If you are considering a working holiday in Australia then you have come to the right place. Young people aged 18 to 35 years from all across the globe dream of having an opportunity to live and work in Australia. After all, it is such a beautiful country and a great place to have an extended Australia working holiday. From the warm climate, laidback vibe, friendly locals, great food, spectacular surf and inspiring outback, it’s no wonder many people come to live work and play in Australia!
Now one way to extend your time in Australia is to come on the Australia working holiday maker visa. It allows a stay of up to 12 months which can be extended. And I am sure you are feeling nervous about moving abroad to the other side of world, everybody does! This is why you need to let this post be your friend, a friend who will answer your questions about a working holiday in Australia to put those nerves at ease. So read on, get more details on the Australia working holiday visa program, work available, where you could live and what you can see and do.
Table of Contents
What is a Working Holiday Visa?
In short, it’s a visa allowing you to live and work in another country for a set period of time, usually 1 to 2 years for young people aged 18-30 (sometimes 35) years of age. And Australia has a working holiday visa maker program.
Why Go on a Australian Working Holiday?
Well, why not? There are a number of great reasons to pack your swimmers and head to Australia to live and work.
- You get to experience what it’s like to live and work in another country.
- There is an indigenous culture to discover but a different laid back way of life.
- You will be able to work, save money and explore the this beautiful country.
- It’s a way to make new friends – some life-long.
- You will grow as a person, be more independent and get some useful things to put on your CV for the future!
6 Steps to a Successful Working Holiday in Australia
Having been on a few working holidays in different countries around the world, I have learnt there are steps involved to having a successful working holiday. Here are the steps for an Australian working holiday at a glance:
- Get Your Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa and know how to get a 2nd and 3rd year working holiday visa
- Prepare For Your Australian Working Holiday
- Set Up Your New Life in Australia
- Find Accommodation in Australia
- Get a Job or Jobs in Australia
- Decide How to Travel Australia
- Bonus Step: Choose what to do when your working holiday in Australia is over.
Step 1: Get Your Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa
The first step to an Australian working holiday is qualifying for the working holiday visa for one.
Apply for Your Working Holiday Visa
What is the Australia Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Visa Program?
The Australian Working Holiday Visa Program is open to a wide range of countries. It allows you (if you successfully apply for and get one) to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months. It allows you to take incidental work to make money to further your travels in Australia, and beyond. There is an option to extend the visa for a second year and even a third year working holiday visa. But to do this, you must complete a certain amount of ‘specified work’, which I’ll get into shortly.
Two Types of Australian Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Visa
There are two types of Australia working holiday maker visas (WHM) you can apply for. The one you get depends on the country you’re coming from and the passport you hold. In general, for both visas, you must:
- be between the age of 18 and 31 years old (in some cases up to 35 years) to qualify for the visa.
- come from an eligible country.
- cannot bring a dependent child with you.
- reside outside of Australia when you apply.
The two visas available to come to Australia on a working holiday are the Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa Subclass 417 and the Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa Subclass 462. As mentioned, it will depend on which country you hold a passport from as to which subclass you can apply for and receive. Here are more details on the two visas.
Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa Subclass 417
The first working holiday visa option is Subclass 417. This visa is available for citizens of:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
You can find a full list of countries allowed to apply for this visa here.
On this visa, certain nationalities from
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
are able to apply until they are 35 years old. If you apply for this visa, you must have at least $5,000 AUD in your bank account to show you will be able to support yourself while living in Australia.
Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa Subclass 462
The second option for a working holiday visa is Subclass 462. This type of visa is available for citizens of:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Brazil
- Chile
- China, People’s Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Vietnam
You can find a full list of countries allowed to apply for this visa here. As with the other visa option, you must have at least $5,000 AUD before entering the country.
For both visas, you will also need to prove that you are in good health before you intend moving abroad to Australia. Depending on your country of citizenship, you may have to complete a health exam as part of the application process.
Work Limitations on Working Holiday Maker Visa Holders
Working Holiday visa holders have been subject to a 6-month work limitation. This means they have only been allowed to work for any one employer for a maximum of six months. In 2022 this rule was temporarily relieved to help fill gaps left in the Australian workforce by the Covid-19 pandemic. Check out the latest details when applying for your working holiday maker visa.
Options to Extend a Working Holiday Maker Visa
On both the 417 and the 462 visa, there is the option to extend the visa into a second and third year. This means you could stay in Australia for up to three years under the WHM scheme. To do this, you must complete specific work in a regional area. Often referred to as the ’88 days’ rule because you are required to do 88 days of work to receive the second-year Working Holiday visa. And to receive the third-year Working Holiday visa, you are required to complete six months of specific work.
