So you’re thinking about getting an Australia Working Holiday Visa? First off, congratulations! An Australia Working Holiday Visa experience is a great opportunity to live in a new country and travel, whilst also being able to earn money to fund your travels or onward trip!
This Australia Working Holiday Visa Guide is for everyone specifically planning to enter Australia on a Working Holiday subclass 417 visa, which includes UK citizens, and the Work and Holiday subclass 462 visa, which includes USA citizens. These visas cover all eligible countries and nationalities who can enter Australia on a WHV (Working Holiday Visa), so please read on if you are considering living and working in Australia on one of these visas.
If you are from another nationality not listed for the 417 or 462, please double check the relevant requirements on the Australian Immigration website.
I am from the UK and my partner is from the USA, we were moving to Australia on a working holiday visa in October 2019, so I hope our own Australia working holiday visa experience and advice will be useful to those looking to do the same and give you some tips on how to prepare for a working holiday in Australia.
I struggled to find all the information I was looking for in one place, so this guide should cover everything you need to know, the things I wish I knew before applying for the Australia working holiday visa and the Australia working holiday visa mistakes to avoid!
We were in Australia until October 2020 so I will keep updating this with any new information too.
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After the travel uncertainty of the last 2-3 years, Australian borders are now open and Australia is accepting working holiday visas again.
Recent agreements (2023) between Australia and the UK now means that UK citizens can apply for an Australia working holiday visa up to the age of 35.
UK citizens are eligible to enter Australia on a Working Holiday Visa subclass 417, you can apply for this visa here.
To get a working holiday visa for Australia, you will need to create an ImmiAccount. This is the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs portal where you can upload your evidence documents, pay for your visa and check the status of your application.
The government website advises that 75% of applications are processed in 12 days and 90% are processed in 35 days. Obviously you will need to factor this timescale in to when you expect to travel to australia and when you need to book your flights. DO NOT book your flights before your application is approved.
In my experience, my visa was approved instantly. I submitted my application, closed my browser and an email popped into my inbox 30 seconds later saying: GRANTED.
Most people don’t have any problems with the application process. I really recommend you provide as much evidence as possible, answer all the questions accurately and I’m sure your application will be straight forward too.
US citizens are eligible for the Australia Work and Holiday Visa subclass 462 which you can apply for here.
The government website advises that 75% of applications are processed in 28 days and 90% of applications in 48 days. This is a much longer processing time than the UK visa for a few reasons.
US citizens are required to supply more information for this application such as education level, education certificates and health checks. In our case, the issue my partner ran into was that he had spent more than 3 consecutive months outside of the US in the last 5 years. He was required to supply an in-depth report of dates and countries he visited and then he was requested to go for a health screening. These screenings have to be completed at certified medical offices which are spread across the States. His nearest medical office was in Seattle and he lived in Portland.
Ultimately, if you have not been outside of the States for that amount of time consecutively then this won’t be an issue. However do bear this timescale in mind if you have a specific date you intend to arrive in Australia by.
The cost of the Australian Working Holiday Visa subclass 417 costs $485 AUD. This is approximately £260.
The Australia Work and Holiday Visa subclass 462 also costs $485 AUD. This is approximately $335.
This is a question I’ve been asked a lot and whether I used a third-party company or completed the application myself.
I completed the application myself and I really don’t see a need for you to pay extra money on top of your Australia working holiday visa cost for a third-party company to do it for you.
The visa is not cheap but the process and the ImmiAccount is very straight forward, you do have to gather a lot of documentation together but you would have to do that anyway and supply that to the third-party company, so why pay more for something that’s so easy to do yourself?
It really is personal preference though and if it makes you feel more comfortable in the application process then there are companies such as STA Travel (UK) or BUNAC (US) who will take care of it for you.
Some people say they prefer to use a third-party company because they offer additional benefits like helping you get your Tax File Number (TFN), sending you packs to help you find a job and booking your first few days accommodation in the city when you arrive. Again, these are all easily done by yourself, so decide what works best for you.
