ImmiAccount. You must meet the health and character requirements, and you must also provide proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while in the country. This is typically AUD 5,000 (USD 3,268), plus your airfare home.
It is possible to obtain a Second Working Holiday Visa by completing a minimum of three months' work in regional Australia. A minimum of six months' work in regional Australia is required to secure a Third Working Holiday Visa. For information on the duration of employment and the type of work required, visit the Department of Home Affairs.
Things to keep in mind when applying for a Working Holiday Visa
You must apply for your initial Working Holiday Visa when you are outside Australia.
Dependent children cannot accompany you on this visa.
Citizens from the following countries can apply for this visa:
Argentina
Austria
Brazil
Chile
China, People's Republic of
Czech Republic
Ecuador
Greece
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Israel
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mongolia
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Peru
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Türkiye
Uruguay
United States of America
Vietnam
Important:
Passport holders from Vietnam, China, and India will be randomly selected in an application ballot.
As per the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417), applicants must not be accompanied by dependent children and must apply from outside Australia. You can also study for up to four months on this visa, and you can travel to and from Australia as many times as you wish within the 12 months. You will be responsible for your healthcare while in Australia, so it is recommended that you take out international health insurance, as Australia's Medicare system will not cover you.
Why you should participate in the Australia Working Holiday Visa Program
Australia's Working Holiday Visa Program is a fantastic way to travel around Australia and work along the way to fund your trip. And unlike other Australian work visas, you have the freedom to choose the type of job you want to do. The program gives you the opportunity to explore work and study opportunities in the country and work out whether Australia is somewhere you'd like to commit to with a longer-term work visa. The chance to extend your visa for another one or two years also helps you to gain local experience, which is great if you'd like to secure a job in Australia later down the track. The recent changes to the visa program are definitely appealing if you're a British passport holder, as the age limit has increased from 30 to 35, and you no longer need to work in regional Australia in order to qualify for a second or third visa.
However, having to request permission to work for the same employer for more than six months can be a downside, and there can be competition for jobs in some of the more popular destinations, especially if university students are on school break and looking for work, too. But applying for the visa is a straightforward online process, and the Working Holiday Visa Program is a great opportunity for a ‘gap year' (or three) Down Under.
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We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
I am a former journalist who has worked as a communications and public relations consultant across a range of industries.
I have lived in Melbourne, Sydney, and London and I have also enjoyed a diverse career in the not-for-profit sector, where I worked on projects across Australia, Asia, and the Pacific.
The the two working holidays have different subclasses to further distinguish themselves: Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (subclasses 462). The only major difference I see is that they apply to different countries. The fee is $230 AUS (as of April 22, 2010).
Some more details about American applicants. Applicants should choose subclass 462, applicants can apply online and your visa is electronically linked to your passport number.
I just wanted to write because you forgot to include the USA, which is actually one of a handful countries that must apply under the Work and Holiday Visa, which is essentially the same as the Working Holiday Visa, with a few minor differences. For a better explanation, check out workingholidayaustralia.brighterplanet.org/work-and-travel-australia/do-you-qualify-for-a-visa-to-work-and-travel-in-australia which also has a link to the government site.
