Australian Working Holiday: Your Questions Answered!
 
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Once you contact us on the phone or on the web to request information for one of our services we will provide you with a free eligibility assessment which will determine the most appropriate visa for you. The assessment will include preliminary information on the visa conditions and how you meet the eligibility requirements. Once you agree to use our service we will process your visa application through to completion. Our service covers the checking of your documents and personal details for correctness before we lodge your application with the relevant Government/Embassy. In the event that we spot any missing information/documents from your application we will follow up by giving you a phone call or sending you an email to request the necessary details.

Thousands of customers choose Visa First to organise their working holiday visas every year because:

  • We make getting the visa you need fast and hassle-free.
  • We provide a free initial assessment on the process.
  • We developed the unique online visa status engine which allows you to check the status of your visa 24/7. Check your status now.
  • We're visa experts and have organised over 130,000 visas for people like you.
  • We have a price and service promise to you to ensure a low cost effective service.
  • We offer a step-by-step consultation as we do the visa.
  • We provide an end-to-end service from assessment, through gathering and processing the documents till visa grant.
  • We have local offices supporting the visa process.

 

 




The costs for Australia WHM Visa processing (including all embassy fees) are:

Canada: The total cost for the standard visa, which is processed in just 48 hours*, is CA $495. The cost for 2-week visa processing is CA $485.

Ireland: The total cost for the standard visa application, which is processed in 48 hours*, is €365. The cost for 2-week visa processing is €360.

New Zealand: The total cost for the standard visa, which is processed in just 48 hours*, is NZ $595. The cost for 2-week visa processing is NZ $575.

UK and other countries: The total cost for the standard working holiday visa, which is processed in 48 hours*, is £315. The cost for 2-week visa processing is £310.

*Please note, Embassy fee is set by the Embassies themselves and Visa First has no control over it. Usually, the Embassy fee varies according to embassy, applicant’s nationality, type and duration of visa. The prices given here consist of Visa First handling fee and embassy fee. They are for one person, inclusive of VAT and are an estimate only. Please note that, additional fees may apply. These are dependant on the way you want to receive your passport, exchange rate changes, changes in the Embassy fees etc. In the event that in your case an additional fee is due we will contact you to organize the payment in the most convenient way for you.


The standard processing time for Australia Visas is 48 hours* once we receive all your documents and completed application. In some cases applications must be referred to the Australian Immigration Office for further processing, in which case the application may take up to 4 weeks to finalise.
*Terms and conditions apply


Once you are granted your visa for Australia, you will have 12 months to arrive in the country. After you arrive in Australia, you will be allowed to stay for a maximum of 12 months.


The Australian Working Holiday Programme aims to promote international understanding by giving young people between 18 and 30 years old the opportunity to experience life in Australia. With an Oz Working Holiday Visa you can travel in Australia for up to 12 months and take up casual employment to help fund your trip.

Apply for your visa for Australia now.


To be eligible for a working holiday in Australia, you must:
  • Be aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the date of your Australia visa application;
  • You are not travelling with dependent children;
  • You have not previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa;
  • Hold a passport from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR (the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom.

Visit Am I Eligible for more information.

If you have previously applied for, or attempted to apply for, an Australia WHM Visa, you must inform Visa First when submitting your application.


Under the conditions of the Oz working holiday programme, you cannot work for longer than 6 months in the same position, in the same location, doing the same work. The purpose of the Australia WHM Visa is to enjoy a holiday in Australia, supplemented by incidental employment.

  • You cannot engage in any studies or training for more than 4 months while in Australia.
  • You are expected to bring sufficient funds to support yourself during your initial stay in Australia.
  • You must ensure that your passport will be valid for the entire period of your stay in Australia.



Australian Immigration policy is that Working Holiday Visa holders do not need to have a visa label placed in their passport at any stage. Your visa is electronically connected to your passport. Visa holders and potential employers can check work entitlements by using the Visa Entitlements and Verification Online (VEVO) system. VEVO is accessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website. Your visa grant email notification can also be used as proof of your visa entitlements. It is recommended that you carry a printed copy of the notification with you.


No. Because Visa First will lodge your visa application electronically, there is no requirement to submit any additional documents to have your working holiday visa for Australia granted. However, applicants for an electronic working holiday visa are required to declare in their application that they have sufficient funds for a return onward fare to their intended overseas destination on leaving Australia. Applicants are also required to declare sufficient funds for personal support for the purposes of a working holiday. This would normally be around AU$5000 (€4,200/£3.500/CA$5,500) plus enough funds for the return airfare. Please note that there is no need to purchase the return airfare in advance.You can apply for the working holiday visa without showing evidence of funds however you should have funds at your disposal on entry to Australia.