For most countries, you must be between 18-30 years old to be eligible for these visas. This is still the case for US citizens applying for a working holiday visa in Australia.
However the Australia working holiday visa UK process has recently been updated and the age limit has increased to 35 years old which is in line with the eligibility of Canadians, Irish citizens and French citizens.
It is worth bearing in mind that this age requirement relates to the age you enter Australia at. As long as you enter Australia BEFORE your 31st birthday, it does not matter if you turn 31 while you are there, you still entered the country within the eligible age bracket.
Most people think the cut-off age is 30 but it is inclusive of 30. This essentially means you have an extra year.
As part of the application process, you will be required to submit proof of funds. This is essentially the Australian Government checking that you have enough funds to support yourself until you find a job and enough funds to buy a departing plane ticket.
The Working Holiday Visa money requirement for both subclass 417 (UK) and 462 (US) is $5,000 AUD.
This is approximately £2650 GBP or $3500 USD.
To do this you will need to submit bank account statements to show the funds you have available. You can submit more than one document to show this amount across multiple bank accounts, just make sure your name is shown on the statements and that it is as recent as possible, they do allow it to be within the last three months but I think the more recent, the better.
For example, I submitted:
So even though my current account statement was going to change between me submitting my application and arriving in Australia (due to pay checks back in the UK and booking flights etc), I was able to show multiple fund sources and also my bank statements were very recent (I made sure they were all less than a week old - you can request them on most online banking apps).
I had this question a lot too and the answer is: not a lot. Australia has a reputation for being very strict with people coming in on visas and people bringing in banned or restricted food items or substances. Everyone knows this, so my advice is just don’t risk it. Don’t risk bringing anything on their banned items list, they will put you on the next flight home and there is no refund for visas.
As long as you’re sticking to the rules then you don’t need to show anything. Your visa is attached to your passport number, so when your passport is scanned, that information is already there.
I had all my visa and proof of funds documents ready to show (because I’d read that they were requested), perhaps they are in other airports but I went through automated immigration gates, scanned my passport, went through customs, they did a quick bag check which was randomized; then I was in Australia!
Unfortunately this is a decision only you can make! But you can make an informed choice when moving to Australia on a working holiday visa.
Do your research, look at information about major cities, think about which state or territory you want to be located in, consider what kind of weather you’re hoping to live in, and what kind of work you might want to do.
Most Australia working holiday visa jobs are found more easily in cities, such as hospitality, bar work, office work.
If you’re really not sure, fly into one of the major cities, spend a month to 6 weeks there and see how you feel about it. If you want to try somewhere else, then move on to another city and spend some time there. It’s your working holiday, nothing is set in stone so go where you’re most comfortable or just keep moving every couple of months.
I live in Melbourne and absolutely love it - read how I picked where to live in Melbourne. The food and drink scene is amazing, so are the cultural events, festivals and sports scene (the MCG and Australian Open, anyone?) There were plenty of job opportunities and its location in the state of Victoria means there’s plenty to do in the surrounding areas too - you’re closely located to the world-famous Great Ocean Road and Yarra Valley. However, the weather is very changeable and not what you would typically associate with Australia, especially in the winter months!
For most people this is the most daunting bit of the Australia working holiday visa experience, and don’t worry, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, anyone would do when they move to a new city, let alone a new country!
So below are all the questions I had and the hurdles I came up against when moving to Australia on a working holiday visa. Hopefully these answer some of your pressing questions too!
I really recommend staying in a hostel when you first arrive in Australia. This is for several reasons:
Meeting new people is the quickest way to forget how far from home you are. It’s also a great way to make new friends and learn all the great things to see and do in the area.
In hostels you will meet people in the same boat as you and also people who have been living in a hostel for months. They will all have valuable tips and tricks to help you get settled and figure out your next steps now you’ve actually arrived. Supporting each other is a great way to make friends.
