Working holiday visa Australia: A complete guide (2024)

Love the idea of living and working in Australia? One way to soak up that famously laid back Aussie lifestyle is to get yourself a working holiday visa.

Australia has countless attractions for young people and graduates from the UK. This includes stunning natural landscapes, sunny weather and world-class beaches.

It’s easy to see why so many people consider moving to Australia from the UK, drawn to its diverse, culture-rich and friendly cities, where you can find fantastic job opportunities.

In this essential guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Australia working holiday visa. This includes who it’s for, how to apply and how much it costs.

So, let’s dive right in.

What is the working holiday visa Australia?

The Australia working holiday visa (subclass 417) is designed for young people aged 18-35¹ wanting to visit the country for an extended period of time.

With this visa, you can earn money to pay for your holiday and get valuable experience of working abroad.

During your time in Australia, you’ll be able to legally¹:

• Do short-term work
• Study for up to 4 months
• Travel to and from Australia whenever you want.

The working holiday visa lasts a certain period of time, and it can’t be extended. However, you can apply for another Working Holiday visa, if you meet the conditions.

Unlike some other country’s working holiday visa schemes, which have a limited number of permits available and draw from a pool of candidates, anyone can apply for this kind of visa for Australia. You will of course need to meet the eligibility requirements and conditions, which we’ll look at next.

You can’t bring family or dependent children with you to Australia with this visa¹.

Is this the same as the Australian Work and Holiday visa?

Confusingly, Australia has two working holiday visas with similar names. These are:

• The Australian Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
• The Australian Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).

The two visas are almost identical, with the same conditions and many of the same eligibility requirements.

However, the key difference is in who can apply for the Australian Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).

It is only for people aged 18-30, not 18-35 like the Australian Working Holiday visa. UK passport holders aren’t eligible to apply for it, as it’s only available to citizens of countries including the US, Singapore, Vietnam and some European countries to name but a few on the list.²

This visa also has an education requirement. Depending on your nationality, you’ll need to have attained a certain level of educational qualification.²

Whereas the Australian Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) doesn’t have any educational requirement.

Is Australia currently accepting working holiday visas?

Yes, at the time of writing, Australia is accepting applications for working holiday visas. However, this can change, so always check before you make your preparations to apply.

Am I eligible for an Australian working holiday visa?

There are a number of requirements you must meet in order to apply for the Australian working holiday visa.

These include age, nationality and other requirements such as health, character and financial resources. Let’s run through these now.

Who is this visa for?

The Australian working holiday visa is aimed at young people making their first trip to Australia. It’s for people who want to stay a while, but need to be able to work so that they can fund their travels.

Alongside age and nationality, you’ll also need to meet the following requirements:

• Have at least $5,000 AUD upfront, to support yourself for your initial stay and pay for your return journey back home¹
• Meet the minimum health requirement
• Not have a substantial criminal record
• Not have entered Australia previously on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) or a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), or have ever had a visa application refused.

Is there an age limit for the working holiday visa?

If you have a UK passport, you must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of applying for your Australian working holiday visa.¹

This has changed recently, as the upper age limit for UK nationals used to be 30.

Are British nationals eligible?

British nationals are eligible for this visa. Along with the UK, citizens of the following countries are also eligible to apply up to the age of 35:¹

• Canada
• Denmark
• France
• Ireland
• Italy.

How long can I stay in Australia with a working holiday visa?

If approved, your Australian working holiday visa will last 12 months.¹

Can I extend a working holiday visa for Australia?

Loved your time in Australia and want more of the same? You can’t extend your current Working Holiday visa, but you can apply for a second or even a third Working Holiday visa.

Previously, you’d need to plan your trip so as to complete three required months of specified work. This would make you eligible to apply for further visas.

But there’s very good news for UK citizens now that the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (Australia-UK FTA) has come into effect. Under the new Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and Youth Mobility Scheme, Brits no longer need to complete any specified work.³

This means it’s much easier to extend your stay in Australia. You can simply apply and then apply again, potentially staying Down Under for up to 3 years.

Cost of the Australia Working Holiday visa

There’s an application fee to pay for the working holiday visa for Australia. This is $635 AUD (approx. £330 GBP) for all three visa types¹ - the first, second and third working holiday visa. You must pay this fee when submitting your application.

You may also have to pay additional costs for things like biometrics, health examinations, vaccinations and police certificates (if needed).¹ Whether these are required and how much they cost varies depending on nationality.

And remember, you’ll need to have at least $5,000 AUD (approx. £2,600 GBP) in the bank to cover your initial travel and expenses.¹ Make sure you check the rules on taking cash in and out of Australia.

