work and travel australia 3 months

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Work & Travel in Australia

Work in australia and earn money to bask on the beach, explore the outback, or savor city livin’ in the land down under., eligibility, program dates, costs and inclusions, make it a gap year, startup budget, sydney welcome week, orientation, why greenheart travel, application process.

This is your chance to dive into Australia and truly live like a local . Spend up to a year working and traveling throughout Australia while experiencing lively cities , incredible wildlife , adventure sports , and engaging with new friends from all over the world!

Greenheart Travel’s program is ideal if you:

• Are between the ages of 18-30 and want to live abroad in a country known for its natural wonders.
• Looking for an adventure, and are open to working a variety of jobs.
• Are looking for the long-term study abroad experience that you never had.
• Want to meet a community of travelers like yourself!

Progr am at a Glance:

• Sufficient salary to live and travel!
• Assistance finding work in bars, restaurants, resorts, farms, and other short-term jobs.
• Group program start dates.
• Pre-departure and in-country support.
• Welcome Week in Sydney with excursions and group activities.
• Friends, couples, and siblings are welcome!

You must meet the following requirements to apply

• Citizen of one of the following: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, EU.
• Must be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa.
• Be between the ages of 18-30* years old.
• Must be outside of Australia for the visa application process.
• Be a native English speaker or have near-native fluency.

Due to visa regulations for a Working Holiday Visa we cannot make exceptions to these requirements. These are put in place by the Australian government.

*The maximum age has been raised to 35 for certain countries in the EU and UK. Please check the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website for more information. 

The Sydney Welcome Week starts on Mondays, so you’ll arrive on one of these dates:

Program Price: $1,830 USD

Packaged into Program Cost:

• Adventure welcome week in Sydney
• 6 months of international medical insurance
• Airport pickup and transfer to hostel
• 7 nights’ hostel accommodation (shared room) and breakfasts
• Group arrival orientation
• 1-on-1 job assistance service, support, and advice
• Bank account set up prior to arrival
• Resources and support for finding permanent housing
• Cellphone setup
• Australian SIM card
• Organized social events and activities
• Greenheart Atlas Program
• Greenheart Club Membership

Our Support and Services:

• Online logistical and cultural training before departure from an Experienced Travel Program Manager.
• 24 hour in-country emergency support for the duration of your program.
• Job and accommodation support for the full duration of your program, not just the duration of the welcome week!
• Visa Assistance as needed.
• Assistance preparing tax paperwork upon arrival and before departure home.
• Opportunity to apply for a Greenheart Grant to give back to your community at home or abroad.
• Highly experienced team of in-country support staff members.

Additional Expenses to Consider:

• Visa processing and fees (about $450 AUD- you will apply for your visa online)
• Flights and return transfers
• Lunch and dinner during Welcome Week
• Housing costs and living expenses (meals, utilities, etc.)
• Personal expenses

Wondering where exactly your program fee goes? Here is a breakdown.

Work Abroad Australia is a tremendous gap year option ! Our program is designed to have a structural component that assists our travelers with pre-departure and arrival logistics such as bank account setup, obtaining the equivalent of their Social Security number, finding accommodation, securing a job, and making friends! This work abroad program also allows for enough flexibility for travelers to experience self-discovery by choosing where they live, what jobs they secure, and when and where they would like to travel.

This is a great gap year program for you if you:

• Want a program centered around community.
• Are seeking guidance to help you navigate getting settled abroad, but desire the flexibility to work and travel on your own schedule.
• Enjoy outdoor activities.
• Are open to working a variety of jobs.
• Crave a travel abroad experience that lasts for 6-12 months.
• Are looking to add work abroad experience to your resume.

Skills and personal growth that our Greenheart Travelers have acquired while on program:

• Customer service
• Cross-cultural communication
• Agricultural
• Interpersonal
• Problem-solving
• Traveling know-how
• Strong sense of self
• Independence

The cost of living in Australia, especially in big cities like Sydney, is likely more than what you’re used to in your home country. So, it is important to budget accordingly to make sure you are financially prepared upon arrival and until you begin to make a regular paycheck.

Here is a rough estimate of your initial start-up costs (in USD):

Flight:                             $1,200

Program Fee:                $1,830

Visa:                                 $350

Savings:                        $3,395*

Total:                             $6,775

* this total amount is a requirement of the Working Holiday Visa, however, it is a good amount to have to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably until you start working.

Average Weekly Budget:

Your salary will depend on how often you decide to work and what work you end up getting into. However, you are guaranteed to make Australian minimum wage ($19.49 AUD/hour), and as long as you’re working 28-38 hours per week, you’ll be making enough to live and travel on.

Wages and rent are paid weekly which makes budgeting your paychecks much easier:

These weekly costs will, of course, depend on your personal spending habits, where you live, how many hours you work, and if your job provides a higher pay/accommodation, but you should expect to be able to save some of your paycheck every week.

Although you will most likely spend any extra cash on travel opportunities in between jobs, you have the potential to make back your start up costs:

Monthly Savings =                               $410.20 AUD

Yearly Savings =                                   $4,922.40 AUD

During your first week in Sydney, you’ll have 7 days of activities and excursions where you’ll get to know fellow travelers and enjoy your introduction to this gorgeous country!

Monday: Check in, chill out and relax in preparation for a big week ahead! You will meet your group leader and the rest of your group, plus familiarize yourself with the team. You will also get a brief overview on what’s going to happen for the week ahead. Later you will visit a party bar for your Welcome Dinner!

Tuesday: After a good night’s sleep, join the comprehensive info / welcome orientation session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about working and travelling around Australia. Our team in Australia are all experienced travelers and have started where you are now. After the welcome orientation session, you’ll head to the city tour which kicks off at 11am.

You will see the Sydney Harbour Bridge & the Opera House and take a trip down to the Botanical Gardens. At the same time, you’ll be getting to know your new mates in Australia and taking some awesome photos to make your mates back home jealous!

Later, you will experience a different side of Sydney! During the evening the group will go for a relaxed walk through the historical suburbs of Sydney. On this walk, you’ll see some of the Indigenous and early European history of Sydney, one of the most multicultural parts of Australia.

Wednesday: You’ll start off the day attending a job search seminar to learn lots of tips and tricks about job search in Australia, then you’ll go for a cruise on Sydney Harbour. Spend the rest of the day cruising, swimming, and chilling on Sydney Harbour! You’ll also get to enjoy your first Aussie BBQ on deck!