Health requirements for Australian Working Holiday Visa applicants are assessed at the time of application and will vary depending on the country of passport and travel/residence history. Applicants may be required to undergo a chest x-ray and/or a medical examination as part of their visa application under certain circumstances, as well as to declare their health status on the visa application form. The most frequent situations where a chest x-ray and/or medical examinations may be required are cases where:
  • You have spent more than 3 consecutive months in the last 5 years in a country considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis;
  • You have been in close contact with a person who has, or has had, active tuberculosis;
  • You have had a Chest X-ray which showed an abnormality;
  • You are likely to enter an Australian hospital or other health care facility for any purpose;
  • You are likely to work in or attend an Australian preschool-aged child care centre (including preschools and creches);
  • You are likely to require assistance with mobility and/or incur medical costs or require treatment or medical follow up for a particular disease while in Australia.

NB: If you fall into any of the above cases your visa application will take ut to 8-12 weeks to process from the date that your results are forwarded for assessment. Please do not undergo any health examinations in advance. Health examinations must be performed by doctors and radiologists approved by the Australian Immigration Authorities. Details will be sent to you if necessary at a later stage.


No. You do not need chest x-rays to apply. Please do not undergo any medial/chest x-ray until your application has been submitted to Visa First. If you require a medical examination or chest x-rays we’ll notify you immediately. If a chest x-ray/medical examination is required, your application may take up to 8-12 weeks to process from the date that your medical results are forwarded for assessment. Additional processing fees may apply.


Complete the Australia Visa application form, making sure you answer each question in full.

If you are applying for your Australian working holiday visa in Ireland, post your application form, including payment of €360, to Visa First, 14 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.

If you are applying for your Australia visa in the UK, post your application form, including payment of £310 to Visa First, 3rd Floor, 9 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PD, United Kingdom.

You can pay by enclosing a postal order or bank draft made payable to Traveltowork Ltd* or by completing the credit card section of the application. Do not send cash or cheque. *Visa First is a trading name for Traveltowork Ltd.


Yes, you can now organise your Australian WHM Visa over the phone with our team in just 8 minutes*. A member of our multilingual team will guide you through the procedure in a matter of minutes, taking you one step closer to your working holiday in Australia.

*In this case it is recommended that you submit a copy of your passport by fax or email.


Visa First is the only company with an online visa status engine through which you can check the status of your Australia Visa application 24/7. Check your visa status here.


Once we receive your completed Oz Visa application, we will call or email you. When your Australian Working Holiday Visa is approved, you will receive an approval letter to your nominated email or postal address. Make sure you keep a copy of this letter. This letter will confirm your visa approval and detail the validity date of your visa and conditions.


You do not need to visit an Australian Immigration office at any time after the visa is granted. You should register with the Visa Entitlements and Verification Online (VEVO) system. VEVO is accessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website. VEVO allows the visa holder and employers the capacity to check work rights online. You MUST remember to use the same passport as the one you used in your working holiday application.



Yes, but only if you have completed three months specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa. Visit the Second Year Australian Working Holiday Visa section for more information.


To use your mobile phone in Oz you will need to unblock your phone and get an Australian mobile sim card. Visa First can provide you with a pack that will allow you to unblock your phone and use your current handset – so you can keep in touch with your friends and family back home. Click here to see more information. Simply return this form to us and your Oz SIM Pack will be in the post. If you have any questions you can chat live online with our staff here.


Visa First is partnered with Traveltowork, who can open your Australian bank account before you leave home. Traveltowork partners with one of Australia’s largest banks – Commonwealth – and will provide you with your account details by email within 4-5 working days of your application. Once you arrive in Oz, you simply present your passport or drivers licence at any Commonwealth branch to access your funds.Apply now to get your account set up.


You will need an Australian Tax File Number (TFN) to work and pay tax in Oz. With the Visa First Tax Saver Pack we’ll start organising your TFN before you leave home so you can start working and earning as soon as you arrive in Australia. Apply for your Tax File Number here.


Yes. When you work in Australia, you will pay 29% tax on your wages, as well as having your employer contribute to a superannuation fund on your behalf. Depending on your circumstances, you will be able to claim back some, or all of what you paid in tax at the end of the tax year or when you leave Oz permanently. Visa First recommends taxback.com to help you claim a tax refund from Australia. Register today for a free quote at www.taxback.com or www.superannuation.ie.