With the covid pandemic, things were a little different and specific work required were extended to include other industries, mostly to help with the lack of staff thanks to the pandemic. Get more details on Specified work here. Most get their 88 days by getting a Job Fruit and Vegetable Picking in Australia
More Potential Changes to the Working Holiday Maker Visa
In 2022, the Australian government signed the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (Australia-UK FTA). The agreement allows UK citizens to:
- apply for a Working Holiday visa until the age of 35 years (inclusively) – this came into effect on 1 July 2023.
- receive up to three Working Holiday visas without having to fulfil the specified work requirement. This is meant to start from 1 July 2024.
Learn More About the Working Holiday Maker Program
If you have more queries about a working holiday in Australia, you can learn more about the WHM visa scheme via the Department of Home Affairs.
How to Apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa
The application process for an Australian working holiday maker visa is fairly simple and usually doesn’t take much time. With that being said, it’s best to apply well before you hope to enter the country in case you encounter any issues throughout the application process.
Working Holiday Visa Requirements Australia
You’ll need to enter your personal information, identification and apply online by creating an ImmiAccount. To finalise your application, you’ll need to pay a fee of approximately $500 AUD before you’re considered for your work and holiday Australian visa.
It typically only takes a few days to hear back about your application. In many instances, people receive notice of a confirmed visa within the same day of applying. However, during the world-wide pandemic Australia closed its border and was not allowing working holiday makers in. Now that Australia has opened its border again, and is allowing backpackers and working holiday makers into the country, the time to hear if you have successfully got an Australian working holiday visa may vary.
Unfortunately, there is an age limit for a Australia working holiday visa. If you are over the age limit for an Australian working holiday visa don’t fear, there are options for you to live, work and play in Australia. These are explained in my Over 30 – Your Work and Travel Options post here.
Step 2: Prepare for Your Australian Working Holiday Visa
So you got your visa and have a definite ‘leave date’ now you need to prepare yourself for Australia.
- Most people arrive by plane so get yourself an airfare first. Check out Skyscanner to compare airfares and get a great deal.
- Next, book your accommodation. I suggest you book your initial accommodation for 2 weeks. I say this because after you arrive, recover from jet lag, do some sightseeing and get your bearings, 1 week is usually up. The second week gives you a better chance to sort out things you need to do on arrival like get a TFN, a job, a place to live – see further on for more details on these. To check availability and pricing my go to accommodation site is Booking.com. You could look into housesitting.
- Choose Where to Begin Your Working Holiday in Australia. Which capital city will you start in. Most arrive in Sydney or Melbourne as they have the biggest backpacker infrastructures. However, you can start your Australian working holiday anywhere.
- Finalise things at home. Cancel services like gas, electricity, Netflix and other streaming services. Give notice if you are renting or rent out your home, etc.
- Pack. Packing for a working holiday is different to packing for a two week Australian beach holiday so read this first: What to Pack For A Working Holiday in Australia. It lists the essentials to bring on your working holiday for Oz.
- Don’t forget travel insurance, World Nomads is one of the best on the market or SafetyWing if you are a long-term traveler or digital nomad.
Choose Where to Live on Your Working Holiday in Australia
When your visa application has been accepted, you can finally decide where you’d like to begin your Australian working holiday. Doing a working holiday in Australia is different from doing a working holiday in other countries. For example Canada, where most travellers find a place to stay for the entire year and don’t bother moving around to different cities.
Since Australia has many beautiful and vibrant cities throughout the entire country, travellers often choose to spend a few months in one city and then move on to another. The most popular cities to live and work in are Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Followed by the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin, but it really is personal choice.
Sydney and Melbourne are hubs for working holiday makers as they offer many work opportunities and plenty of accommodation. Fancy living by Bondi Beach in Sydney or St Kilda Beach in Melbourne and commuting by bus into the city for work? Many do! Once you’ve decided on your initial landing point you can book your airfare.
Step 3: Set Up Your New Life in Australia – Things to do when you Arrive in Australia
Upon entering Australia, your visa will be stamped and authorised by the Australian government. Once done, head to pick up your luggage before leaving the airport for your accommodation. After that, you’ll need to organise a few things before you start to live work and play in Australia on your visa, working holiday Australia.