I’ve also met people who have met their housemates in hostels or been recommended for jobs though people they meet in hostels, so take advantage of every connection and don’t be afraid to start a conversation.
Backpackers and Working Holiday makers are so common in Australia that a lot of hostels will have resources and information to help you. In my hostel they had a jobs board advertising local jobs in the area, everything from manual trade jobs to hospitality jobs to part-time hostel work. They also had information to help with setting up your TFN and your Medicare Australia working holiday visa requirement.
Also look out for leaflets about things going on in the area, good places to eat or trips to take, it’s a great way to get involved with the area that might be your new home.
This was the first thing we did after we arrived. You will need an Australian number for your TFN application, for job applications and handing out resumes and for any rental applications.
Prospective employers or rental agencies are more likely to reach out to you when you have a local number as it won’t cost them anything and it suggests you’ll be reliable and staying for a while!
Opening a bank account will also often require an Australian mobile phone number.
The main phone networks are:
However I really recommend getting an ALDI Mobile SIM card. I have been astounded by their cheap deals and amazing service. They actually use Telstra’s mobile network so you can be guaranteed good mobile signal and data pretty much everywhere as Telstra is the biggest network in Australia.
On ALDI Mobile I pay $25 AUD (£13 GBP / $17 USD) for 13GB data a month, unlimited calls and texts which includes to 15 international countries (the UK and US are both on this list so we can both call home with no additional charges on our mobile package) and 200 minutes to another 35 countries. All leftover data rolls over on all packages too.
For $35 (£18.50 GBP / $24 USD) you can get 35GB data a month plus the same calls and texts as the package above.
After getting an Australian phone number, this is the second thing you need to do. Most banks will need an Australian phone number on file.
You need a bank account for when you get a job and if you are intending to rent somewhere. Jobs in Australia will not pay funds into an international bank account and similarly rental agencies will need an Australian bank account to take the deposit and rental payments.
You do need to have a residential address to open an Australian bank account. Most hostels are fine for you to use their address to have post sent to but be sure to double check with the hostel staff first, and make sure to keep checking the post regularly.
Alternatively if you have friends living in the city, you could arrange to have your post sent to them.
The main banks in Australia:
I use Commonwealth Bank and they’re pretty good, their customer service is very efficient. I picked them mainly because they have an incredible mobile app. Other banking apps are quite behind in Australia but the CommBank app gives you real-time updates and notifications every time you spend, you can pause your card if you lose it or cancel it right in the app. It also has some really useful graphics to show your spending habits and incoming and outgoings.
I have their standard current account, called Everyday Smart Access. It has a small $4 monthly fee which is waived if you pay in more than $2000 a month.
To work in Australia you need a Tax File Number (TFN). For British Citizens, this is the equivalent of your NI number. For Americans it is the equivalent of your Social Security number.
You can only apply for your TFN once you have arrived in Australia and you must have a valid work visa.
Apply for your TFN here.
This is another situation when you will need to supply your hostel, hotel or temporary accommodation address to have your TFN sent to. The government website advises that it can take up to 28 days for you to receive your TFN. I would say this is a significant over-estimation as ours arrived in about 10 days and everyone we spoke to in our hostel got theirs in two weeks or less.
If yours is taking a while to come back to you, you can always call the Tax Office and they may be able to give it to your over the phone is there is a delay in postal confirmation.
Some people underestimate the importance of the TFN. But if you don’t get one to supply to your employer, you will automatically be put on the highest tax bracket - bye bye money.
Important to note:
You are able to apply for a tax return when you’re on a working holiday visa. This is especially important in light of the recent court case where a British backpacker took the Australian Tax Office to court for discrimination based on nationality over the controversial “backpackers tax” and won. However, the Australian Tax Office has appealed the ruling and backpackers will need to wait to hear the outcome of that.
You’ll be surprised by the tax rate Australia working holiday visas come with, but thankfully the pay in Australia is also higher than what we experienced in the UK and the US so we didn’t feel the pinch too much.
