Working Holiday Visa in Australia: A Comprehensive Guide

A Working Holiday Visa or Subclass 417 permits young individuals between 18 and 30 years old to come to Australia for an extended vacation and work for a year. This visa permits you to be employed for a short term, study for a period of 4 months, and travel in and out of the country as required. The Working Holiday Visa is non-renewable, and you must apply for a new visa after meeting the eligibility criteria. You are not eligible to bring any dependents like family members or children on this visa. The benefits of a Working Holiday Visa are as follows:

• Legal approval to work in the country
• Access to job opportunities in the Australian job market
• Flexible to enter and exit the country multiple times

 

Who is this Working Holiday Visa for?

The Working Holiday Visa in Australia is for young individuals who are interested in coming to Australia for vacation for the first time. This visa permits you to stay for a while in the country and provides the ability to work to fund your journey. You must meet certain requirements as follows:

• Financial aid of AUD 5,000  is necessary for supporting yourself during the initial period of stay in the country and for transport
• Satisfy health requirement
• Have a clean criminal record
• Should not have entered Australia previously on a Subclass 417 (Working Holiday Visa) or a Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday Visa) or have an application rejected or refused

 

Australian Working Holiday Visa Eligibility Criteria

The Australian Working Holiday Visa eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Age requirements: You are required to be between 18 to 30 years old.
• Financial requirements: Have a minimum of AUD 5000 for expenses during your stay and to leave Australia
• Character requirement: You can meet character requirement by submitting a declaration of not engaging in any criminal conduct and providing any sought-after information
• Health requirement: Satisfy the health requirement as requested by the government of Australia by undergoing certain medical examinations and tests
• Passport: Have a recent passport from the UK and Northern Ireland that includes overseas British citizens with a passport
• Previous visas: Must not have applied for Subclass 462 or 417 Visa previously
• Debts to the Australian Government: Pay any pending debts that you owe the government of Australia to apply

 

How to apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa

The process to apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa is as follows:

 

Step-by-step guide for an Australian Working Holiday Visa

The following are the steps to apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa:

Step 1: Check if you are eligible for a Subclass 417 Visa

Check your eligibility with a Y-Axis Immigration Australian Points Calculator for a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

Step 2: Prepare the required checklist of documents

Arrange all the required documents that prove educational qualifications, work experience, nationality, and character.

Step 3: Make and submit a visa application online and pay the required fee

Visit the Government of Australia website to create an account and fill in the visa application. Then, attach all the supporting documents you have gathered. You are required to pay the application fee for processing.

Step 4: Wait for the visa to be processed and receive a decision

After submitting the visa application, wait for the visa processing. You will receive an email notification that your application was accepted or either refused.

If the application was

• Accepted, you will receive a visa grant number
• If refused, you will receive a reason for refusal and be asked to submit additional information if applicable

Step 5: Get the visa and fly to Australia

You can get the visa after approval and then fly to Australia.

 

Australian Working Holiday Visa required documents

The required documents for an Australian Working Holiday Visa are as follows:

• Document of identity like a certificate of birth and a UK passport
• Proof of sufficient funding by submitting bank statements
• Documents proving your character, like a police certificate
• Medical examination reports, if required

 

Australia Working Holiday Visa cost

The cost of an Australian Work Holiday Visa is mentioned in the table below:

Category	Cost
Total Cost of a Subclass 417 Visa	AUD 635

You are required to pay an additional amount, which is mandatory for the Australia Working Holiday Visa. They are as follows:

• Biometrics that include registering fingerprints and photographs
• Medical assessments, reports, and vaccinations
• Filing of health insurance
• Obtaining certificates proving character

 

What are Working Holiday Visa Programmes

The Australia Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Program is for interested young adults between 18 and 30 (35 for certain countries) to have a 12-month extended holiday during which they can travel, study, and work for a short period. There are two subclasses under the WHM Program, and they are as follows:

• Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)- Eligible for ages 18 to 30 (35 for some countries)
• Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)- Eligible for ages 18 to 30 (inclusive)

Types of Visas under Subclass 417 and Subclass 462

The three types of visas under Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 are as follows:

 

First Working Holiday / Work and Holiday Visa

You must apply for the First Working Holiday / Work and Holiday Visa if you want to have your first extended trip to Australia and work there to fund your trip. You are required to have a valid and recent UK passport to be considered for the visa.

 

Second Working Holiday/ Work and Holiday Visa

You must apply for the Second Working Holiday / Work and Holiday Visa if you have previously applied and have held or currently hold a First Working Holiday/ Work and Holiday Visa in Australia. You should have a valid UK passport and finished 3 months of specified work.

 

Third Working Holiday/ Work and Holiday Visa

You have to apply for a Third Working Holiday/ Work and Holiday Visa if you have held or presently hold a Second Working Holiday / Work and Holiday Visa. You can spend a vacation and work in Australia for the third time with this visa. The visa is granted if you have finished 6 months of specified work as per the chosen subclass. ​​

*Note: Individuals from the UK are not required to meet the requirement of specified work.

 

Australian Working Holiday Visa Conditions

The Australian Working Holiday Visa conditions are mentioned below:

• Restrictions for employment: You are permitted to work for a period of 6 months under an employer. This ensures that your primary purpose is to have an extended vacation and that employment is incidental to the visit.
• Limitations regarding study: You are allowed to study in Australia for a period of 4 months during your stay.
• Duration of stay: The visa has a validity period of 12 months regardless of whether you enter and exit Australia multiple times.
• Second and Third Subclass 417 Visa: Certain countries other than the UK have to complete specified work in certain regions and industries in your first stay in Australia, to be eligible for a Second and Third Subclass 417 Visa.

