Work Abroad: The Australian Working Holiday Visa

Want to stay in Australia? A popular visa for living in Australia is the Australian Working Holiday visa – we look at how you can apply here!

Australia is one of the most desired countries when it comes to emigrating or having work experience abroad. It has stunning landscapes, a lively culture, and plenty to see and do. Coming from the UK, it also feels enough like home but also different enough for a unique experience.

If you want to stay longer than a visitor visa would allow for, a popular visa for living in Australia is the Working Holiday visa.

There are plenty of ways you can earn money while traveling and this is just one of a series from our Working Abroad Series.

How to get a Working Visa in Australia

You can use official websites to request a working holiday visa and to proceed with the visa application process. A Working Holiday Visa enables you to live and work in Australia for a year so that you can travel and explore the country. You can work for an employer for up to 6 months.

If you want to extend your visa to two years, you’ll need to do 3 months of qualifying farm work.

Requirements to apply

• You must be 18-30 years old
• You must be a citizen of an eligible country
• You’ll need a valid passport with at least 6 months until renewal
• You must not have any criminal convictions
• You’ll need to prove you have sufficient funds (AUD $5,000)
• Must NOT have held a working holiday visa before
• You must apply for this visa while outside Australia

Commonly sought-after jobs in Australia

There are many different types of jobs that are sought after by those looking to do a working holiday. Australia is a popular destination for travelers so short-term work is fairly common and there are plenty of ways to find a job abroad here. 

Some popular ones include:

• Au Pair
• Fruit-picker
• Hospitality jobs
• Bartender
• Dive instructor
• Office temping
• Nursery Assistant
• Telemarketing
• Door-to-door sales
• Farm work

As mentioned above, it is worth doing farm work for three months if you want to stay and work in Australia for a longer period of time. It is also a way you can see the untouched side of Australia, get free room and board, and get some time to connect with nature.

Where to work in Australia

There are some spots in Australia that are recommended to look at for finding employment. Melbourne is the cultural center of Australia that has a lot of fun energy, and Brisbane is a smaller city that is easy to travel from. Both have more ‘city type’ jobs such as those in hospitality. If you want to work as a dive instructor or do something outdoors, Queensland is a great option.

You can, however, select a location as you go and go where you want to stay and explore! The Australian work visa gives you the flexibility to work jobs as you go and make some money for your adventures. It is also a wonderful way to meet people and get to know different parts of the culture of Australia.

It is also very important to get health insurance and open an Australian bank account when you arrive. Both of these are ‘life musts’ that you want to have set up as soon as possible.

Tip – you also might want to consider estate planning in Australia for the money you make there