As a land of immigrants, it’s little wonder that Australia has two holiday programs that enhance the cultural and social development of young people, while promoting greater understanding between the country and other nations.

Australia’s Work and Holiday, and Working Holiday programs are both designed to give young people an opportunity to holiday in Australia, while offsetting their travel expenses by permitting short-term employment.

Under reciprocal arrangements with a variety of countries, Australians can take advantage of similar programs by applying for visas to holiday and work overseas.

Working Holidays in Australia

The Working Holiday program has a special focus on regional Australia.

A total of 134,612 Working Holiday visas were granted in 2006-2007. That’s considerably more than at the beginning of the decade, when 76,570 visas were granted in this category.

The Working Holiday visa is restricted to passport holders from the following countries and regions: Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Hold a valid passport;
• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 when applying;
• Not have any dependent children;
• Not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa, unless applying for a second visa;
• Be outside Australia when the application is made and the visa is granted;
• Apply within 12 months of travelling to Australia.

In 2006-2007, there were more Working Holiday visa applicants from the United Kingdom than from any other country, followed by South Korea, Germany, Ireland and Japan.

A Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

This visa allows applicants to:

• Enter Australia within 12 months of approval, if applying outside Australia;
• Stay in Australia for up to 12 months;
• Work in Australia for up to six months with each employer;
• Study for up to four months;
• Leave and re-enter Australia at any time while the visa is valid.

Young people can add another 12 months onto their work holiday by applying for a Second Working Holiday visa, if they have done seasonal work for an eligible regional Australia employer for at least three months while on their first visa.

Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

This program is for young, tertiary-educated professionals from specific countries who want to enjoy an extended holiday in Australia and put money in their wallets through incidental employment.

About this visa:

• Passport holders from Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the United States can apply;
• Applicants from Bangladesh are expected to be eligible soon, as a result of an agreement signed with Australia;
• Iranian citizens who hold a Work and Holiday visa and are in Australia can apply.
• Visa holders can stay in Australia for a total of 12 months;
• Visa holders can study or train for up to four months;
• Visa holders are permitted to do a wide variety of temporary or casual work.

Working Holidays for Australians Overseas

Australia has working holiday arrangements with a number of countries and regions. These programs enable Australians to take advantage of the same travel and work opportunities overseas that citizens from around the world enjoy in Australia.

Countries and regions that participate in the programs:

Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

About the programs:

• Allow Australian applicants to stay in the overseas country for up to 12 months;
• Allow Australian applicants to work for a limited time;
• Allow Australian applicants to study or train for a short time;
• Visa requirements differ, depending on the overseas country. Check with the embassies and high commissions of the country you wish to visit.

To qualify for one of these visas, Australians must:

• Hold an Australian passport;
• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 when applying;
• Meet health and character requirements;
• Have no dependent children;
• Have a return ticket or sufficient funds to return to Australia;
• Have enough money for the first part of the holiday.

There are additional requirements for working holidays in the United States, Chile, Thailand and Turkey.

In the U.S., for example, Australians on a working holiday visa must be sponsored by a registered sponsoring organisation listed on the U.S. Department of State website.

They must also be enrolled as a post-secondary student, or have graduated within the last 12 months from a post-secondary institution.

In Chile, Thailand and Turkey, Australians must have a letter of approval from the Australian government supporting the application. They must also meet specific tertiary education requirements. Australians travelling to Chile must also know basic Spanish.

When you come to Daniel & Associates for help with your working holiday visa application, here's what we do for you:

• advise you on the special requirements of working holiday visas in various countries and how you can meet them,
• advise you on the government fees you will be expected to pay, as well as on the cost of our services,
• represent you before the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship or the Australian Embassy abroad, when required,
• thoroughly prepare you for interviews, when required,
• answer your questions during the entire process.

How To Get Started

We have two consulting services to choose from, depending on your goals:

Our Visa Assessment service is designed to answer your questions about Working Holiday visas and advise you on how to file your application in the correct category.

Our Visa/Immigration Plan goes one step further, providing you with a complete Working Holiday plan that will show you what to do every step of the way. Along with a timeline, your personalised plan will let you know exactly when various government fees are due so you won’t have to worry about missing an important deadline.

Click here to learn more about both of these services.

Or Contact us and we can help you with personal visa consultation.