Yes. Visa First do not require a bank statement to apply. However, upon arrival in Australia, you are required to show proof of funds for the amount of $5,000 Australian Dollars (approx. €3,400/£2,300) to cover your initial cost of living. Traveltowork can open an Australian bank account for you before you leave and also transfer money into this account and provide you with a statement for the Immigration. For more information email info@traveltowork.com.au. You can also apply for a money transfer by clicking http://www.traveltowork.com.au/.


  1. Complete the application form in full, taking care to answer all questions.
  2. Post the application form to your local VISA FIRST office (either in Ireland or the UK) , including your payment of €360/£310/CA $485.
  3. We will call or email you immediately to let you know we have received your application.
  4. We will then ensure that your WHM visa is processed correctly and you will receive written notification upon approval.



By calling into any one of our offices in Ireland or by phone at Republic of Ireland (01 6021904) or Northern Ireland: (028 90 327111)


No, you can not. You must apply for a business visa.


Yes, you can. You just need to have a job offer from Australian company.
Click here for more details.


Yes, you can, as you are actually residing on two different visas during this extended period.


Yes, this is a multiple entry visa. You can travel to other countries while on the Australian Working Holiday.




Yes, you can have more than one employer. However, you should not work with one and the same employer for more than 6 months.




Before we actually apply for your visa a visa specialist will advice you what are the chances of getting your visa approved. If we think that the risk of refusal is too high we will not process it. Once processed, if the visa is refused by the immigration authorities, no refund is possible. If everything is fine with the application it might be even just a couple of days before the visa is issued. If there is any delay because of the immigration authorities, it may take couple of weeks for the visa to be granted.



There is no problem to organize your Australian visa from Canada. All we need to confirm are your passport and person details and your visa will be issued in 48 hours*



If you hold a Dutch passport and you meet the requirements for a working holiday visa to Australia (if you are aged between 18 - 30; have no children; have never entered Australia on a working holiday visa), then there is no problem to obtain such visa.


There is absolutely no problem to apply for an Australian working holiday visa as long as you’re outside the country. There will be no medical requirements unless you have spent more than 3 consecutive months in a risky country (usually people travel in several countries and don’t spend that much time in one and the same country) or you have any medical conditions or you intend to work in the healthcare area.

To organize your visa we’ll simply need to confirm your passport and personal details and it normally takes 48 hours for the visa to be granted. Once the visa is issued you have 12 months to enter Australia and it will start only on the date you arrive in the country and will be valid for 1 year from then on.


The 1800 829 230 number is a free number that can be called from all our customers who are already in Australia.


As long as you get your working holiday visa granted before you turn 31 there is absolutely no problem. Once the visa is approved you will have 12 months to enter Australia and it will only start on the date you arrive and will be valid for 1 year from then on.


Once you’re granted a Sponsorship visa, you can work with that employer for the entire 4-year period that the visa is valid for. However if you’re currently on a working holiday visa, you are not allowed to work with one and the same employer for more than 6 months.


Once the working holiday visa for Australia is granted you have 12 months to enter the country. The visa starts running from the date you arrive in Australia and is valid for 1 year from then on.


There is absolutely no problem to apply for the Australian visa from inside New Zealand. We’ll simply need to confirm your passport details and the visa will be ready in a couple of days.


There is no need to have a return ticket for Australia for your working holiday visa to be granted. However you need to have such ticket upon arrival in Australia or sufficient funds to purchase one when you’re due to leave.


Basically you need to leave Australia once your working holiday visa expires. If you’re not able to leave the country you should contact the Immigration authorities before your visa expires. They will issue you a bridging visa so that you are legally in the country. There is no automatic 28-days bridging visa.

If you decide that you want to apply for your 2nd working holiday visa before your current one expires than you will be issued a bridging visa that will allow you to stay in Australia until your 2nd year visa is granted.


If you’ve never entered Australia and activated your working holiday visa, you will be able to apply once again if you meet the visa requirements.


If your first Australia Working Holiday Visa has expired and you have left the country, you may be eligible for a Second Working Holiday Visa for Australia if you have done the 3 months specified work in regional Australia.


If you’ve never used your Working holiday visa to Australia you are eligible to apply once again as long as you still meet the visa requirements. We will be able to organize your visa in a couple of days.


You need to have done at least 88 days in order to be eligible to obtain your 2nd working holiday visa.


The work that you have done will qualify you to get the 2nd Working holiday visa. If you want we can process your visa straight away if you’ve done the required 88 days. Please provide us with a contact number and we’ll call you and guide you through the process.