1. Find a place to live. This can be one of the hardest things to do. See following, finding long-term accommodation in Australia.
2. Open an Australian bank account or set up an online account with Wise or Revolut.
3. Get an Australian SIM card/phone plan.
4. Find a job.
5. Register for an Australian Tax File Number. You can do this through the Australian Tax Office (ATO). You need a TFN so you are taxed correctly.
6. Get a Superannuation account. What is this? More on this later under work.
Step 4: How to Find Accommodation in Australia – Your Accommodation Options in Australia
Looking for accommodation in Australia can be stressful depending on the type of accommodation you’re seeking. It’s best to book a hostel, hotel or Airbnb for the first week you arrive until you’re able to secure a place you’re happy with! As mentioned, I suggest make a booking for 2 weeks because by the time you have arrived, got over jet lag, done some sightseeing and begun doing the things you need to do for your new life in Australia, your first week will be up. Having a second week will let you concentrate on finding a more permanent place to live and a job without having any upheaval to find another short term place to stay because there is no availability where you are.
Start Your Working Holiday in Australia in Sydney
Sydney is often the arrival place for an Australian working holiday
As mentioned, Sydney and Melbourne are the hubs for working holiday makers and backpackers to Australia. Sydney has long been the most popular city to start your Australian working holiday. Some great hostels to start your time in Australia at include the Sydney Harbour YHA at The Rocks. This hostel has great views over Sydney Harbour. You can check pricing and book here. There are plenty of hostels all around Australia, to check pricing and to book visit HostelWorld. For something a bit more up-market such as your own hotel room check out Booking.com.
If you’re planning on moving around from one city to another, you may want not want to commit to a long-term rental. Therefore, you could live in a hostel as there are long-term hostel stays available. You could even work a few hours at reception, in the bar or do some cleaning to get a discounted or a free stay. There are also many short term options with Airbnb. You could also consider a serviced apartment or house sitting. If house and pet sitting is of interest, read my post to discover how you could get free accommodation in Australia by housesitting. Check out the house sits at TrustedHousesitters.
Long term accommodation can be challenging to find but it differs from city to city. There are three main places you can search for long term stays in Australia.
1. Gumtree is similar to Craig’s List or Kijiji where you can buy and sell just about anything but there are also many rentals listed.
2. Facebook Groups. Look for specific accommodation groups for each city.
3. Accommodation websites listing rentals such as Flatmates.com.au and Realestate.com.au.
Step 5: How to Get a Travel Job in Australia, and what are they?
What jobs can I get on a working holiday visa in Australia, I hear you ask? Well, here are the popular working holiday maker and backpacker jobs you can get in Australia.There are plenty of job opportunities in Australia for foreigners. You can find work nearly anywhere in Australia while visiting on a working holiday visa. But it’s certainly easier in big cities unless you’re working in agriculture. Read my post on 6 ways to find work in Australia.
What’s great about working in Australia is that the pay can be amazing! You should be able to easily secure a job paying a minimum of $22 AUD an hour quite easily. The one stipulation is that you’re only allowed to work for a company for up to 6 months of the year.
There are ways around the 6-month rule, such as a situation where the company chooses to sponsor you. Although those circumstances are few and far between! Let’s take a look at some of the most common jobs for working holiday makers in Australia.
Hospitality Jobs in Australia
Hospitality jobs are a popular choice for working holiday makers and there are positions to be filled all over Australia. From the big city coffee shops and restaurants to the small outback roadhouses. And don’t worry if you don’t have experience, because people are always coming and going so employers are used to training new bartenders, servers, baristas, etc. If you want to work as a bartender or server, you’ll need to complete an online exam unless you’re living in Victoria (where they require an in-person exam) before you start working. The exam is pretty easy and having the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) and the RSG (Responsible Service of Gaming) can be a great investment so you can get work in bars, restaurants, cafes and gaming places.
Getting a job in hospitality is fairly easy to do, especially if you have prior experience. It’s one of a few jobs where you could be paid ‘cash in hand’. Expect to receive $20-$25 per hour + tips – thought tipping is not a thing and guaranteed in Australia.
Nanny and Au Pair Jobs in Australia
Nanny and au pair jobs are quite common to do while working and travelling in Australia. If you have experience working with children, this can be a great option. You can choose to be a live-in nanny or au pair where you’d be living with the family and wouldn’t have to pay for your accommodation. Some families will also cover food expenses, which can be a huge plus!
