Working Holiday Visa
If you’re between 18 and 30 years old, hold a passport for a country participating in the Working Holiday Maker program, then you may be eligible for a 12-month visa which enables you to work while holidaying or visiting in Australia. Check out the list of requirements down below.
WHV Benefits
Requirements
You must have a valid passport, be between ages 18-31, meet health & character criteria and have enough funds. (Age limit increased to 35 for Canadian, French and Irish citizens)
Application Process
There’s a 6 step process, which we have explained in detail down below. In case of questions don’t hesitate to contact us with any additional questions.
What is a Working Holiday Visa?
The Australian Government created the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) to allow young travelers and backpackers from eligible countries to help fund an extended travel period in Australia.
You can spend your whole time living in one location or travel cross-country, meet new people, learn about Australia’s culture, obtain new skills and explore the vastly diverse landscapes Australia has to offer.
If you undertake regional work you may be able to extend your working holiday visa. By extending your working holiday visa, you can stay up to 3 years, but with each year there are a few additional requirements that you’ll need to meet.
Check out the requirements down blow and if you have any questions then don’t hesitate to contact us.
Working Holiday Visa Benefits
The WHV allows you to work and study in Australia
Work for up to 6 months full-time for any one employer
Study for up to 4 months on the WHV.
Enter and leave Australia as many times as you like
Live in one location or travel cross-country
You might consider a Student Visa if:
you're mostly interested in studying because a Student Visa permits you to work and study in Australia for the duration of your course
you wish to work more than 6 months for one employer then you might consider a Student Visa which allows you to work 40h per fortnight.
Working Holiday Visa Requirements
Must have a valid passport
The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or subclass 462) is for citizens of certain eligible countries. Depending on the country you are from, you will need to apply for the specific subclass.
Subclass 417 is for passport holders of:
Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, , Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders), 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
Subclass 462 if for passport holders of:
Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, People’s Republic of Czech Republic, Philippines, India, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, United States of America, Vietnam
Applying for the Working Holiday Visa
If you meet the criteria for the Working Holiday Visa, then you can apply now! Here are the Steps to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa
Step 1: Prepare to Apply
ingContact us today, click on the Schedule time with me link below.Check if there are any caps or limits on the WHV allotment for the year.
Immigration imposes annual limits for the number of First Year Working Holiday Visas available to certain countries each year. Once the limit is reached, no more WHV will be issued for that year. The limits reset every 1 July. You can check the status of the WHV caps here:
- Subclass 462
- Subclass 417: there are currently no annual caps for the Subclass 417 WHV
If the cap has been reached for your country, you may still be able to live, work and study in Australia on a Student Visa
Arrange Your Health Exams
- If you are certain you will be required to undertake a health examination, you can do so before you apply to expedite the process.
- If you are unsure whether or not you will need to undertake a medical examination, you can simply wait for Immigration to request it.
Get Assistance with Your Application
- While you are not required to hire a Migration Agent to assist you on you WHV application, if you would like assistance, contact us today by clicking on the Schedule time with me link below.
Book a Migration Consultation
We have a ton of information on our site about various visa options and FAQs that answer most of our visitors’ questions, but if you’re still not sure where to start or you need a personalised step by step walkthrough, then schedule a call with one of our Registered Migration Agent.
Simply follow the link below and you’ll be able to pick the date & time that fits your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I enter Australia on the WHV?
How long can I stay in Australia on the First Year WHV?
You should be sure to know the exact date that your WHV expires to avoid overstaying your visa, which can negatively impact your ability to apply for visas to Australia in the future.
What do I need to do once I arrive in Australia?
Once you arrive in Australia, you will need to get a few tasks done before you begin working.
- Open a bank account
- Get an Australian phone number
- Find housing
- Apply for your Australian Tax File Number <link” https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/
What kind of work can I do on the WHV?
You can undertake any type of legal work in Australia, with certain rights and conditions. Please note, you cannot work for the same employer for longer than six months without permission from the Australian government.
You may be able to work for the same employer for more than six months without permission if:
- The work is in different locations and work in any one of the locations is not more than six months; or
- The work qualifies as Regional Specified Work
Some other things to consider are:
- The six months is calculated based on the duration of employment and not the number of hours worked.
- This condition resets when:
- You have been granted a second WHV, or
- A bridging visa comes into effect (after your WHV expires)
If you want to apply for the Second Year WHV, you must undertake certain Regional Specified Work.
No matter what type of work you undertake, you are protected by certain rights and entitlements. Know your rights to avoid unfair wages or work conditions.
Can I extend my Working Holiday Visa?
This article is for travelers who have never before held a WHV. If you are looking to extend you Working Holiday Visa, you will need to meet additional criteria.
What Counts as “Farm Work” for the Second Working Holiday Visa?
In order to apply for a Second Year WHV, you must complete 88 days (or three calendar months) of Regional Specified Work while on your First Year WHV.
Regional Specified Work, often called “Rural Farm Work” is certain types of work in certain industries undertaken in certain areas in Australia. The work and locations will depend on your WHV subclass. The industries are:
- Subclass 417
- Plant and Animal Cultivation
- Fishing and Pearling
- Tree Farming and Felling
- Mining
- Construction
- Subclass 462
- Plant and animal cultivation
- Fishing and Pearling
- Tree Farming and Felling
- Tourism and Hospitality
To learn more about what constitutes Specified Work and how to apply for the Second Year WHV,
Always be sure the work you are undertaking qualifies as Regional Specified Work. If you are unsure, contact us or book a consultation to speak with a Migration Agent.
How can I find “Farm Work” for my WHV?
There are countless options for undertaking regional specified work or seasonal farm work. If you are prepared, you can choose the type of work that is best suited to your preference of location and tasks. For instance, if you do not like the heat, avoid places like the Outback or Northern Territory in the summertime. If you don’t like manual labour, choose a task like fruit sorting, rather than fruit picking.
You can find specified work vacancies through employment pages in newspapers, through job placement agencies, and online job postings.Here are some links where you can search for possible farm work options:
- gov.au/harvesttrail
- http://www.goharvest.com/
- wineindustryjobs.com.au/
- http://www.bckpacker.com/fruitpicking
- http://www.webwombat.com.au/careers_ed/careers/fruitpic.htm
- https://www.backpackerjobboard.com.au/jobs/farm-work/
- https://www.workingholidayjobs.com.au/fruit-picking/
Please be aware that not all jobs posted on the above website necessarily qualify as Regional Specified Work as required for the Second Year WHV.
When do I need to complete my Farm Work for the Second Year WHV?
You must undertake your 88 days/3 months of farm work before your First Year WHV expires. This means, at the very latest, you will need to begin your farm work after being in Australia for nine months.
You can undertake this work either at one place or multiple locations and it does not have to be completed consecutively.
We generally recommend that you complete your farm work at the beginning of your WHV. There are several thousand Working Holiday Makers in Australia at any given time, meaning the jobs for farm work fill up fast.
You cannot complete your eligible Farm Work on any other type of visa if you plan to apply for a Second Year WHV.
If you didn’t complete your Farm Work in time, there may still be options for you to remain in Australia, such as applying for a Student Visa.
GET IN TOUCH
In case of questions, feel free to reach out to one of our experienced Registered Migration Agents.
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