Unfortunately there is no way to use the remaining 10 months of your working holiday visa because once activated it expires in 12 months. It’s not possible to apply for another working holiday visa because you can participate in this working holiday scheme only once. If you want I can ask a colleague of mine to get back to you with regards to other visa options.


You might be able to get a working holiday visa but this depends from the Immigration authorities. Please advise did you receive a ban when you left Australia and for how long it was for? If you want we can submit your application with the Immigration Authorities and we’ll see what their decision will be. To be honest I think that there is a good chance to get your visa granted because even if you received a ban when you left Australia it should have already expired but still the decision is on the discretion of the Immigrations.


Normally it takes 2 days for a working holiday visa to be granted unless the Immigration Authorities require additional documents. If by any chance your visa is not granted on time it’s possible to enter Australia on a tourist visa but in order for the working holiday one to be granted you will have to leave Australia.


There is no need to book your flights before applying for the Australian working holiday visa because no proof of flights is required. It’s even advisable not to make any bookings before the visa is granted because sometimes delays might occur.


The Work and Holiday visa is available only for citizens of the USA, Chile, Thailand, Turkey and Malaysia. If you’re interested in working in Australia you should look for other visa options.


There is no such visa that will allow you to work in both Australia and New Zealand. You should obtain 2 separate visas to be able to work there. The good thing is that there is absolutely no problem to have 2 visas at the same time. However, please bear in mind that each working holiday visa has validation of 12 months from its issue date – which means that it will expire if you don’t activate it within 12 months. And if this is not a problem with the Australian working holiday visa because you can simply apply once again if you have never used it, this won’t be possible with the New Zealand working holiday visa. If you don’t activate it, it will expire but you won’t be able to apply once again.


You need to leave Australia when your working holiday visa expires. You can apply for a holiday visa as soon as your working holiday one expires and you are Australia. If you’re interested we can help you with the visa organizing. We’ll only need to confirm your passport details and ask you a couple of questions.


If you mean that you have worked in Kimberley in Queensland with postal code 4873 then this is considered as regional Australia. Please be advised that apart of the requirement to have worked in regional Australia you must also have done either harvest or construction work for at least 88 days. If you meet those requirements then you will be eligible to apply for the 2nd Working holiday visa.


If your boyfriend never enters Australia while the working holiday visa is valid it will expire and he will be able to apply once again. It’s not obligatory for you to get your 2nd working holiday visa straight after the 1st one. You can apply whenever you decide as long as you meet the visa requirements – before your 31st birthday.


Unfortunately Austria does not participate in the working holiday scheme with Australia and that’s why you are not eligible to apply for this type of visa. If you want we can organize you a tourist visa for 3 or 6 months and once you go in Australia you can look for an employer willing to hire you and then we can help you with a Sponsorship visa. Or if you have certain skills and qualifications you might also qualify for a Skilled Migrant visa.


There should be no problem to work for another 6 months with the same employer but I’d advise to wait for the 1st visa to end so that you don’t breach the visa terms and conditions. If you apply for the 2nd working holiday visa from inside Australia you will be added another 12 months on your visa validity and you will be able to work another 6 months with the same employer as it will be on the new visa.


Unfortunately the age limit for the Australian working holiday visa is between 18 and 30. If you’re interested you can apply for a Skilled visa. Click here for more information.


You can extend your visa only once and only if you have done at least 88 days harvest or construction work in regional Australia while you were on your 1st working holiday visa. You are not required to leave Australia when applying for the 2nd working holiday visa. If you apply while your 1st visa is still valid you will be added another 12 months stay on it. If you apply from outside Australia, once the visa is granted you will have 12 months to enter the country and another 12 months to stay.


There is absolutely no problem to apply for the 2nd working holiday visa while your 1st one is still valid as long as you meet the visa requirements to have done at least 88 days harvest or construction work in regional Australia. You will simply be added another 12 months on your visa validity. Please make sure to apply as soon as you complete the required 88 days and before you turn 31.


In order to apply for the Australian working holiday visa you must be outside Australia. Please be advised that you can go to a near by country – i.e. New Zealand and apply from there.


Unfortunately you can’t get a working holiday visa for Australia because South Africa is not in the eligible countries list. There is no way to go as dependent on your partner because it’s an individual visa.


Yes, you must leave the UK once the working holiday visa expires. You can leave before or on the date when the visa expires – I’d suggest the day before. There is no gratis period that you are given after the visa expires.


