Always dreamed of living or working Down Under in Australia? Keen to experience the warm weather and laid back lifestyle and world famous locations like Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland?
Working Holidays are the best way to earn money while you travel through Australia. Plus, they have the added bonus of enhancing your skill set and making your CV more desirable to employers if you decide to return back home.
View our guide and tips with everything you need to know about Australia Working Holidays, and start your application today!
What Are Working Holidays?
A working holiday visa (WHV) allows overseas visitors to travel and work within Australia for a period of 12 months, doing all types of casual work. Working your way around the country with an Australia Working Visa is the best way earn some cash and make the most of your time Down Under.
Whether you are looking for gap year ideas, want to take a career break or just want to experience Australia for yourself, there are so many reasons to apply. You’ll get lots of free time to see amazing places like Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Ayers Rock, The Great Barrier Reef and the simply stunning Whitsunday Islands.
Visa & Eligibility
All overseas visitors need to obtain a working holiday visa to be eligible to live and work in Australia. If you arrive at the border without the correct visa you will not be granted entry to the country.
To be eligible to apply requirements include:
• Must be 18-30 (inclusive) or 18-35 (inclusive) if Canadian, French or Irish.
• Must hold a valid passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction.
• Must not be accompanied by any dependent children.
• Must have AUD $5,000 support funds when you enter Australia.
Once you get your visa approved, you have 12 months to enter the country.
What Nationalities Can Apply for a Australia Working Holiday Visa?
Citizens of 45 countries are eligible to apply for working holiday visas in Australia. Some of the most popular countries where people apply from include:
• Belgium
• Canada
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Republic of Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• UK
• USA
How to Apply
Applications for individuals can be made independently or through an agency.
Some travel operators and gap year companies can help secure a working holiday visa, allowing you to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months hassle free. When you buy a working holiday visa travel package, they will usually help with flights, accommodation, and information to help you set up a bank account, tax file number and superannuation account, as well as helping you with your tax and superannuation refund upon your return.
A company we recommend who offer working holidays to Australia is Global Work & Travel, find out more on their website by clicking the banner below:
Or if you want to apply and arrange everything yourself you can do this online through ImmiAccount.
What Jobs Can You Do + Salaries
The first thing to know about Australia is that the country is very expensive to visit. But salaries even for the most entry level positions are very high. Typical work you can do whilst travelling Australia on a working holiday and expected hourly salaries include:
Labour and Farming (including regional work)
Around $30 an hour, or more with trade experience. Farm work can vary, with fruitpicking often paid by how much you pick.
Barista
Get your caffeine highs and see those bank account zeros rise, earning $17-25 an hour working in coffee shops.
Bar Work
$17-25 per hour, plus tips and an awesome social life? Laughing all the way to the bank. Plus, free digs in some rural areas.
Hospitality
$17-25 per hour plus tips, with corporate hospitality and big events such as the Melbourne Cup paying up to $50 an hour!
Office Work
Admin roles can pay $20-30 per hour; or upwards of $35 if you’re already experienced in PR, recruitment or marketing.
Shop Work
Earn between $19-25 an hour, plus some pretty good staff discounts and instant popularity amongst your new friends.
To browse employers and more work opportunities view jobs in Australia.
Australia Working Holiday Visa FAQ
Find answers to popular questions regarding the Australia work and travel programs:
How Much Does a Working Holiday Visa Cost?
It currently costs AUD $495 to apply for an Australian Working Holiday visa, though the price can change at any time. The WHV allows you to live and work in Australia for 12 months, study for up to 4 months and leave/re-enter the country any number of times whilst the visa is valid. For your application to be successful, you must have the equivalent of $5,000 (plus extra for a flight home if you haven’t booked a return ticket) in your bank account when you travel.
Where Can I Live?
You can live and travel anywhere in the country! Popular places include the main big cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Cairns. A lot of working holiday jobs can be in the Aussie outback on farms and vineyards, and also in remote areas of the country where you will get a really local experience.
Can I Study on a Working Holiday Visa?
Of course! You can study for up to 4 months on an Australia working holiday visa.
Can I Stay Longer Than 12 Months?
If you’d like to stay in Australia beyond 12 months, you may apply for a second or third year working holiday visa. This is possible through the subclass 417 visa and you will be eligible by doing three months of ‘specified work’ during your previous visa period. To qualify, you must be aged between 18 and 31 and have worked at least 88 days of farm work, fruit picking or construction work in regional Australia during your first year.
A working holiday in Australia can be a really life changing experiences, and if you fill the eligibility criteria, you really should think about applying.
Whether you have always wanted to visit Down Under, work abroad, take a gap year in Australia or just change your life, take the opportunity and start your application today. You can find more information on the Australia Department for Immigration and Border Protection.
Or if you would like to view similar opportunities, view our list of the best websites offering jobs abroad.