Thursday: You can’t come to Sydney and not visit the Blue Mountains! This morning, you’ll escape the city and travel to the Blue Mountains National Park, a short drive from Sydney. Enjoy hiking, visit waterfalls, spot wild kangaroos, and take in some of the Bluey’s spectacular views!

Friday: Happy Friday! You will visit Sydney’s famous cliff-top coastline and walk from Coogee to Bondi beach. You’ll explore six beaches along the way! It’s the perfect way to take multiple swims or work on your tan before taking in the sights of Bondi!

Saturday: Immerse yourself in the true-blue Aussie tradition that is ‘catching a wave’ at our half day group surf lessons. Our qualified and local surf guide will teach you the ins and outs of surfing with ocean safety, surfing techniques, warm-up, and time in the water. You’ll be gliding along a wave in no time. After a day at the beach, you’ll get dressed up for a fun night on the town! Meet the group at one of our favorite party bars before starting our Sydney Pub Crawl.

Sunday: Your first week down under comes to an end. The itinerary is over, but your adventure continues – on Sunday our team will assist you with any remaining questions you’ve got and also onward travel planning.

*** Welcome week activities are subject to change based on seasonality.

During your first week in Sydney, you’ll attend a brief orientation to prepare you for your job and housing search. Before you arrive, your bank account will already be opened – you won’t have to research Australian banks or finalize your account. Instead, the team will have prepared all of your paperwork in advance. They will also set you up for the Australian tax system and give you your Tax ID so you file taxes before you leave.

During orientation you will meet the team and get all the information necessary to start planning your time in Australia. You will learn about life in Australia, when to work, where to work, where to travel and when to travel.

At orientation, you will:

• Learn about Australian culture!
• Review the yearly job market; what jobs are abundant and where.
• Be introduced to online job boards for future jobs.
• Sign up for any required courses you may need to be eligible for work, like the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) if you plan to work in environments where you serve alcohol (resorts, bars, cruise ships)*
• Receive assistance in finding short or long term accommodation.
• Receive tax ID and learn how to file taxes when you leave the country.

*These courses may or not be available, as not all services are fully up and running

Job Consultation

You will have the opportunity to meet with a job consultant and talk about your resume, what other skills you may have that aren’t listed on your resume, and to set your expectations for the type of work that you would be best suited for.

After the job consultant gets to know you a little better, you will be put on an Availability List along with all the other travelers. This list shows who is available to work, what their skills and preferences are as well as who is traveling and unavailable for work. This list is constantly changing as 50-60 employers call every day looking for employees to start working ASAP.

Our in-country staff will call you to let you know when you have been matched with a job, which you can take or turn down. Travelers who are open minded to the work they do may start working the day after they are placed on the Availability list, where others may hold out for their preferred position or decide to travel first. If you’re looking to work, you should expect to have a job within 2-3 weeks.

You may use this method to find work later in the year, though most travelers prefer to use the online job board to find subsequent work, especially if they have relocated outside of Sydney.

Most of your job opportunities will be in the Sydney area and in the southern region of Australia around Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns. Resort and agriculture jobs are offered in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Greenheart Travel’s partner has professional relationships with trusted employers around Australia who pay fair wages and alert us whenever they have positions available.

What are the most common job types?

Hospitality, customer service, and office work are by far the most common job type as Australian companies report that the high level of service in the US and Canada tends to produce workers who are well-suited for these types of positions.

Seasonal work in amusement parks, resorts, and on offshore cruises, etc. are great positions for more consistent and long-term jobs (3-6 months) where jobs in restaurants, bars, hostels, and hotels are widely available for shorter contracts.

Working on farms and WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) are also popular among Working Holiday travelers who want to experience a different type of work outside of a city.

Can I change jobs while I am there?

Yes. Many jobs are seasonal, so it is likely you will hold more than one job in your host country. Also, visa requirements dictate that you will not be allowed to work for a given employer for a period longer than six months. Due to these factors, most Work and Travel travelers hold 2-3 jobs over the duration of their stay, which is a great way to travel to different parts of the country and experience as much authentic Aussie culture as you can!

You will have access to an online job board which will enable you to check employment postings wherever you are. You should also call or visit the Center in Sydney regularly to keep informed of new work opportunities.

Greenheart Traveler, Ashana, and her fruit picking co-workers!

There are advantages of applying for this program through us:

• 33 years of experience with cultural exchange programs.
• Friendly, responsive, and professional support from your program manager!
• We make our program fees as inclusive as possible. We include things like extensive medical insurance for the duration of the program, airport pickup, and extensive pre-departure and on-program support, so you’re not on your own for any part of your adventure.
• Our alumni recommend us! GoAbroad.com Reviews
• Exclusive access to the Greenheart Atlas, our interactive program that will guide you through your cultural immersion experience before, during, and after your program.
• Hands on support and personal attention every step of the way.
• 24/7 emergency phone number to reach a staff member at any time.
• Pre-departure “Culture Shock and Adjustment” Webinar before you leave.
• Discounts for future Greenheart Travel programs.
• We are a non-profit, mission based organization.
• Continued support throughout your program.

We also have some unique offerings to our Greenheart Travel participants and alumni!

• Greenheart Grants: Greenheart Grants are funds awarded to Greenheart Travel participants to use for community development projects in their host or home country. A Greenheart Grant is the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain an impactful, community-focused project abroad or at home. Grant funds could be applied to supporting women’s cooperatives, schools, community centers, or health clinics, for example. Grant winners will be featured on our website, social media, and blog. You can see our past winners on our blog here.
• Greenheart Alumni Program: We created the Greenheart Travel Alumni Program to provide resources and a community to support alumni in their advancement as global leaders, and a way to celebrate and reward our participants for being ambitious, inspiring catalysts of cultural exchange!
• Greenheart Global Leaders Conference: Each August Greenheart offers full ride scholarships to over 40 alumni to attend our annual conference in Washington, DC. Participants even get a chance to advocate for cultural exchange in a presentation to the US Department of State. You can see more about what GGLC is and what you could do at the conference here.

Read more about why people are choosing Greenheart Travel: Why Choose Greenheart Travel? 

What will my first week look like?

Your first week is a time of exploration, preparation, and fun!