In order to be eligible to apply for the 2nd working holiday visa for Australia you must provide us with the following information:

1. Name of employer
2. Employer’s ABN number
3. Employer’s contact number
4. Address where you’ve worked and postal code (must be in regional Australia)
5. The exact dates that you’ve worked for this employer


You don’t need to show any proof to the government. You simply need to comply with the rules and regulations of the working holiday visa and not work with one and the same employer for more than 6 months.


Upon arrival in Australia you might be required to show proof that you have enough funds to support your initial stay in the country. That’s why it’s advisable to have a recent bank statement with you when entering Australia. If you want we can open an Australian bank account for you and you can transfer your funds to it before travelling. We will provide you with a bank statement from this account which will be the best proof of funds.


Unfortunately you won’t be able to get another working holiday visa because as you know you can get such only once. Please be advised that the visa is linked not only to your passport but to your personal details as well.


Basically there shouldn’t be a problem if the conviction was not a severe one. Please be advised that each application is assessed individually and it’s up to the Immigration officer whether the visa will be approved. You will need to provide the court transcript and a receipt that the fine was paid.


It’s possible to apply for a 12-month tourist visa but you will have to do this once your working holiday visa expires and you will have to be outside of Australia. You will be required to provide the information below:

1. Employment status:

retired - date of retirement
employed - employer's details (address, telephone, type of business); occupation; employment period
unemployed - since when and last employment position
self employed - (address, telephone, type of business); occupation
2. Evidence of funds

3. Purpose of stay in Australia – please be advised that you will need to explain here for example that you have been in Australia on a working holiday visa and now you want to travel more to explore the country and be together with your boyfriend. You shouldn’t mention that you’ll be looking to apply for a De-facto visa because the main purpose of a holiday visa is tourism

4. Contacts in Australia (if any) - name; date of birth; address; phone number; type of relationship (family/friend); is this person permanent resident in Australia – here you can provide your boyfriend’s details 

5. Itinerary within Oz - which places you intend to visit and proposed dates




The only thing you will need to do is to submit a copy of your court or police certificate and personal explanation of what has happened. However we cannot guarantee that the visa will be approved, but you can apply for it. The chances of getting it rely a lot on your personal explanation - you will need assure the embassy that you won't do the same thing in Australia.


You must get the visa before your intended travel to Australia. Otherwise, airport border control will not let you enter Australia.


No, you can not get anyone on your Australian Working Holiday Visa.


If you wish, you may not work at all. Working, while on a Working Holiday Visa, is not mandatory.


At Visa First we do everything we can to make sure you receive the best possible service. If you feel that we have not achieved this goal we have set up a complaints handling process:

Complaints Process:
  1. Where an official complaint is received by Visa First, the company will record the nature of the complaint and issue an acknowledgement email to the client within 5 business days of receiving the complaint. The acknowledgement will provide the client with the contact name who is responsible for dealing with the complaint. The official complaint must be made by email (you may also write, although this will slow down the process), and confirm that the client wishes to enter this process. Please email your complaint to complaints@visafirst.com
  2. Visa First will investigate the complaint as swiftly as possible and where applicable, the complainant will receive a regular written update on the progress of the investigation at intervals of not more than 20 business days.
  3. Visa First will try to resolve the complaint within 40 business days of having received the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved within 40 business days, the Firm will write to the complainant notifying them of the anticipated timeframe for the conclusion of the investigation.
  4. Within 5 business days of the conclusion of the investigation of the complaint, Visa First will issue a resolution letter detailing the outcome of the investigation. This letter will include, if applicable, an explanation of the terms of any offer that the company is prepared to make in settlement of the complaint.



Occupation
Western
Australia
New South
Wales
South
Australia
 
gross
salary $
net
salary $
gross
salary $
net
salary $
gross
salary $
net
salary $
Carpenter
59,000- 69,000
48,278- 55,028
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278
52,100- 60,000
43,620- 48,953
Teacher
55,500- 63,118
45,915- 51,057
55,000- 65,000
45,578- 52,328
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278
Nurse
59,820- 72,100
48,831- 57,120
57,000- 67,000
46,928- 53,678
59,000- 69,000
48,278- 55,028
Accountant
59,000- 69,000
48,278- 55,028
59,000- 69,000
48,278- 55,028
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278
Diesel mechanic
58,000- 71,540
47,603- 56,742
55,000- 65,000
45,578- 52,328
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278
Chef de Partie
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278
50,000- 59,000
42,203- 48,278



WA-$512; SA-$352; NSW-$497; VIC-$485; QLD-$387; NT-$610


Apply for your Australia Working Holiday Visa with Visa First today.

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