Who is this visa for?
The Australian WHV is aimed at young people making their first trip to Australia. It is for people who want to stay a while, but need to be able to work so they can fund their travels.
Alongside age and nationality, you will also need to meet the following requirements:
Have at least $5,000 AUD upfront, to support yourself for your initial stay and pay for your return journey back home1
Meet the minimum health requirement
Not have a substantial criminal record
Not have entered Australia previously on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) or a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), or have ever had a visa application refused.
Is there an age limit for the working holiday visa?
If you have a UK passport, you must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of applying for your Australian working holiday visa. This has changed recently, as the upper age limit for UK nationals used to be 30.
Who is eligible for this visa?
British nationals are eligible for this visa. Along with the UK, citizens of the following countries are also eligible to apply up to the age of 35: Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland and Italy.
How long can I stay in Australia with a working holiday visa?
If approved, your Australian working holiday visa will last 12 months.
Can I extend a working holiday visa for Australia?
You can’t extend your current Working Holiday visa, but you can apply for a second or even a third Working Holiday visa. Previously, you’d need to plan your trip so as to complete three required months of specified work. This would make you eligible to apply for further visas.
There is very good news for UK citizens now that the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (Australia-UK FTA) has come into effect. Under the new Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and Youth Mobility Scheme, Brits no longer need to complete any specified work. This means it’s much easier to extend your stay in Australia. You can simply apply and then apply again, potentially staying Down Under for up to 3 years.
Cost of the Australia Working Holiday visa
There’s an application fee to pay for the working holiday visa for Australia. This is $635 AUD (approx. £330 GBP) for all three visa types – the first, second and third working holiday visa. You must pay this fee when submitting your application. You may also have to pay additional costs for things like biometrics, health examinations, vaccinations and police certificates (if needed). Whether these are required and how much they cost varies depending on nationality.
And remember, you’ll need to have at least $5,000 AUD (approx. £2,600 GBP) in the bank to cover your initial travel and expenses. Also make sure you check the rules on taking cash in and out of Australia.
For more detailed information, please see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas
