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Australia :: Visa Information
Can I go anytime?
Do I need a visa?
What is the Working Holiday Program?
Who is eligible?
Do I need to prove I have sufficient funds in order to apply for a Working Holiday Visa?
Where can applicants apply?
Can I use my Working Holiday Visa to work in New Zealand?
How do I apply?
Is there a visa application charge?
Is an interview necessary?
Do I need a return ticket?
Do I need to have a medical examination?
How long can I stay in Australia on a Working Holiday visa?
Can I break my holiday to visit other countries?
Am I restricted in the type of work I do?
What are the work conditions?
Can the three months work condition be extended?
Can I use the services of an employment or recruitment agency?
Can I work for the whole 12 months?
Can I undertake studies on my Working Holiday visa?
How many times can I be granted a Working Holiday visa?
What assistance is given to Working Holiday makers?
Do I need travel/health insurance?
Can I change to another visa?
What if I require further information?
Questions and Answers
Australia :: Visa Information
Can I go anytime?
It's up to you. Apply for a WHM program visa from home and then when its issued travel anytime.
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Do I need a visa?
If you intend to work in Australia you will need a 12 months Working Holiday Visa. We recommend you look at the
Australian Immigration
website.
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What is the Working Holiday Program?
The Working Holiday (WH) program aims to promote international understanding, through helping young people experience the culture of another country.
It provides opportunities for resourceful, self-reliant and adaptable young people to holiday in Australia and to supplement their funds through incidental employment.
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Who is eligible?
Only applicants from arrangement countries who are aged between 18 and 30(visas can be granted before your 31st birthday) years and without dependent children are eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa.
Australia has reciprocal working holiday arrangements with sixteen countries.
ARRANGEMENT COUNTRIES
Canada
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Malta
Netherland
Norway.
Sweden
United Kingdom
Belgium
Taiwan.
Estonia
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Do I need to prove I have sufficient funds in order to apply for a Working Holiday Visa?
Australian Immigration states that you should be able to prove that you have sufficient funds of at least A$5,000 approx £2000/ 3,000. You could be asked to prove this during the visa process. We always recommend that this is the minimum amount you take with you.
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Where can applicants apply?
The Working Holiday visa cannot be granted in Australia. All visa applications must be made overseas.
Passport holders of ten foreign countries (the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy and France) are able to apply for a Working Holiday visa in any country (except Australia).
Applicants who hold a valid passport from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of Cyprus, must apply in the foreign country which issues the passport.
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Can I use my Working Holiday Visa to work in New Zealand?
No. To work in New Zealand you will need to apply for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.
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How do I apply?
Working holiday visas can be obtained by making an application on the Internet
Apply Live Online For WHM
,
or by lodging a written application on form 1150 at any overseas visa office.
See:
Online services - visiting Australia
, ,
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Is there a visa application charge?
Yes. You can check the latest form 990i to obtain up-to-date charges.
The nearest Australian Government office is also able to provide you with information on charges. See:
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Is an interview necessary?
You may be interviewed to determine your eligibility for the grant of a Working Holiday visa.
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Do I need a return ticket?
Yes, or at least evidence that you have sufficient funds for a return fare.
You should also provide evidence (for example, bank statement or savings book) of sufficient funds for the initial stage of your holiday.
Further information on funds required is available from your nearest Australian Government office.
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Do I need to have a medical examination?
All applicants are required to meet health criteria. In certain circumstances, you will be required to undergo formal health examinations. A chest x-ray will be required if you:
are a resident of a country considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis (a list of countries is available in form 1163i),
have spent more than 3 consecutive months in the last 5 years in a country or countries considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis,
are likely to enter an Australian hospital or health care area (including nursing homes), or
are likely to be engaged in an Australian child care centre (including preschools or creches) as either an employee or trainee.
See:, Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia (PDF* file, 30kb)
A chest x-ray and a medical examination, including any specialist reports, will be required if:
there is an indication you may not meet the health criteria, or
you are likely to work or study in a classroom environment for more than 4 weeks and hold a passport from a country considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis.
Additionally, you will need to undergo HIV/Hepatitis B testing if you intend to work in the health care industry. Example: Doctors, dentists, nurses and dental hygienists.
Examinations are conducted by panel doctors. A list of panel doctors can be obtained from this website. See:
Immigration panel doctors
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How long can I stay in Australia on a Working Holiday visa?
A Working Holiday visa gives you 12 months to travel to Australia from the date the visa is granted, and allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you first enter Australia. From 1 November 2005, Working Holiday Makers who have worked as a seasonal worker in regional Australia for a minimum of three months will be eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday visa and stay for a further 12 months.
For the purposes of meeting the requirements for a second Working Holiday visa, 'seasonal work'and 'regional Australia' are defined as:
Seasonal work: harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops, pruning and trimming vines and trees, thinning and trimming flowers and bunches, and general maintenance crop work
Regional Australia: anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the ACT. Any area identified on the Australian JobSearch website as requiring harvest workers will come within the definition of 'regional Australia'.
If you are interested in the option of applying for a second Working Holiday visa after 1 November 2005, you will need evidence of the length of time you have spent working as a seasonal worker in regional Australia. Before commencing seasonal work in a regional area, you should obtain a copy of This form should be used by you to record all of your employment details and will be required when you fill in your application for a second Working Holiday visa. Further information about how to apply for a second Working Holiday visa will be available from 1 November 2005.
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Can I break my holiday to visit other countries?
Yes. You can leave and re-enter Australia within the 12 months from the date of initial entry to Australia.
However, if you depart Australia during your 12 month stay, you are not able to recover in any way the period of time spent outside Australia.
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Am I restricted in the type of work I do?
No. Working holiday makers are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature.
However, if you intend to work in your occupation in Australia, you should be aware that registration or licensing may be required.
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What are the work conditions?
Work condition 8108, which is attached to the Working Holiday visa, states that "the holder must not be employed in Australia by any 1 employer for more than 3 months, without the prior permission in writing of the Secretary (of the department)".
The main purpose of your visit should be to holiday and travel. Any work should be incidental to supplement funds; periods of work should be broken up by periods of holiday and travel.
Working beyond the three months without the required permission may result in your visa being cancelled and you may be required to leave Australia.
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Can the three months work condition be extended?
In special circumstances this may be allowed, but generally only for a very short period of time.
As stated above, you must have written permission from the Secretary of the department prior to working beyond the three months.
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Can I use the services of an employment or recruitment agency?
Yes, you can. However you are not permitted to extend your employment beyond 3 months with any one employer through the use of business affiliates and/or sub-contracting arrangements or by using different employment agencies (to remain in the same job).We allow recruitment companies to place all and any vacancies they wish to.
In practical terms, this means that you cannot work for longer than 3 months in the same position, in the same location, doing the same work. The main purpose of your visit should be to holiday and travel.
Any work should be incidental to your holiday, and periods of work should be broken up by periods of holiday and travel.
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Can I work for the whole 12 months?
No. If your principal purpose of visiting Australia is to work (other than incidentally to your holiday), then the Working Holiday visa is not appropriate.
You need to apply for a more suitable temporary entry visa.
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Can I undertake studies on my Working Holiday visa?
Working Holiday visa holders are permitted to study or train for up to 3 months.
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How many times can I be granted a Working Holiday visa?
Once only.
HOWEVER
From 1 November 2005, Working Holiday Makers who have worked as a seasonal worker in regional Australia for a minimum of three months will be eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday visa and stay for a further 12 months.
For the purposes of meeting the requirements for a second Working Holiday visa, 'seasonal work'and 'regional Australia' are defined as:
Seasonal work: harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops, pruning and trimming vines and trees, thinning and trimming flowers and bunches, and general maintenance crop work
Regional Australia: anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the ACT. Any area identified on the Australian JobSearch website as requiring harvest workers will come within the definition of 'regional Australia'.
If you are interested in the option of applying for a second Working Holiday visa after 1 November 2005, you will need evidence of the length of time you have spent working as a seasonal worker in regional Australia. Before commencing seasonal work in a regional area, you should obtain a copy of This form should be used by you to record all of your employment details and will be required when you fill in your application for a second Working Holiday visa. Further information about how to apply for a second Working Holiday visa will be available from 1 November 2005.
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What assistance is given to Working Holiday makers?
There is no specific government assistance given to working holiday makers. However, the following information may be of some assistance to you:
finding employment - various ways to find employment include the "positions vacant" columns in newspapers, the Internet (Wotjob), word of mouth and job placement service providers (charges for this service apply);
for information on rates of pay and conditions, you should contact any Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) office. Alternatively, general information on wages and conditions can be obtained through the Internet;
the Australian Tourist Commission provides information on accommodation, attractions, tours, hiring/charter and transport needs.
See:
Wages and conditions
and
Australian Tourist Commission
.
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Do I need travel/health insurance?
Medical treatment in Australia can be very expensive and it is advisable to have both travel and health insurance.
We provide fantastic rates for
"Travel Insurance Quote and Book"
You are strongly advised to take out private health insurance to cover yourself in Australia unless there is a reciprocal health insurance arrangement between Australia and your country of citizenship.
Enquiries about the possible existence of such arrangements should be made when you apply.
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Can I change to another visa?
You can apply to change your working holiday status while you are in Australia if you meet the requirements for another visa.
Working Holiday visa holders are able to meet the criteria for grant of a visitor visa to enable a longer stay in Australia only if exceptional circumstances exist.
People with another type of visa cannot change to a Working Holiday visa in Australia.
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What if I require further information?
If you require further information about a Working Holiday visa, please contact your nearest Australian Government office.
See:
Office and contact details index
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