This is another important note which you don’t need to worry about when you arrive, but when you are ready to leave Australia, you can claim back your Superannuation.
Superannuation or “Super”, is basically the compulsory retirement fund and 9.5% of every person's salary is deducted and paid into their superfund. Since you will be working on a working holiday visa and are not a permanent Australian resident, once you leave Australia, you are eligible to claim this money back.
You can claim back your Super here, this is called a DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment). Although it’s important to note that you will be taxed at 65% on this super withdrawal, so essentially you will only be able to get 35% of the money that’s in your super. This is really frustrating, but on the other hand, it’s money that you didn’t have before!
The answer to this is going to be very specific to you, your Australia working holiday visa experience, past work experience and what you want to do for work while you’re in Australia.
The most common Australia working holiday visa jobs are:
However if you’re like me and your skills are primarily office-based, administrative or clerical, it is also totally possible to get an office job.
The main thing to remember for both subclasses of Working Holiday Visa is that you CANNOT work for the same employer for more than 6 months. Most employers will already know this about working holiday applicants but it’s worth making it clear or reminding them.
UPDATE: As of late-2022, Australia is now allowing WHV holders to work for the same employer for up to 12-months without requesting permission. Please confirm this at the time of application as it’s not clear whether this is a temporary or permanent change.
Casual work, bar or restaurant work, manual work or hospitality work are fairly easy to find short term contracts with. They often rely on the influx of working holiday makers who are looking for working holiday visa jobs in Australia exactly like that. I would recommend looking for a couple of jobs on casual contracts.
Casual contracts, especially in a city, pay very well (often $23+ AUD per hour - $15USD or £13 GBP) and although you are not eligible for sick pay or paid time off, you can turn down shifts and pick your hours as you wish. Obviously don’t be ridiculous and never take any shifts! But Taylor, my partner, has two jobs and he can pick up or turn down shifts at either, depending on what his schedules are looking like that week.
To get one of these jobs in Austalia on a working holiday visa, the best way is to print of your CV and hit the streets. Get out there and hand them out to any establishments which you like the look of. This is how Taylor got both of his jobs.
If you are intending to work somewhere which requires you to serve alcohol, you will need to get your RSA - your Responsible Service of Alcohol qualification. This is mandatory to service alcohol. You can get this by doing an online course in all States except Victoria, where it has to be completed in a one day class in person. The cost is $55.
If you are looking for an office job on a working holiday visa, I will say right now that it is harder to get one of these jobs compared to getting work in hospitality, simply because most companies based in offices are looking for longer term employees. Even for admin roles most companies want an applicant who can commit to at least 12-18 months. Obviously you legally cannot do this on a working holiday visa.
It’s also worth noting that you will probably be applying mostly for administrative, assistant and clerical roles. Anything more skilled/higher up the office food chain will again not be favourable for you as you can only work 6 months with them. Companies spend lots of money hiring and training new people, they are unfortunately reluctant to do that for someone they know can only work for 6 months.
What I suggest is looking for contract roles. Some offices will be looking for people to cover a role or project for a few months at a time, which in your case, suits both you and them perfectly - make sure you emphasize this convenience to them!
It wasn’t easy, I applied to about 50 generic administrative jobs over a 6 week period before finally landing a 6 month contract with a company. But for 6 months of stability, it was worth it!
I primarily used Seek for all my job applications. Seek is the biggest online jobs board in Australia. You can filter the results by city, salary and most importantly, contract/fixed term roles.
You might want to try recruitment companies too as they are also used to looking after working holiday visa applicants and companies will use them to find employees to fill those short term roles you want to be looking for.
I personally didn’t find recruitment agencies very helpful, their processes were long and half the time I never heard back and had more success applying for roles myself. But I have spoken to other people who had great success with recruitment agencies so it’s worth a try as another option.
Also it’s worth noting that often temp roles will pay better because they are temp and you don’t get the benefits of sick pay or paid leave.
Recruitment Agencies in Australia (most major cities)
