Applying for a Work and Holiday Visa - Sunshine Coast Lawyers

Are you a citizen of another country looking to apply for a work and holiday visa in Australia?

If so, there are several elements of a work holiday visa that you should be aware of to help you to do so.

It can be difficult to both apply and be accepted to work and holiday in Australia, so ensuring that you are as prepared as possible can help to make the process easier.

Furthermore, knowing as much as you can about a foreign country before entering it can help to ensure that you remain safe and respect the cultures and customs of the nation.

It is important that you are doing your own individual research about Australia so that you know what to expect when staying here!

This article will discuss the process of applying for a work and holiday visa and the things that you should know before doing so.

Need help with a Work and Holiday Visa? Be referred to the best immigration lawyers on the Sunshine Coast

What is a Work and Holiday Visa?

A work holiday visa is a specific type of document that, when applied for and accepted, allows an individual to work during their time in a foreign nation.

It is a great way for people, especially young backpackers, or tourists, to continue to earn some income to pay for their travels, accommodation, and other elements of travel.

International travel, especially to Australia in its semi-secluded area of the world, is known to be quite expensive, so working while here can help to prevent you from running out of money while away from home!

A work holiday visa is based on an agreement between multiple countries that allows citizens of the other nations in the agreement to work in their countries.

Unlike an employment sponsorship, another agreement that allows tourists to work while travelling, it does not require the individual to have pre-existing employment.

Eligibility for a Work & Holiday Visa

So, now that we have discussed what a work holiday visa is, how do I know if I am eligible?

As discussed, a work holiday visa is based on an agreement between nations, so you will need to be a citizen of one of the countries in which an agreement has taken place with Australia to allow you to work while holidaying.

There are two types of work holiday visas that you can apply for, and the type depends on the country that you are from.

If you are from one of the following countries, you must apply for a Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462): Argentina, Austria, Chile, The People’s Republic of China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, and Vietnam.

If you are from one of the following countries, you must apply for a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417): Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Regardless of the country you are from, you must be between the ages of 18 – 30 with few exceptions and hold a valid passport from your home country.

You also must not travel with a dependent child.

How Can I Apply?

You may be wondering; how can I apply for a work holiday visa. There are several ways that you can go about this task. The most simple and efficient method is to go on the internet and create an Immi account, Immi being the Australian government platform for immigration-related subjects.

While applying for this, there are various documents and forms that you may be asked to present or fill out. These include specific pages of your passport which show identifying details (your name, address, photo, etc), an insert of your birth certificate that clearly shows the names of both of your parents, and evidence that you have a minimum of AUD 5 000 (can be more or less depending on case-specific details).

These are the general forms needed regardless of your home country, but other documents may be asked of you depending on the country you are travelling from. These include evidence that you can sufficiently speak English and character documents/evidence.

The documents required can occasionally be updated by Australian authorities and uploaded to the Department of Home Affairs Site, so be sure to check in on that before you apply.

Work Requirements/Restrictions

There are also several requirements and restrictions surrounding the actual act of working in Australia while holidaying, which is important knowledge if you intend to do so. It is vital that before you begin to work or even before you leave your country, you are clear on these requirements and restrictions so as to avoid issues and be able to plan for the future.

The purpose of the work and holiday visa is to allow tourists to continue to make money so they can afford to travel and holiday in Australia with short-term, casual employment.

This being said, you are generally only permitted to work in one job for 6 months at a time. This can be overruled, however, if you receive permission from the government, which will be granted in specific circumstances.

If you wish to continue working for the same employer, you may do so provided they have various locations that you can switch to, the business is animal or plant cultivation, or you work in a specific industry such as construction in northern Australia.

How Long Can I Stay in the Country?

A work and holiday visa will allow you to live and work in Australia for 12 months, beginning the day you arrive in the country.

You may leave and re-enter Australia as you please, but this time will not be cut from your visa, meaning time spent overseas will still count toward your 12-month limit.

You can, however, have your 12-month visa extended, provided you meet a certain requirement.

If you have undergone a minimum of 3 months of specified work in northern or regional Australia, you may apply for a second work and holiday visa and continue to live and work in Australia.

Key Takeaways for Work & Holiday Visa

Applying for a visa can be difficult.

Between all the forms and documents, you need to fill out and/or submit, it can become a little overwhelming.

This is why it is important that you are aware of what will be required of you for your visa to be accepted and have sufficient background knowledge about the country!