All programs begin on Thursdays. The program start date that you select from our website will be your arrival date. Our travelers use this time to settle into their accommodation, review their itinerary for the week, explore a bit, and recharge for the rest of the welcome week ahead!

The next 6 days will be dedicated to reviewing job resources, becoming familiar with local transportation, learning about housing, solidifying tax documents, meeting new friends, and getting to know Australia!

Where will I live during welcome week?

We have all of our travelers meet up at a hostel in the center of Sydney so everyone can get acquainted! For the first week you will live in shared hostel accommodation.

Where will I live when I am hired?

Shared flats, hostels, Airbnbs, and homestays are all potential accommodation options based on the lifestyle you would like to lead (i.e. backpacker or sedentary).

Some jobs, especially those on resorts and farms, include housing or subsidized housing. Our in-country partner does take housing requests within the Sydney and Melbourne area. Regardless of where you plan to live, they are happy to provide guidance and resources to help you find accommodation.

As a note, Sydney generally has the highest cost-of-living. In Sydney, you will likely pay $160-$200 for a shared room per week. If you want your own room, it is more expensive. If you are staying a while, think about renting an apartment with some friends or moving in with some Aussies, as it is generally the cheapest option. However, some jobs will only be short term (1-2 months) and it can be difficult to find a short or open lease, so you may need to spend more towards $200 AUD/week to stay at a hostel. Melbourne and other major cities have a lower cost of living than in Sydney, but most jobs are available in and around Sydney.

Do I have to stay for the full 12 months?

No, you don’t have to stay for the full 12 months.

We recommend that our travelers plan a trip that is 3 months or longer, but it isn’t mandatory. In our experience, we find that it takes our travelers a month or so to get acclimated in their new surroundings. The first few weeks are used to secure jobs, accommodation, and tax information. Having a handful of months in Australia will allow you to fully settle in, work, and travel comfortably.

If you’re looking for programs that range from 1, 2, or 3 months, take a look at a few of these program options:

• Work Abroad Argentina 
• Thailand Business Internship
• Homestay Abroad 

How long does it take the get a job?

This varies. During the busy season when lots of jobs are available, sometimes several job prospects are already awaiting you when you arrive and you can start work right away. Other times it can take up to 6 weeks. Usually if there is a delay it is because you have rejected initial job prospects because they did not meet your expectations for some reason.

Can I get a career-oriented job?

The visa you’ll get only allows you to work at any one job for 6 months or less. Since employers looking to fill high-skill positions generally want someone for longer than that, it’s unlikely (although not impossible) that you’d get a more professional or high-skilled position. This program caters to people looking for a more casual work experience, and who are more focused on travel.

Can I work for longer than one year?

United States citizens are eligible for a second Working Holiday visa if they spend 3 months working in Northern Australia in one of the following industries:

• plant and animal cultivation
• fishing and pearling
• tree farming and felling
• tourism and hospitality

This means you could work for three months in one place, then have 21 more months to work and travel as you please in Australia! Our in-country staff will help you secure this type of work if you’re interested in taking advantage of this policy.

Will I need a car?

No, public transportation is widely available in Australia, especially within the cities and urban areas.

Will I meet other travelers?

Yes, we’ve designed this as a group program! Each start date allows for up to 25 travelers.

Our welcome week includes an orientation in addition to numerous group activities that allow you to meet a bunch of individuals who are also looking to work and travel throughout the country. Since you’re all on the same program, you’ll already have a lot in common!

What qualities does Greenheart Travel look for in Australia Work Abroad applicants?

We look for applicants that are open-minded, flexible, adventurous, hardworking, and communicative!

Open-mindedness and flexibility are qualities that we seek because it is not uncommon that travelers work 2-3 jobs during their stay abroad. Not everyone will start off with their dream job, BUT everyone gains valuable experience—the more open-minded you are, the sooner you will find work!

Adventurous individuals are great for this program because Australia provides ample opportunity for travelers to be engaged in nature and participate in exciting activities.

We seek hardworking and communicative individuals because each traveler must be willing to do their share of work in order to solidify housing and employment. Our team works hard to assist and support our travelers, but travelers must be willing to attend job interviews and communicate with our team abroad.

1.   Start Your Application  Here .  You will be sent more information as well as the link to our application portal to begin your formal application.

2. Submit Basic Program Information:  The first step in our application portal will be basic things like your chosen start date, etc.

3. Submit your Application Fee : A $300 fee is required in order to apply for the program. This is subtracted from your total program fee. If we are unable to accept you following your interview (very unlikely!) we will refund your application fee in full.

4.   Complete Application & Documents :  Provide more detailed information about yourself in Part 2 of the application. In this section, you’ll tell us more information like your work history, motivations for joining the program, travel history, and emergency contacts. You will also submit your documents (below) within your portal account.

5.   Zoom Interview: Once you have submitted your online application and paid your application fee, you will be asked to schedule a video interview with a Greenheart Travel representative.

6. You’re Accepted!  Woohoo! We are usually able to accept people within 1-2 weeks of their interviews.

7. Commitment Payment: Once you are accepted to the program, you will need to submit a $300 commitment payment within 14 days to confirm your spot on the program. Once you submit your commitment payment you will unlock the acceptance portion of your portal, which includes things like pre-departure videos, travel and arrival information, the Greenheart Travel Atlas, and more.

9. Book your flights, and get ready for your adventure to Australia! The rest of your balance is due 60 days before you leave.

The above process can take as little as 1 week to complete, so it’s up to you how quickly you’re able to complete each step.

Take a glimpse into life in Australia through some Greenheart Traveler’s photos. Make sure to also check out #greenhearttravel on Instagram for more!

Sound like your kind of adventure?

Want access to our Facebook group to talk with travelers on this program? Click here! ​

Greenheart Travel Adventures

Alumni spotlight on nora weiss: finding perspective, patience and mermaid pools in australia, how to navigate an international airport, ashana’s nine months in australia: work, save and then travel.

• American Summers

Work & Travel Australia

Experience living and working in austrailia.

While a working holiday in Australia is quite a new concept for Americans, it’s a rite of passage, a matter of when, not if, for many young people across the globe. Their friends and family have done it and exclaim ‘you just have to do it’. A working holiday in Australia can offer you so much, it allows you to get out of our comfort zone, experience living and working in a new country, meeting new people, picking up new skills and broadening your horizons and opinions on matters further afield than your front door. A working holiday in Australia is a truly life changing experience that can only benefit you on a personal, and professional level. For an employer, someone that has done a working holiday, demonstrates that they are adaptable, independent, flexible, dynamic, organized, can think on their feet and isn’t overawed by new challenges.

