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Department of Immigration and Citizenship
WORKING HOLIDAY VISA
To be eligible for the grant of a working holiday visa you must be a passport holder of a country with which Australia has a working holiday arrangements. These countries are:
Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, HKSAR*, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Taiwan, United Kingdom.
*Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (includes British National Overseas passport holders).
Note: If you are from Chile, Iran or Thailand, you may be eligible to apply for a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), which provides similar opportunities for tertiary educated people aged 18 to 30.
Under the current Australian law, holders of passports of any other countries are not eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa. There are no exceptions to this.
To apply for a First Working Holiday Visa:
• You must be outside Australia:
- when you lodge your first Working Holiday visa application
- for the visa to be granted.
• The Working Holiday Visa is for 18-30 year olds (ie. you must be over 18 and under 31 when you apply). You must have a passport of one of the countries listed above, have no dependent children and not have previously entered Australia on a working holiday visa.
• You must be able to show evidence that you have access to at least 3000 Euros savings (eg. Letter from your bank, bank statement etc.)
You might be asked to provide this evidence during the visa processing, or when you arrive in Australia (bring a letter from your bank or a bank statement with you).
• To apply on the internet you need:
- a valid email address and internet access;
- an eligible passport, preferably valid for the entire period of your stay in Australia;
- a valid credit card (to pay the application charge) – you can pay the application charge by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Diner's Club International.
How long is the application process?
You should allow between 48 hours and 4 weeks for the outcome of your internet application. You can check the status of your application at any time directly on the internet by entering your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) which you receive when you make your internet application.
IMPORTANT: all questions or enquiries about Working Holiday Visas which have been lodged on the internet must be sent to mailto:eVisa.WHM.Helpdesk@immi.gov.au (you should mention your TRN in the email).
Medical exams : you will probably not be asked to do medical exams. However, as each application is different, you may be asked to do an X-ray exam and medical exams. You will be prompted to download form 160EH at the end of your internet application. You should then do the X-ray exam with one of our panel doctors. The panel doctor will then send the X-ray directly to the Immigration Service in Paris.
You will receive an email advising you if your application is approved. Please note that the Working Holiday visa is an Electronic Visa and there is no evidence of it in your passport. It will be checked electronically by your airline prior to boarding and on your arrival in Australia.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE YOU CONFIRM YOUR FLIGHT ONCE YOU HAVE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT YOUR WORKING HOIDAY VISA HAS BEEN GRANTED.
How many Working Holiday Visas are granted per year?
There is no quota for French or Belgian Working Holiday applicants, ie. there is an unlimited number of Working Holiday visas available for French or Belgian applicants.
How long can I stay in Australia?
Once your Working Holiday Visa is granted, you have 12 months to enter Australia, then you have 12 months from the date you first enter Australia to benefit from your Working Holiday Visa. The Working Holiday Visa is a multiple entry visa- you may leave and return to Australia as often as you like until your visa expires ie. 12 months from the date you first enter Australia on your Working Holiday Visa.
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 a, as well as have evidence of their three months of employment as a seasonal worker in regional Australia.
Read fact sheet 49 for additional information on Second Working Holiday Visa
How long can I work with each employer in Australia?
From 1 July 2006, you can work for up to six months with the same employer in Australia.
It is possible to do up to six months of work-place based training in Australia with a Working Holiday visa.
Can I study with the Working Holiday Visa?
From 1 July 2006, you can study or undergo training for up to four months with the Working Holiday Visa.
What about health insurance?
You will not be covered by Medicare (Australia' s health care system). We strongly encourage you to hold private medical insurance for your stay in Australia.
For further information please consult http://www.immi.gov.au/
Contact telephone number in Australia
Should you have any queries regarding your immigration status in Australia after arrival, the contact number for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is 131881.