Whilst these jobs can be great if you’re trying to save money, it may be difficult to meet other people around your age. It’s also not the best choice if you hope to travel since you’ll probably be expected to stay at least a few months to build a connection with the children. Expect to receive $25+ per hour, depending on qualifications.
Nursing Jobs in Australia
Nursing is a popular option if you have the qualifications. To be a nurse in Australia you need to get registration in each state you wish to work as there is no Australia-wide registration. If you don’t want to go down this track there are agencies where you could be a support worker in aged care and / or disability where you nursing skills will be greatly appreciated. Jobs can be in residential facilities and in the community. However, with community work you may need access to a car so you can get to clients though I have known many who catch the local bus network. Or be a nanny or Au Pair. Expect to receive $40+ per hour for nursing jobs.
Complete Your Farm Work in Australia
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, if you complete a certain number of weeks working ‘specified work’ such as on a farm, you can qualify for a second or third year working holiday visa! If you know you’d like to stay in Australia for as long as possible, it’s recommended that you complete the farm work near the beginning of your year there.
You’ll need to complete 3 months during your first year in order to apply for a second year working holiday visa. Then if you hope to apply for the third year working holiday visa, you’ll have to complete 6 months during your second year. Keep in mind that it’s 3 and 6 months of “working days” so it typically ends up being closer to 4 months (88 calendar days) and 8 months (179 calendar days), respectively.
So what is this ‘farm work’? It’s more formally referred to as ‘specified regional work’ and it can be anything from working on a dairy farm to picking fruit. You may also find some hospitality jobs that count towards the specified work, depending on where they’re located. Most farms are located further inland than the major cities and are fairly isolated. You’ll be working with people from all around the world who are also working to get an additional year.
The pay for specified regional work varies from place to place. Some pay an hourly rate, while others pay based on the amount of fruit you picked that day.
When looking to apply to work for a farm, it’s best to go off a personal recommendation from someone who has worked there previously to ensure your work will count towards getting another year visa. Also take the climate into account when looking for work. Summers can be gruelling with temperatures regularly reaching well above 40 degrees celsius! Working outside picking fruit and vegetables in extreme weather will mean you need to have the right gear. Clothes that cover you up, plenty of sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and don’t forget plenty of water. Fly and insect deterrent spray will also come in handy.
You can find more information on specified work opportunities to extend your visa in Australia here.
Office Temp Work
There is a range of temporary job opportunities that are perfect for those doing a working holiday in Australia. Hays is a great place to start if you’re hoping to have someone help place you in a position that matches your skills and experience. You can also search on Seek or LinkedIn. Some common temp jobs include working at a call centre, doing data entry, typing or doing office administration. There are also possibilities to work in accounting and banking and other financial fields if you are qualified in these areas. This type of work is usually found in the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Expect anywhere from $30+ per hour for an admin job and $50+ per hour for accounting jobs.
Tutoring
If you’re skilled in math, science, English or have experience working with functional needs students, you can find tutoring work in Australia. It’s one of the highest paying cash in hand jobs you’ll come across. Expect $30+ per hour tutoring.
Hostel or other Accommodation Job
Your accommodation can also be a good source of employment. Many find employment in hostels and caravan parks working on reception, cleaning or has handy people. Read my post on Working in Australian Hostels. But simply on arrival at your accommodation, make it be known that you are interested in work and you never know what opportunity might arise. There are also plenty of Facebook pages designed for people working and travelling around Australia where you can find work. Some I have seen are Working While Living On The Road and The Grey Nomads. I suggest you search through the Facebook groups and join those that catch your eye.
Work Online
After spending at least a year living and working in Australia, you will most likely have seen a lot of the country! You may want to start a blog to share your experiences with other travellers, answering specific questions they may have. It’s a great way to connect with others who love to travel and create a community. However, there are many other online jobs you could do. They include but not limited to, Doing Surveys Online, Online Trading Shares or Cryptocurrency and being a VA (Virtual Assistant). Or many start a blog about their Australian travels.
Become a Digital Nomad in Australia
Australia is not known for being a digital nomad Mecca such as other countries like Bali, Mexico, Georgia and Spain. If you want to work and travel Australia and already work online, why not be a digital nomad in Australia? Australia has a pretty good Internet service and other infrastructure for digital nomads. So like many who make a living from working on line already could easily travel around Australia and continue working on line. There is plenty of accommodation, coffee shops and co-working spaces where you could work.