So Why Australia?

Australia has so much to offer. This is a country that is home to:

• The Great Barrier Reef
• Global cities such as Sydney and Melbourne
• K’Gari (Fraser Island), world’s biggest sand island
• Uniquely incredible wildlife such as koalas and kangaroos
• It’s a place where you can surf, ski and scuba dive, all within a week if you want!

So how does a working holiday in Australia work?

Americans are able to get a Work and Holiday visa ($462AUD). Some facts about the visa:

• It is for people between 18-30: This is a pretty big age gap and gives a lot of people the opportunity to participate.
• It lasts 12 months (initially): This is great as it means that you have time to experience working in different places, as well as travel around, ticking off your Aussie bucket list.
• It can be extended: By doing specified work (rural work, tourism and hospitality) in specific areas, you’re eligible to get a 2nd and 3rd year visa.
• The 2nd and 3rd year visas don’t have to be used immediately: This is great because it means you can complete your first year and the specified work within it, then decide whether you immediately extend your visa or return at another time.
• The Wages Are High: Australian wages are very good. The minimum wage is $19.83AUD for full- time work and $25.41AUD for casual work.
• Businesses love internationals: So many different businesses love to enrich their workforce by employing the working holiday participants. This works especially well in seasonal jobs.
• There are so many other people just like you: Over 200,000 a year do a working holiday in Australia.

Watch this video and be inspired by fellow Americans that recently did a working holiday in Australia.

Job Opportunities

In-depth, customized employment help.

Understandably, getting a job is something that is on the front of people’s minds. You’ll be in a new country, with no contacts and no previous work experience there.  Welcome to Travel’s founders were previously working holiday makers and they understand your needs and wants firsthand. They’ve used their, their team’s and all of their travelers’ experience to create in depth, customized employment help for when you arrive.

This includes

• An employment presentation
• CV/Resume Writing Help
• Interview Questions Help
• Australia workplace specific advice
• Access to a live job portal
• A 2-hour employment and travel advice 1:1 meeting (on tour)
• Access to an employer database
• Regular job opportunities emailed
• Monthly Work and Travel Drop in Clinics

Just like the accommodation help, as long as you’re in Australia, our partner Welcome to Travel will be able to help with your employment needs. A lot of people also want to know what they can earn when in Australia.

Hospitality is a hugely popular sector for people on a working holiday. Australia doesn’t have a tipping culture and the tip you’d expect in the US, is already factored into wages in Australia, where wages are high.

The minimum wage is:

• Part-Time/Full-Time: $19.83AUD
• Casual Work: $25.41AUD

We’ve explained more on wages and cost of living in these really helpful blogs and vlogs here:

• The Positive Change to Fruit Picking Wages
• The Big Mac Equation
• How does Australia’s Minimum Wage Compare?

On the IENA Work & Travel Australia Program, you can take any job you are qualified to do, but can only work for the same employer for six months’ maximum. Work and Holiday Visa holders can take casual incidental work to supplement their income while exploring this amazing country. If you would prefer to stay in one location, that is okay too! It’s your choice! We have hundreds of live job listings which are no more than 3 weeks old. Find current job listings .

I think this program is an amazing opportunity for inner growth and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a life-changing experience.

Accommodations

Welcome week.

Our Partner – Welcome to Travel’s Hosts Welcome Weeks which include 7 nights dorm accommodation. Having your first week is such a great feeling as it means you can relax and get used to a Country and City, with that added support. Not only this but they are also able to help organize your accommodation before and after the tour, whether that’s another night in the same hostel, or a week’s accommodation 3500km away. Not only can they do that, they offer advice on longer term accommodation in an apartment/house in Australia. As long as you’re in Australia, Welcome to Travel is able to help with your accommodation needs.

To give you an idea on the cost of accommodation, check out our estimates below:

• Extra hostel night with Welcome to Travel: $35AUD
• Long term hostel: $165-$220 AUD a week
• Room in an apartment: $180-$250AUD a week

Travel Information

What to see in australia.

Enough about working, let’s talk about travelling around this incredible country. The best thing about Australia’s high wages is it means more money to experience more things, in more places!

From surf to desert to city, Australia really does have it all and the list of travelling opportunities is well and truly endless. Australia’s golden trail for travelers is the East Coast. The traditional East Coast route is the 2500km of road stretching from Melbourne to Cairns.

There are thousands of backpackers and students on their own journey but on a similar path, getting the experiences they want to. This journey includes all of those places you’ve heard of such as:

• Surfers Paradise
• Fraser Island
• Whitsundays
• Magnetic Island

On this route you can experience incredible things such as:

• Surf world class surf beaches
• Visit 1 of 2 Everglades National Parks
• Watch sunset in Australia’s most easterly point
• Drive a 4WD around the world’s biggest sand island
• Spend 2 days/2 nights on the Whitsunday Islands, visiting the World’s Best Beach
• Snorkel or Scuba Dive The Great Barrier Reef
• Visit the World’s Oldest Rainforest

With so many travelers in Australia, there are plenty of great options for travelling around. You can choose to travel the East Coast in a car or campervan rental with friends, or by taking the bus. The bus is perfect for solo travelers as the ticket last for 3 months and lets you get off in one town, explore the place for a few days before getting back on the bus to the next town when you’d like to move on. This is called a Hop-On Hop Off bus pass and it’s extremely cost effective.

Once again, this throws up many questions and there are so many different things you can do. Welcome to Travel’s expertise really has no limits and they help with every single aspect of travelling Australia. You may want to book a 5 week East Coast trip, 1 day car hire in Brisbane, a 5 day Scuba Diving Trip on the Great Barrier Reef or a 3 month Campervan hire around the country, they can help with any of it.

Welcome to Travel is a great place to learn more about the East Coast, as well as get in touch for help on the adventure you’d like to take. Don’t worry if you’d like help travelling to somewhere other than the East Coast, they can do that too.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re looking to be inspired whilst also learning about Australia, check out Welcome to Travel’s helpful blogs and videos .

Questions About Traveling

Yes, you do! If you’re coming here just as a tourist to visit Australia, you’ll need a Visitor Visa. If you’re coming here to work while you’re on holiday, you’ll need either a Working Holiday Visa ($417AUD) or a Work and Holiday Visa ($462AUD), depending on which country you’re from. Find more information and a list of the various visas .