 

Benefits of a Working Holiday Visa

The Australia Working Holiday Visa is an overseas opportunity for interested candidates in the UK to vacation in the country and work. There are many benefits the country offers to encourage their pursuit, and they are as follows:

• Flexibility of travel: You can travel multiple times in and out of the country as required. The visa allows you to stay in a particular location or travel across Australia
• Personal growth: You can gain a sense of autonomy and improve interpersonal skills, experience cultural enrichment, and learn new perspectives by traveling to Australia.
• Opportunity to travel and work: You can travel and enjoy the aesthetic beauty of Australia while working.
• Engage in new cultural experiences: You can gain new cultural experiences by engaging with local traditions and customs and learning the history of the Aboriginals in Australia.
• Have professional growth: You can get exposed to the international job market in Australia and access job vacancies. If you work in Australia, you can enhance your work potential and capacity by expanding your horizons and gaining a new perspective. This can help in developing new skills like intercultural competence, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and a sense of adaptability.
• Improve English language skills: As Australia is an English-speaking country, you can experience real-life interactions that will improve your English language speaking and comprehension skills. This will act as an added advantage in the Australian job market.
• Connect and expand your network: You can initiate conversations and meet new people in the personal and professional world. This will aid in expanding your network and making new connections.

 

Living Conditions of Australia

You must understand the living conditions in Australia and plan in advance to avoid any disturbances during your travel. You are required to plan your living expenses, accommodation, and healthcare before traveling.

 

Cost of living

The living expenses in Australia include accommodation, transportation, groceries, dining out, entertainment, and other utilities. These expenses vary based on the location of your stay and choice of lifestyle. The popular cities in Australia, like Melbourne and Sydney, have a generally high cost of living. The funds required for living in Australia are listed in the following table:

Category	Cost
Accommodation	Around AUD 180 to AUD 300 per week
Groceries	AUD 80 to AUD 150
Transportation	Around AUD 35
Emergency fund	AUD 1,000-2,000

 

Accommodation options

Australia has many accommodation options available around the country. You can easily get an affordable place if you intend to travel or stay in one location in the country. The price of accommodation may vary based on the location. The choices available for you to stay in Australia are as follows:

• Hostels
• House Share
• House Sitting
• Independent Rental
• Work Away

Hostels

You can check out affordable hostels and guest houses with a kitchen for your stay. The hostels have a lot of amenities based on the region it is situated like the following:

• Well equipped kitchen
• Free bicycle rental
• Cinema rooms
• Gym

House Share

Australia is known for House Shares, as there are many rooms available at any given time. They are great for young adults as they are cheap and best for making new connections. You can get a spacious accommodation equipped with a pool, double bedroom, gym, and bathroom for a minimum of AUD 1550 per month.

House Sitting

You can choose to house sit for Australians on vacation and mind the house. The minimum price for house sitting is around AUD 1600 per month for a 3-bedroom house in the country. House-sitting is the best option if you intend to stay for a short period.

Independent Rental

You can choose to rent your own flat if you are not comfortable with house-sharing and house-sitting. For example, the price of renting a flat in an expensive city like Melbourne is around AUD 1520 per month. You can pay an additional charge for other utilities like internet, electricity, and gas as required.

Work Away

Australia has many places of accommodation that offer free stay in exchange for services. This can include help with their farms, pets, and houses. Work Aways are best and affordable if you intend to travel throughout the country. You can stay alone or with a group of friends at Work Away.

 

Healthcare and insurance

You can avail essential and urgent medical facilities as the UK and Australia have a healthcare agreement. However, you are required to pay an additional fee to get medicines prescribed by a General Physician. The Australian health insurance- Medicare, can help recover a few of your medical costs; you are required to enrol to access these services.

UK residents who intend to travel for a specific period can access free healthcare in Australia under the reciprocal scheme. Therefore, check your eligibility or apply for valid medical insurance to cover unexpected medical emergencies.

As the Australia Working Holiday Visa permits you to stay in the country for a period of 1 year, you can apply for long-stay travel insurance to cover an extended vacation or travel period. You are required to check the maximum duration allowed in the insurance policy. The insurance policy has to meet your needs, which include activities or work you may undertake.

 

Employment Opportunities in Australia

Australia is a vast country with more than 800,000 job vacancies in the job market for skilled individuals. The popular jobs and sectors for Working Holiday Visa holders are as follows:

• Hospitality and Retail
• Bar Work
• Au Pair
• Festival staff
• Construction
• Mining
• Farm Work
• Contracting
• Other jobs include crew member, tour guide, and agricultural work

 

Tips for getting a job on a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

There are various ways in which you can search for a job in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. The most prominent ways are as follows:

• Online: You can browse through the internet to search for job vacancies related to your field. You can also upload your resume and let employers approach you.
• Social media: You must update your LinkedIn profile, provide details of your new location, and ensure your connections know of it to gain more visibility.
• Hostels: Few hostels have partnerships with employment agencies or have notice boards that highlight new employment opportunities in the vicinity.
• Recruitment agencies: You can approach recruitment agencies in the country to find short-term employment.

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Rights and responsibilities of employees

If you are working for a short period in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, then you are protected by certain laws in the country. The basic rights in the country include the following:

• The right to work in a safe environment
• The right to get appropriate safety gear
• The right to voice about the conditions of the working environment
• The right to oppose any unsafe job role
• The right to consult about the safety rules to be implemented in the workplace
• The right to access any financial compensation for workers
• The right to have a fair and unbiased workplace
• The right to have an equal pay
• The right to receive minimum hourly pay
• The right to sick leave and paid holiday
• The right to ask for a flexible work environment