Work and Ski Australia – Work a season in a Ski Resort
What’s that? Australia has ski resorts! Yes they do. The two main states where ski resorts are, are in NSW and Victoria. The season officially starts on the June Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend (usually the second weekend) and ends on the Long weekend in October (usually the second weekend) but it does depend on the white stuff. You could spend 3-4 living and working in a ski resort. Get the lowdown how you can work and ski Australia here.
Tax & Superannuation
Sorry, about to explain some boring stuff, but stuff you need to know – stuff about taxes and superannuation. When you work in Australia you will pay taxes on the income you earn. Everyone who works must have a TFN (Tax File Number) which you should have applied for through the ATO (Australian Tax Office).
In 2016 the Australian government introduced a ‘backpacker tax’ which meant, backpackers on working holiday visas would be charged at a tax rate of 32.5% on every single dollar earned while working. However, there was a lot of controversy over this tax and it was concluded the tax was invalid, and I believe it was dropped. So working holiday makers will be taxed at the same tax rates as Australian residents which are:
- taxable income up to $18,200 – nil;
- taxable income of $18,201 to $45,000 – nil plus 19% of excess over $18,200;
- taxable income of $45,001 to $120,000 – $5,092 plus 32.5% of excess over $45,000
Now the Australian tax year runs from 1 July to 30 June and if you work between these dates, you will need to lodge a tax return after the tax year finishes. You can visit the ATO website for more information on this or contact a specialist tax service such as TaxBack who help working holiday makers.
The other thing you need to know about is superannuation or ‘super’ as it is called. It is essentially the same as Social Security in the USA or Pension in the UK. It is basically retirement money. So your employer will pay you super at a rate of 11% on top of your salary into a superannuation account. Now most of these are industry funds, meaning, each industry has a specialist superannuation program for those working in a certain industry. This money is kept in your account in this program until you retire, but as a working holiday maker, you can request the money. Once again, contact a specialist agency that helps working holiday makers with this such as TaxBack.
Before you fall asleep, let’s move on to the best bit about a working holiday in Australia – the travelling around Australia.
Step 6: How to Travel Australia and What to See and Do
So much to see and do in Australia – I hope you have enough time! I designed this map based on my first big lap around Australia
Arguably the best part of any working holiday in Australia is the travelling and experiencing everything Australia has to offer. As the country is very big and has so much to see and do it would be easy to spend three months (minimum) travelling the country. Check out the map above that has suggestions of what to see and do in Australia and how long to spend in each place. I designed this map based on my own travels around Australia. These are only my suggestions because as you travel around Australia you will find many other fabulous spots to spend your time. Plus it depends on the time you have available for your travels. You could either work for 6 months then travel for 6 months. Or perhaps you are working your way around Australia spending a couple of months in different places. And there are a number of transport options to travel around Australia.
My Top Suggestions of Places to Visit in Australia
- Each capital city in each state and territory in Australia has plenty of things to see and do.
- Drive the East Coast from Sydney to Cape Tribulation.
- Spend a few days chilling in the ‘Hippie Capital of Australia’ – Byron Bay
- Spend a week on Australia’s Gold Coast and enjoy the beaches and theme parks.
- Snorkel or Dive the Great Barrier Reef.
- Spend a few days in Kakadu feeding crocodiles and discovering the Indigenous Culture through the Rock Art.
- Visit the centre of Australia – well roughly – Alice Springs.
- Stand in awe and watch a sunset or sunrise at Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock).
- Discover underground buildings and opals in Cooper Pedy on a road trip on the Stuart Highway.
- Swim with Whale Sharks in WA.
- Have a selfie with a Quokka on Rottnest Island.
- Drive along the Great Ocean Road to see the 12 Apostles.
- Enjoy a sporting match at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground).
Bonus Step – Where to Next?
All good things must come to end, so what will you do after your Australian working holiday is over? Well, you could go home, but there are other countries that have a working holiday visa – check them out here. And there are plenty more options to work abroad.
What Are You Waiting For? An Australia Working Holiday is the right move!
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, why not try a working holiday in Australia? You’ll gain valuable work experience, make lifelong friends from around the globe and have a chance to experience all of the beauty Australia has to offer. Oh, and you might also see a couple of kangaroos along the way! And after Australia, why not look for another country to work and travel? Here’s a list of potential working holiday destinations.
I hope you have a great Australian working holiday. Even if you don’t do much work, but do a lot of travelling around Australia, I’d love to hear about it in the comments following. Or if you are in the planning stage of your working holiday in Australia, feel free to ask a question.
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