Questions About a Working Holiday in Australia

Our Partner – Welcome to Travel will provide exclusive tips, resources, and guidance towards finding a job and farm work in Australia.

They will provide you with all the basic information needed to get started, and give you access to Their huge database of employers and contacts in sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction, sales and marketing and many more. This is all before having a 1-on-1 meeting with them, where they will go over how they can specifically help you find work. They also send out a weekly update email that highlights the most recent job and farm work opportunities they come across.

Do I have to do farm/regional work? No! However, if you are on a working holiday visa ($417AUD) and want to extend your visa to a 2nd or even a 3rd year, then you would need to do some specified work, often farm work/rural work. All the necessary specifications can be found on the government website. How do I get a 2nd year and 3rd visa?

If you are on a Working Holiday Visa ($417AUD) or Work and Holiday Visa ($462AUD) then you need to complete at least 3 months of specified work in a specific area of Australia to earn a 2nd year visa.

The specified work differs between $417AUD and $462AUD visas. $462AUD visa holders have the additional sector of tourism and hospitality (in northern Australia only) added to the specified work list. You can find all the necessary specifications for a $417AUD visa and a  $462AUD visa on the government website.

How do I apply for a visa?

We recommend applying as soon as possible. The application can be completed through your travel agent, or directly through the same Australian Government website as above.

We always recommend checking Australian Government website for any specific inquiries.

What is Superannuation and am I entitled to it? Superannuation is Australia’s pension fund scheme.

Being on a working holiday, you’re entitled to have a superannuation account and your employers have to pay into this account. Do I need a bank account?

If you’re traveling as a tourist for just a few weeks, you don’t need one – a travel card will be great. With cheap rates, tiny fees and a really to use app, we always recommend Wise .

If you’re here for a longer period of time (for example, on a Working Holiday Visa) then it’s highly recommended to open an Australian bank account. It’s an extremely easy process that our Partner – Welcome tours will assist you with. Not only will you save a lot on exchange/transaction fees, but employers will only pay wages into an Australian account. Don’t worry about it now, Welcome tours will help set it up for you in the weeks leading up to your arrival.

What is a Tax File Number?

This is basically a personal identity number created for you by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is required if you want to work in Australia, so that you can be correctly taxed on your income from day one.

You will provide this number to each employer you have while you are in Australia and your tax will be deducted from your wage accordingly, just as it would be in your home country.

Application and Fees

Stage 1 of the application.

Please set up an IENA account and complete the online IENA Outbound Program application. We will assess your application and then invoice you for payment of our program fee. After payment is processed and you are accepted to the program you will be emailed stage two of the application process.

Stage 2 of the Application

• Applying for your visa – don’t’ worry, IENA will provide step-by-step instructions and guidance on how to secure your visa!
• Booking your flight to Australia – IENA’s preferred travel provider can assist with flights.
• Purchasing travel and medical insurance – it is a visa requirement that you have proof of medical coverage (including medical evacuation and repatriation of remains) on entry to Australia. Note: You will not be covered under the socialized medical system in place in Australia.
• Job reference from a previous or current employer.

Application Deadlines: Please allow 4-6 weeks for application processing.

Program Fees

Essentials: $485

Other costs to consider for all options:

• Flights – Special flight deals are available through our preferred travel provider
• Travel and medical insurance (this is a visa requirement)
• Visa fee currently AU$485
• Support funds equivalent to AU$5,000 (this is a visa requirement)

Cancellation Conditions

If you cancel from the program before your stage two deadline you will be charged a cancellation fee of $100. If you cancel after you have reached stage two, no refund is possible.

Any cancellation must be received in writing and is only effective from the date we receive it. Please note that separate cancellation fees and conditions will undoubtedly apply to any flight bookings you make.

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• How it Works
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• Au Pair in Australia

Can I choose where I go? Location will depend upon the type of work, the time of your stay and your experience. Currently we are offering pre-placement in agriculture and tourism. Here is more information about work opportunities .

How much do I get paid? Your hourly rate will vary dependent on the type of work that you do and your age. All work is paid at minimum award rates and most jobs will pay AUD 23.00/hour or higher.

What happens if I don’t like my job? The most difficult period after starting a job is the first few weeks. For agricultural work you might initially find the work physically tiring and you may not be acclimatized to the weather. This is natural and you should plan for this.

In the same way working in hospitality can be tiring, particularly with long shifts or a lot of time on your feet. We strongly encourage you to wait and become accustomed to the job you are doing, take the time to acclimatize and get used to the people you will be working with during your placement.

Occasionally we hear from a participant who is struggling in their placement. In this case the AIFS team will assist you to try to resolve the issue. If AIFS determines that the placement cannot be continued, we will provide assistance that may include placement with another employer.

Do I need to buy a uniform? For fruit picking you need long sleeved shirts and long trousers and a broad brimmed hat. As weather conditions will be warm we suggest cotton or breathable materials. Make sure you bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes.

For hospitality work your uniform will be supplied or you employer will advise you prior to departure of any clothing requirements.

How will I get to my job? Your employer will provide you with instructions of how to transfer to your place of employment.

Where in Australia will I be placed? We work with employers all over Australia, however, most work will be located in regional New South Wales and Queensland.

How long after I apply will I hear about a placement? Depending on the type of work you wish to do, you will receive notification about your work offer between 2-4 weeks for agricultural work. If you have applied for work in tourism and hospitality, you will need to complete an interview with your employer. We will contact you within 2-4 weeks of approval of your application to confirm your interview.

Is it possible for my friend and I to go and work together? Will the same employer hire us? It is possible to work with your friend in agricultural work. Please note this preference on your application so that we can ensure that your placement is made with your friend. Hospitality and tourism employers select employees based on skills, so the chances of an employer needing both of your skills is lower. Please note this on your application, however, we cannot guarantee this.

Do I need to do a tax return after I finish my program? If you work in Australia, you will be required to complete a tax return. In some cases Working Holiday makers may be eligible for a tax refund. AIFS has partnered with Taxback which can help make this process stress free. For more information or to get started click here .

How much should I budget for accommodation? This will vary by employer. We suggest around $250-300 per week for accommodation.

Do you help arrange accommodation? Your employer will either provide you with accommodation onsite or advise you of accommodation used by workers that you can book.