And while you’re in the country, there will also be expenses such as healthcare and rent that you’ll need to cover.

Pay visa fees in AUD for less with Wise

As you can only apply for a working holiday visa from outside Australia, this means paying your application fee while still in the UK. If you use your bank, you could be charged high international transfer fees and get a poor exchange rate on converting GBP to AUD.

Wise has a better solution for paying your visa fees like an Aussie local. Open a Wise multi-currency account and you can also get a Wise card, for spending in 150 countries and online too.

This clever card automatically converts currency at the mid-market exchange rate at the moment you spend, and only charges a tiny conversion fee.*

If you already have AUD in your Wise account, it’s free.

So, you can use your Wise card to pay your application fee, and avoid paying a penny more than you need to.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

How to apply for an Australian working holiday visa: Step-by-step guide

Ready to apply for your Australian Working Holiday visa? Simply follow these steps:

1. Check if you need to have health examinations

Take a look on the Australian government website to see if you’ll need to organise any health checks. If so, it’s best to complete these before starting your application.

2. Gather your supporting documents

This includes your proof of ID and character documents. We’ll cover the full list of what you’ll need in just a moment.

3. Create an online ImmiAccount

You’ll need this in order to apply for your visa online. If you already have an account, you can simply sign in.

4. Apply online

Complete your application, filling all personal and required details. You’ll also attach your supporting documents.

5. Pay your application fee

You’ll need to pay online using a credit/debit card (including the Wise card), PayPal, UnionPay or BPAY at the time of applying.⁴

6. Submit your application

Check all the details carefully and once you’re happy, submit your application. Make a note of your transaction reference number in case you need it later. You should receive confirmation of your application, then all you have to do is wait.

7. Wait for a decision

If your application is successful, you’ll be given a visa grant number and a date that your visa will start. If your application is refused, you’ll be told the reason why and whether or not you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.

Once you have confirmation that your application has been successful, all that’s left to do is start planning your trip to Australia.

You’ll want to start looking into things like accommodation, jobs, taxes and the minimum wage in Australia, as well as booking your flights. If you want to keep in touch with friends and family, you could explore the best international and prepaid sim cards or start researching calling codes in Australia.

What documents do I need?

To support your visa application, you may need to supply some or all of the following:¹

• Identity documents, including a valid passport and birth certificate
• Evidence you have enough money for your stay in Australia, such as a recent bank statement
• Character documents, such as a police certificate
• Health examination documents, if applicable.

All non-English documents must be translated into English before they can be uploaded.¹

How long does it take?

The time it will take to process your Working Holiday visa can vary. But the Australian government claims it processes up to 50% of applications within a day, and 90% within 22 days.⁵

Popular Aussie working holiday visa jobs

It’s up to you what you do and how you choose to earn your money in Australia. But if you’re in need of inspiration, here are some of the most popular jobs for people on the Working Holiday visa:

• Bar or restaurant work
• Au pair
• Festival or event staff
• Construction (skilled or unskilled, and provided you’ve had the right safety training)
• Farm work
• Contracting, particularly within IT or recruitment
• Agency work.

Working holiday programmes

You can also join a working holiday programme, such as BUNAC or Global Work & Travel.

These kinds of programmes take care of everything from visa applications to booking flights. They can also help you with booking accommodation, finding a job, meeting other people on the scheme and opening an Australian bank account.

From the paperwork through to social events, these programmes can make your trip to Australia run a little more smoothly. However, there are fees involved.

Manage your money internationally with the Wise multi-currency account

It could be useful to have an Australian bank account during your trip, for paying your bills and getting paid by your employer.

But what if you have bills to pay in the UK, or your family wants to send you money in Australia? An Aussie bank could work out to be very expensive. Most charge high fees for international transfers and currency conversions.

Luckily, there’s a better solution.

Open a Wise multi-currency account and you’ll have a low cost way to send and receive money internationally. You can send money worldwide at the mid-market exchange rate and for tiny fees*. Get paid like a local using your own Australian account details.

And of course, you can spend in Australia, the UK and 150+ other countries using your mighty Wise card.

Check out the Wise card 💳

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And that’s it - your bumper guide to the working holiday visa for Australia, featuring absolutely everything you need to know. You’re all set to apply and start living your best Aussie life - good luck and have fun Down Under!

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Sources used for this article:

Australian Government Department of Home Affairs - first working holiday visa
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs - First Work and Holiday visa
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs - Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs - Applying online or paper
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs - Global visa processing times

Sources checked on 15-04-2024.