If you’ve decided to visit or move to Australia, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is how long to get a working holiday visa for Australia. Getting a working holiday visa for Australia can be very beneficial for young individuals and families. If you are planning to go on a trip, this article will give you insights on how long it would take you to acquire the visa.You always wanted a working holiday vacation. Australia was on your list, but you always had some other destination in mind first. But now, finally, you got there. Now that you are in Australia, you have to decide when is the best time to start the procedure of getting your Working Holiday Visa Australia.
How Long To Get A Working Holiday Visa For Australia
Australia is a country that almost everyone wants to visit at least once in their lives. Every Australian city comes with a lot of perks and attractions that can be enjoyed by both the locals and tourists. It does not matter if you want to explore the breathtaking beaches or just want to pretend to be another Aussie for for a short period of time by learning how to surf and get drunk on a Friday night in Bondi, you will definitely not regret your decision.
The Australian working holiday programme is thought for eligible tourists who wish to spend up to 1 year in the country and work to fund their trip. It can be obtained entirely online.
Learn all about:
- How the working holiday visa for Australia works
- Who can obtain an Australian working holiday visa
- How to stay in Australia for longer than 1 year with the working holiday visa
- Requirements and further information on the visa
How does the working holiday visa work?
Those who wish to travel to Australia for leisure have several visa options available.
The quickest and most convenient Australian permits for tourists are the electronic visas: the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) and the eVisitor visa.
Both can be applied for online in minutes, are inexpensive, and grant entry into Australia for short-term stays for tourism purposes and visiting friends of families. However, they do not allow foreigners to work while in Australia.
The working holiday visa (or WHV) was designed for those travellers who wish to visit Australia for extended periods of time but do not have a great budget at their disposal. Working holiday visa holders can undertake paid work with Australian employers as long as their visa remains valid.
The WHV permits travellers to work while in Australia for a maximum of 6 months with each employer. This allows backpackers and other visitors on a budget to discover Australia as they fund their own trip.
How long is the working holiday visa for Australia valid for?
The working holiday visa is a temporary visa with a validity of 12 months. The visa is activated on the day its holder enters or transits through Australia.
The WHV is a multiple-entry permit, meaning that visitors can remain in Australia or leave and re-enter the country multiple times within the 12-month validity period.
Multiple entries do not affect the validity of the visa. That is to say that a working holiday visa holder can leave and enter Australia within the one-year validity of their visa as many times as they wish, but the validity period will not ‘pause’ while they are outside Australia.
How to extend a working holiday visa
A working holiday visa cannot be extended or renewed in itself. However, working holiday visa holders can obtain a second and even third WHV to remain in Australia longer.
The visa holder must take up specific employment in rural areas (eligible work includes, for example, fruit picking, farming, mining, and some types of construction work) for a certain amount of time.
By carrying out this type of work for 3 months, visa holders get a second WHV valid for one year. The holder can obtain a WHV for a third year provided that the traveller undertakes 6 further months of regional work.
Who can apply for a working holiday visa?
Working holiday visas are available to certain passport holders. Citizens of the below countries may be eligible for a WHV:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
Working holiday visas are only available to eligible foreign citizens between 18 and 30 years of age (inclusive). Foreigners who do not fall into this category can apply for electronic visas for tourism purposes or a relevant work or study visa.
Citizens of Ireland, Canada, and France remain eligible for the working holiday visa until they are 35 years of age (inclusive).
Eligible nationals can obtain a first working holiday visa for Australia only once (and they can then decide to get a second and third visa). If you have travelled to Australia with a WHV in the past and the permit has expired, you cannot apply for a new one.
Travellers who have been refused a visa in the past or have debts with the Australian government may not be eligible for a WHV.
WHV holders cannot travel accompanied by dependent children.
All working holiday visa applicants must meet the character and health requirements established by the Australian government. Supporting documentation may be asked as part of the application.
How to get a working holiday visa for Australia
Eligible applicants can request the WHV online. The application is quite straightforward and all supporting documents can be uploaded in digital format.
After submitting the application, travellers will receive all communications regarding their request via email. The granted visa will be also sent via email and a copy should be kept safe for the entire duration of their trip.
Although the application process is easy, the working holiday visa is significantly more expensive than online visitor visas like the eVisitor and eTA. Applicants should keep this as well as their travel needs into account when deciding what type of visa to apply for.
FAQ about the Australian working holiday visa
What countries can get a working holiday visa for Australia?
Citizens of the following 19 countries can apply for for a working holiday visa for Australia:
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 holders of an official or diplomatic passport), The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Travellers must hold a valid passport issued by one of the countries listed above when applying.