Do I need medical insurance? Yes, you will need medical insurance to participate on the program. This should be purchased before you depart through your preferred provider.

Travel & Visas

What visa will I need? You will travel to Australia on a Working Holiday visa that is valid for 1 year but can be extended. For more information about the Working holiday visa (subclass 462 for US) click HERE

I want to travel around Australia after I finish my work placement. Should I book now or wait? Wait! From experience we find many people change their travel plans after they arrive in Australia. You may meet someone you want to travel with or head to a destination you had never heard of before! AIFS’ Travel desk is included in your package and have access to discounted deals and knows the best options for your budget and plans. Please also keep in mind that many tourism companies are in the process of fully setting back up and may not yet have live travel dates or updated fees.

How much should I budget for travelling? Your budget will depend on your plans. Some travelers only travel for a few months and others for most of their time in Australia. The average travel length is 6-12 weeks. Remember, as you will be working in the first 3 months of arrival, you will earn money that will help finance your travels.

How do I apply for Work & Travel Australia? All applications are completed online using our easy online application system. Please click HERE to book.

When will I know about my job placement? For agricultural work we will advise you of your job placement no less than 14 days prior to your start date. In some cases due to weather, or crop readiness, placements may change at short notice. We will advise you if this occurs.

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Home » Oceania » Everything You Need to Know about Working Holidays in Australia | 2024

Everything You Need to Know about Working Holidays in Australia | 2024

Whenever you hear working holiday, you are sure to think of Australia. Everyone knows someone or knows someone who knows someone, who traded in their everyday life for better weather in the land down under!

Australia is famed for its incredible landscapes, awesome wildlife, and epic road trips. The party scene is pretty fun too! It is the ultimate place to experience life like never before, make loads of new friends from all over the globe, and learn about who you are.

You could find yourself road tripping the famous Great Ocean Road, dancing the night away on Bondi Beach, or learning to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

If you wanna do all this and more, keep reading to learn how to turn your short holiday into a  working holiday in Australia .

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Taking a Working Holiday in Australia

Top 5 tips for a working holiday in australia, australia working holiday visas , insurance for a working holiday in australia , working holiday in australia budget, earning money on a working holiday visa, pre-planned working holiday jobs with global work and travel, diy working holiday in australia, final thoughts .

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If you’re aged between 18 and 30 (35 for some countries) and a citizen of an eligible country, then an Australian working holiday is within your reach! Don’t limit yourself to thinking only students and people taking a gap year in Australia can enjoy the spoils of the country, oh no, if you’re tired of your old 9-5 job back home or just want to change things up, this could be just what the doctor ordered. 

A working holiday is perfect for people who are seeking a long-term vacation, but might not necessarily have the funds to make it happen. You’ll be earning money from your cool new travel job , BUT, you’ll get to spend your days off surfing, skydiving, lounging on the beach, and more! The thought of working while you are on vacation might not seem so appealing, but trust me when I say that if your vacation lasts up to a year or more… who cares?? A trip to Fraser Island for the weekend with your buddies is well worth working a few hours! 

What kind of work am I talking about? Well, opportunities for travelers are in abundance in Australia. You could find yourself doing everything from working behind a bar, working in a ski resort (yes, you read that right!), or working as an au pair. The possibilities are ENDLESS! There are even internships for those of you who wanna bump up your CV for college or just in general, because why not?

Since there are so many work and volunteering options, it might get a bit overwhelming to choose what to do. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Check out these two options…

Go with Worldpackers

Worldpackers is an online company that connects travelers with foreign volunteer hosts who then work in exchange for housing . That being said, Worldpackers does do more than just connect volunteers to hosts. It offers a plethora of additional resources, a great support network, a blogging platform for collaboration, and a whole lot more.

Sounds pretty rad, right? But wait, there’s more!

According to their mission statement, Worldpackers is “ a community based on collaboration and honest relationships that make travel more accessible to those seeking a profound cultural experience. ” They value  environmentalism ,  authenticity ,  growth  and  working together  above all else and make a great effort to provide the best experience possible.

And even better – Broke Backpacker readers get a special discount of $10 ! When you use our special hookup, it makes even more sense to pay. Just use this Worldpackers discount code BROKEBACKPACKER and membership is discounted from $49 a year to $39.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with  meaningful travel experiences.

Go with Global Work and Travel

Moving abroad might seem like a big step, but the great news is that agencies exist to streamline the whole process and help you find a job you love. We are all for Global Work and Travel (more on them later), as they are trustworthy, offer a load of assistance when it comes to organizing an Australian working holiday, and will make sure you have the best time possible. 

It’s got a bit of a different approach than Worldpackers, but it offers JUST as many amazing opportunities for travellers.

It provides working holidays, teaching abroad, volunteering, au pair and student internship packages . On top of that, the agency plans, sorts and assists with visa requirements, connections to local businesses, accommodation search and job interviews.

Most products even come with flights and basic medical insurance, a 24/7 Emergency line and payment plans.

Okay, you’re seriously considering uprooting your life and moving to Australia for a while. But what else is there to know? 

It’s not all work and play, there are some admin-type/general things you’ll need to think about before heading out to make sure you have the best time ever. Here are my five easy tips to remember when it comes to working holiday jobs in Australia:

• Getting the correct visa. If you are a citizen of an eligible country and aged between 18-30 (35 for French, Canadian, and Irish citizens), then getting an Australian working holiday visa (WHV) is a brilliant option for those wishing to travel around Australia long-term. You can either apply for a subclass 462 or subclass 417 visa. This may seem complicated, but which subclass you apply for just depends on what country you are from.
• Knowing the duration of your stay. Roughly knowing how long you want to stay is a good idea from a planning perspective. If you only want to stay a couple of months, then maybe a tourist visa is better for you? Additionally, if you plan on extending your WHV for a second or even third year (more on this later), then make sure you don’t have any commitments at home waiting for you. 
• Finding accommodation. As a backpacker’s paradise and extremely popular with travelers, there are plenty of options when it comes to where to stay in Australia . If you find yourself working somewhere remote like a farm or pub in the outback, you might get free or steeply discounted accommodation somewhere nearby. In larger cities, you could try house sitting or consider finding some flatmates through online sites to keep costs low and make awesome friends! 
• Finding the right job. The beauty of having an Australian working holiday visa is if you don’t get it right on the first (or even second or third) try, you can always move on and find something new. That being said, it’s always nice to pick something you’d actually LIKE to do, so take your time in choosing and don’t settle for anything that will make your trip miserable. 
• Exploring during your days off. Australia is over 7 million square kilometers – that’s a whole lotta land to explore! The best way to get around will really depend on you. If you’re in a bit of a squeeze time-wise, then flying around the country is the fastest (albeit most expensive) way to get around. For slow travel , taking the public bus is a great and cheap way to see the country, especially on the east coast. By far the best option, in my opinion, is to get a couple of friends together and either rent or buy a car/campervan. Gumtree is a great place to look for used vehicles and you’ll often find that they’re being sold by other travelers who have done the same as you!

