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This type of visa could be for you if you are aged 18 to 30 years of age and are interested in a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia. The purpose of this visa is to allow you to have a holiday while earning extra from short-term work to supplement your stay in Australia. But if your reason to travel to Australia is to enter the work force, you should apply for a Skilled Migration visa. A Working Holiday visa can be applied for online, by post or by courier.
If you are granted a Working Holiday visa, you can enter Australia within 12 months of approval and stay up to 12 months. You can leave and re-enter Australia any number of times as long as the visa is still valid. You can work in Australia for up to six months with the same employer and study for up to four months.
How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa
Below is a checklist to give you assistance when completing your paper application for a Working Holiday Visa. (These are general instructions only, please contact a Migration Agent for advice on your personal situation). It is different from the list of example requirements that you have to provide for this application. To ensure that your application will not be delayed, you should check and complete all requirements for your personal situation and provide the necessary documents.
- Complete an application form (Form 1150) Application for a Working Holiday Visa);
- Prepare your documents – submit certified copies only;
- Provide certified copies of your passport pages containing your photograph and personal information – your passport must be valid for at least six months;
- Pay the appropriate visa application charge – if you will apply outside Australia, you should contact the nearest Immigration office to check the method of payment, what currencies they accept and to whom payment must be made payable; if applying in Australia, you can pay by credit card, debit card, or money order;
- If you will authorize another person to act and receive communications on your behalf, you should complete Form 956;
- Complete Form 1263 Working Holiday visa: Employment verification, if you will apply for a second Working Holiday visa – submit original and/or certified copies of your pay slips, group certificate, payment summaries, tax returns, and employment references.
Example requirements for a Working Holiday Visa
To be eligible for your first Working Holiday visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must hold a passport for a country or region participating with Australia in the Working Holiday program;
- You must be outside Australia when you apply and when your visa is approved;
- You have not entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa;
- You have not entered Australia on a Work and Holiday visa;
- You are between 18 and 30 years old at time of application;
- You must not be accompanied by dependent children during your stay in Australia;
- You are required to undergo medical examination which will include a chest x-ray, HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C test;
- You must have health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia because medical treatment can be very expensive;
- You must meet character requirements – you may be asked to submit a police clearance;
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday in Australia – you may be asked to provide evidence such as a certified copy of a bank statement;
- You must have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia – you may be asked to provide your air ticket out of Australia.
- You must respect Australian values and obey the laws of Australia – you will be asked to sign a declaration in the application form.
Countries/Regions Participating in Working Holiday Program
Below is a list of the countries and regions that are involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia. You may be eligible to apply for this type of visa if you are a passport holder of any of these countries:
Belgium
Germany
Malta
Canada
HKSAR
Netherlands
Cyprus,
Republic of Ireland,
Republic of Norway
Denmark
Italy
Sweden
Estonia
Japan
Taiwan
Finland
Korea,
Republic of United Kingdom
France
Requirements for a second Working Holiday visa are the same as the first Working Holiday visa except for the following:
- You must have completed three months of specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa;
- You may apply for a second Working Holiday visa while you still hold a first Working Holiday visa or at a later date.
References:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/specified-work.htm
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/postcodes.htm
Visa Conditions for a Working Holiday Visa
As with the other types of a Visitor Visa, you must comply with all the visa conditions while you are in Australia on a Working Holiday visa. There may be additional visa conditions that will be given to you aside from the studying and working limitations. If you do not comply with these conditions, your visa may be cancelled or you will be asked to leave Australia.
Studying in Australia is allowed up to four months only. If you study on your first Working Holiday visa, you may return to the same institution if you are given a second Working Holiday visa.
You are allowed to work for the same employer up to six months only and work should be your secondary purpose of visiting Australia. If work is what you really intend to do when you apply, you should consider a Skilled Migration visa instead. But you may work for the same employer again if you have a second Working Holiday visa.
(These are general instructions only, please contact a Migration Agent for advice on your personal situation).
Finding Employment on a Working Holiday Visa
You may find work in Australia in the employment pages in newspapers, the Internet and job placement service providers. See the Finding Work pages for more information.
If you plan to work in your occupation in Australia, you may be required to have registration or license. This applies to health professions and the construction sector. So you should contact the relevant assessing body to find out whether you need to obtain registration or license before you start work. If you plan to work in the construction sector, you may be required to have occupational safety training.
Even if you are on a temporary visa only, you are entitled to the same pay and work conditions as Australian residents and citizens. Your employer must see to it that you are paid the salary specified for the nominated position, deduct and make tax payments for you, make superannuation contributions, comply will all relevant workplace relations laws, comply with responsibilities under Australian immigration laws and the employer must be engaged in lawful business activities.
Reference:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/working-in-australia.htm
After you lodge your Application
Your application will be assessed after you complete and lodge it by post or courier. You may be asked to submit additional information to enable the Department to make their decision. You should not make any flight arrangements unless you have received an approval. The Department will notify you once your application is granted. You do not need a visa label unless the Department advised you in your notification letter. The visa is electronically linked to your passport details in your application form. When you travel to Australia, the 12 month stay period of your Working Holiday visa starts when you enter Australia – once you pass through immigration in Australia.
You will be advised if your application is refused and will be given the reasons for the denial. Your notification letter will advise you of your review rights and the time limit for lodging an appeal.
(These are general instructions only, please contact a Migration Agent for advice on your personal situation).
