Go Downunder for a Year - VISAS
The best way to see Australia is with a Working Holiday Visa, which enables young people between the ages of 18 - 30 to live and work in Australia for 1-2 years. You can apply online now and have an answer in less than 48 hours, and soon be on your way to Australia . Working your way around Australia means you do not have to rely on savings from home. And remember, you can only apply for the visa once in your life so talk to the experts about arranging your Australian Working Holiday package. The working holiday package takes care of everything down under.
Visa choices include:
- The most popular option if you are aged between 18-30 is a Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa. The cost is AUD$155 (approximately CAD$140).
- If you don't want to work, you could travel on a three month tourist visa, which we will issue for you. You could also apply for a one year long stay visa.
Working Holiday Visas and Frequently Asked Questions
Australia 's working holiday program allows working holidaymakers to have an extended holiday in Australia by supplementing their travel funds through incidental employment and to experience closer contact with a local community. Most working holidaymaker-eligible passport holders are able to apply for a working holiday visa anywhere outside Australia .
Second Working Holiday Visa
Working holidaymakers who have worked as a seasonal worker in regional Australia for a minimum of three months while on their first working holiday visa will be eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa. For the purposes of meeting the requirements for a second working holiday visa, seasonal work and regional Australia are defined as: Seasonal work : harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops, pruning and trimming vines and trees, thinning and trimming flowers and bunches and general maintenance crop work. Regional Australia: anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the ACT. Any area identified at: www.jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail requiring harvest workers comes within the definition of 'regional Australia '. Working holiday makers who intend applying for a second working holiday visa will need evidence of the length of time they have spent working as a seasonal worker in regional Australia . Before commencing seasonal work in a regional area, working holiday makers should obtain a copy of Form 1263 Working Holiday visa: Employment Verification from their nearest DIMIA office, or from the forms section of the DIMIA website at: HTU www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1263.pdf UTH This form should be used to record all employment details and will be required when completing an application for a second working holiday visa. Information about seasonal work opportunities in regional Australia can be found on the Harvest Trail website at: www.jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail Other acceptable evidence of seasonal work for holiday makers who undertook seasonal work in Australia before May 2005 may be payslips, group certificates, tax returns, and employee references,
Criteria for Visas
Currently all Australian working holiday visa applications must be made overseas. Applicants need to be: . eligible passport holders . aged between 18 and 30 and without dependent children. Their main reason for coming to Australia should be to holiday; any work they do should be to support themselves while they holiday. They should have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay. Working holidaymakers are permitted a stay of 12 months from date of initial entry to Australia , regardless of whether or not they spend the whole period in Australia . They are allowed to study or train for up to three months.
From 1 November 2005 , applicants for a second working holiday visa will be able to apply either in Australia or overseas. To meet the requirements for the second working holiday visa, applicants will need to continue to meet the criteria for a working holiday visa outlined above, as well as have evidence of their three months of employment as a seasonal worker in regional Australia.
Work Conditions
Working holidaymakers are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature. As the main purpose of the visit is for holiday and travel, work for longer than three months with any one employer is not allowed.
Working Holiday Travellers - FAQ's
What kind of jobs can I get?
Hospitality - bar, café�, or restaurant; Construction; office work; Telemarketing; fruit picking; nursing and medical.
Do I need any special qualifications for Hospitality work?
No matter how much experience you have any job involving the service of alcohol requires an RSA (responsible service of alcohol) certificate. This is a one-day course. We can coordinate booking a course before you leave North America.
What about other qualifications or courses?
Construction work requires a green card, which is a safety course. Office and telemarketing work requires a good command of English as well as good computer and administration skills.
What kind of wages can I expect?
Temporary office work or "temping" rates start at $17.00 per-hour up to $50.00 per-hour depending on your skills and your level of skill. Hospitality worker rates start at $15.00 per-hour. Weekend rates are often higher.
What is superannuation?
All employers in Australia must contribute 9% of your wages to a retirement fund. Working Holiday Makers are entitled to their superannuation once they have left Australia permanently.
How long can I stay in Australia on a Working Holiday visa?
A Working Holiday visa gives you 12 months to travel to Australia from the date the visa is granted, and allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you first enter Australia.
You can leave and re-enter Australia within the 12 months from the date of initial entry to Australia. However, if you depart Australia during your 12 month stay, you are not able to recover in any way the period of time spent outside Australia.
From 1 November 2005 , Working Holiday Makers who have worked as a seasonal worker in regional Australia for a minimum of three months will be eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday visa allowing them to stay in Australia for a further 12 months.
What are the work conditions?
Working Holiday makers are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature. However, if you intend to work in your occupation in Australia, you should be aware that registration or licensing may be required.
The main purpose of your visit should be to holiday and travel. Any work should be incidental to supplement funds; periods of work should be broken up by periods of holiday and travel. Working beyond the three months with the same employer without the required permission may result in your visa being cancelled and you may be required to leave Australia.
Can I undertake studies on my Working Holiday visa?
Working Holiday visa holders are permitted to study or train for up to 3 months. You can change to a student visa if you meet the criteria
Do I need travel/health insurance?
Smart travellers always have insurance. Medical treatment in Australia can be very expensive and it is advisable to have both travel and health insurance.
Who is Eligible?
Canadian citizens who are aged between 18 and 30 years old, single or married, and have no dependent children are eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa.
Where can Applicants Apply?
The Working Holiday visa cannot be granted in Australia. All visa applications must be made in Canada prior to departure.
How Do I Apply?
Talk to us!
Do I Need to prove funds?
Yes. You will have to provide evidence (for example, bank statement or savings book) of sufficient funds for the initial stage of your holiday. Usually the equivalent of AUD$5000 is suggested.
Breaking your Holiday to visit Other Countries.
You can break your working holiday and depart Australia temporarily within the 12 months from the date of initial entry to Australia. However, if you depart Australia during your 12 month stay, you are not able to 'top up' or recover, in any way, the period of time spent outside Australia.
What are the Work Conditions?
You may not work for any 1 employer for more than 3 months, without the prior permission in writing of the department of immigration.
Can I Work for the Whole 12 Months?
If your principal purpose of visiting Australia is to work (other than incidentally to your holiday), then the Working Holiday visa is not appropriate. You will be advised to apply for a more suitable temporary entry visa.
Can I Undertake Studies on my Working Holiday Visa?
Working Holiday visa holders are permitted to study or train for up to 3 months.
How Many Times can I be Granted a Working Holiday Visa?
Once only.