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

As I mentioned earlier, eligibility and even the subclass of your visa will depend on your citizenship. Australia has a working holiday agreement with numerous countries, which I’ll get into in just a mo, but it’s always good to double-check for yourself on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website before your trip to get up-to-date information. 

Under subclass 417, citizens from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom are eligible.

For subclass 462 visas you must be from Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, or Vietnam to apply.

Other conditions include being aged between 18-30 (35 for French, Canadian, and Irish citizens), having no dependents, and either having enough money to support yourself (around $5,000 AUD), and a booked departure flight OR proof of enough funds to purchase one. Anyone entering the country will also have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or medical exemption certificate. You cannot apply if you have previously entered the country using this visa before (through either subclass 417 or 462).

The fee for an Australian working holiday visa is $495 AUD, and having one allows you to work and live in the country for up to 12 months. However, there is a possibility to extend for up to two more years! To do this, you’ll have to apply for an extension for your second year after having completed three months of specified work . The same applies again to a third-year extension. This is a great way to remain in Australia long-term but bear in mind that some of the specified work is particularly gruelling and the hot weather can make it uncomfortable. Make sure you are physically up to the challenge, and if you’re not, it’s not the end of the world! 

The first step in applying for your visa is to set up an account with the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Once you’ve done that, simply fill out the application online. You will need to pass a health care pass (usually a chest X-ray and medical exam) and a character assessment. They may also ask you to undertake/provide a background check. 

This all sounds pretty simple, but some of us simply don’t have the time. If that’s the case, consider enlisting the help of Visa First . They can help with all the details while you do the fun part of planning your trip and all the awesome things you wanna do!

Or, if you are wanting to sign up for an all-in programme, Global Work and Travel will handle all the hard bits for you.

Here at The Broke Backpacker, we always recommend that you get some good quality, reliable insurance. This makes sure you don’t get yourself in a sticky situation should anything go wrong. We are BIG fans of WorldNomads and just LOVE their easy-to-navigate website, their 24/7 emergency assistance, and the range of activities covered by their policies! Scuba diving? Check. Surfing? Check. Sky-diving? Check. It covers just about EVERYTHING that a traveler needs.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Right, time to get down to business. How much money do you really need for a working holiday in Australia? As you read earlier you’ll need $5,000 AUD, and a round trip ticket or enough money for a departure ticket to apply for a visa. This sounds like a load of cash, but Australia can be expensive, and depending on what you want to do, you could find yourself eating into that pretty quick. 

If you choose to live somewhere more urban, like eating out, and love going for trips away, then your holiday is going to be more costly. For example, rent in a shared house, transport, food, and activities in Sydney could cost you around $1,500 AUD a month (on a budget) but on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, you’ll be paying closer to $1,000 AUD. If you prefer to live alone, expect your cost of living to be much higher. 

In far-out rural areas, expect the cost of rent to be way lower. If you’re working in the middle of nowhere, often your employer will give you free accommodation, or you can stay at a nearby hostel for a really good price.

One of the great things about Australia is that while it can be a little expensive, especially compared to countries in SE Asia for example, the minimum wage is high! Even when working in a cafe or restaurant, you can still make enough money to live a good life and explore the country!

With an Australian working holiday visa, you can do all kinds of work – be it part-time, full-time, or even casually! Some of the most popular types of jobs for holders of a WHV in restaurants, bars, and hotels, in retail and sales, and as seasonal farmworkers (for those trying to obtain their second or third-year visas). There are limitations as to what kind of work you can do, but if you’re using a second or third-year WHV, you can do any type of work! One thing to note is that you are only permitted to keep a work contract for up to six months with the same company or business. 

Since you’ll be living and working in Australia, you’ll have to do some adulting and sort out your finances. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as turning up, finding a job, and making some sweet cash. You will need to apply for a tax number, which will be required by your employer. You can apply online with the Australian Tax Office . The taxation rate for travelers is a flat rate of 15% on earnings of up to $45,000 AUD. Your employer will automatically deduct this from your paycheck. 

The employer will also pay 9.5% of your pre-tax income into a superannuation scheme A.K.A “super” as part of a retirement savings scheme. The good news is if you leave Australia and plan to never go back, you can access the money via Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). However, you should note that the tax on the DASP scheme is 65%. You will need your visa details and tax number to be able to apply. 

Once you arrive, you are going to need a local bank account. Some banks give you the option to do it online before you arrive, otherwise, go to the bank of your choice and set up an appointment. ANZ bank is a top choice if you plan to move on to New Zealand, as it is also available there. We recommend using an international money transfer service like Wise or Payoneer to get the best rates!

If you’re not one to DIY things, or you’d rather let someone else take the reins so you can relax a little, agencies like Global Work and Travel are the way to go. They not only help you with finding a job, they also offer visa assistance, help you with a bank account, and much more! 

The kinds of things you could end up doing on a working holiday in Australia are working in sales, working in the tourism industry, working as an au pair for a local family, getting a kick-ass internship, the list goes on, and on and on. 

Au Pair in Australia

Not sure what exactly an au pair does? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! They are basically live-in nannies who look after the children, help with the household chores, and can occasionally do some cooking. Being an au pair is a number one choice for anyone who absolutely adores kids, has a lot of patience and would enjoy living with a local family. You will get room and board (YAY free meals), plus a salary of between $200-250 AUD for working a 30 hour week. 

One tough aspect of au pairing is that you may get really attached to the family and struggle saying goodbye. But, this doesn’t stop it from being one of the most rewarding working holiday jobs in Australia. You will be pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and will probably learn a load of new skills. Since you’ll be spending a big chunk of your time with your host family, finding people you mesh well with is really important. Not only this, but make sure you’re happy with other aspects of the job, like where you will be located, the age of the children, and what you’ll be expected to do around the house. 

Au pair work is easy to find, either online before you get there using job boards, or even on the ground through online ads or backpacker noticeboards. If you’re not too keen on doing the scouting yourself and/or are worried about the whole process, using an agency like Global Work and Travel is a fantastic way to secure an au pair job in Australia, with some extra security, to put your mind at ease. They will match you up with the perfect family before you arrive, exchange profiles and even host video calls to make sure it’s a good fit. If it doesn’t work out for some reason, GWaT will be there to assist you. 

The GWaT au pair package includes finding you a host family, setting up a pre-family agreement, and even access to an online au pair course so you know roughly what to do on your first day. Their au pairs are expected to work for 25-35 hours a week, earning between $200 – $350 AUD per week. You’ll usually be given two days off a week to explore and meet up with friends. Another awesome thing about this working holiday programme is that they organize meet and greets with other au pairs in the area so you can make friends and share your experiences (LOVE it). 

Their locations are in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. All great locations to base yourself for an amazing Australian adventure. You’ll need to be between 18-35 years old, be a citizen of an eligible country, and have had no criminal convictions in the last five years to apply. Contracts are 6 and 12 months long.  

Interning in Australia

An internship is a 10/10 way to spice up your CV, college application, or just to gain some experience in your chosen industry. Sadly, the world of internships is fiercely competitive, since they are often essential in landing jobs after graduation in most fields (1-3 years of experience for an entry- level job??? Madness). What does this mean for you? It means sending your CV out anywhere and everywhere, and acknowledging that you are competing with locals for these positions so you may not have the best of luck. 

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible though! A good place to look is on career websites, or you could even take a more direct approach and go straight to companies that interest you with your CV. This takes a lot of work, and you may not even be guaranteed to find anything.

A great sure-fire way to secure an internship is to go through an agency or internship operator. Global Work and Travel is one such agency (can you tell that we dig them?) that offers a TOP working holiday internship!

They will assist you in finding a structured internship with one of their many, reputable partner organizations. There are so many fields to choose from, even if you think what you wanna do is so obscure that they couldn’t possibly help you, you should still check them out! From volcanology, forensic science, even game development… these guys can hook you UP.

You’ll be given a dedicated trip coordinator to help answer any queries you may have, assist you with perfecting your CV, give you visa guidance, and more. If the deal wasn’t already sweet enough, you’ll get a four night stay in a hostel anywhere in Australia , on them, so you can check out some of the sights. Following the WHV internship rules, placements are between 3 and 6 months long.  

Work in Australia

Maybe internships or being an au pair isn’t your thing. You actually want to WORK in Australia. This is the most popular way to spend your Australian working holiday (aside from traveling of course!). It is the perfect situation for anyone to be in, you’re somewhere new and exciting, and you’ve got a way to keep the $$$ rolling in. It’s ideal.

Since there is such a huge backpacker culture in Australia, finding an entry to a mid-level job is super easy. Looking for something once you’re on the ground is what most people do, and since you normally* can’t work for the same employer for more than 6 months, you could find yourself job hunting mid-way through your trip. It’s honestly great because you can move to a totally new destination if you’ve grown tired of where you were. Or stick around and try your hand at something completely new! (* The 6 month rule has been relaxed until 31 December 2022 ).

The idea of having to work while you’re on vacation may not be appealing to some, but as I said earlier, it is great for long-term travelers because you can stick around for way longer. Try not to get too caught up with the whole working aspect of things as you will have loads of time during your days off to explore. You could even take a whole month off in between jobs to road trip across Australia if you wanted! 

If you want to have a job secured before you arrive (for peace of mind) then we highly suggest looking at a working holiday programme. I’m going to name-drop one last time (don’t hate me) but Global Work and Travel has a SICK “work in Australia” package. These guys really are top-notch and will have you covered with guaranteed interviews with their partner organizations that pay at least $18.93 AUD/hour. What’s more, when it’s time to move on to another job, you can just tap into their database of partners and score interviews with them too! 

You’ll have a dedicated trip coordinator who will guide you through the whole process and a personal travel concierge to plan your flights, insurance, and add-ons. When you arrive you’ll have a private driver waiting to pick you up plus four nights covered at a top-rated hostel on the Gold Coast, before you move closer to your job.

There’s a tonne of other bonuses too, like passes to a local Australian wildlife sanctuary on the Gold Coast, a day trip to either Byron Bay or the Gold Coast’s spectacular rainforests, even a Great Barrier Reef weekend getaway. You’d be mad not to take them up on this offer!

I’ve already mentioned how easy it is to DIY your Australian working holiday (I know countless people who’ve done it). It is ideal for you adventurous folks out there who don’t mind rocking up to a place with no plan, just a whole lot of flexibility. 

You will be in charge of sorting out your own visa, flights, and bank account, plus make sure you have enough savings in the bank in case you don’t find the right job in the beginning. It’s also a good idea to read up a little on the tax situation so you know roughly how everything works over there.

Due to the huge Australian backpacker culture, you’ll be able to find a job pretty much anywhere there are jobs to be had! You could try to land a job before you arrive by looking online or asking any friends who are already out there if they know of any vacancies. 

For on-the-ground job seeking, there’s a tonne of sites with listings, but even by going door to door to bars, cafes, restaurants, etc. could score you a job. The majority of jobs you’ll find will be minimum wage, but whether you’re a cashier, a barista, or housekeeping in a resort, you’ll earn more than enough to get you by. 

For a different kind of experience, you could look into places that exchange accommodation and possibly meals for your help. If this sounds like a good deal, check out WWOOF, Worldpacker , and Workaway , for some next-level opportunities helping out on organic farms, hostels, and around people’s homes. 

I cannot recommend an Australian working holiday enough. Not only do I know so many people who’ve literally had the time of their lives (kinda jealous tbh), but it’s just the most amazing opportunity to live and work in a different country. You will find yourself in situations that will challenge you, help you to grow, and change you, all while making some lifelong friends and incredible memories. 

Become a certified Aussie, working and living with locals, munching down meat pies and Vegemite like it’s nobody’s business. What’s more, you can use this chance to really SEE Australia. I’m talking about the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Whitsunday Islands, and much more… you’ll have so much time to see and do it all. 

I am positive that whatever you choose, whether it’s DIY-ing your working holiday like a boss or seeking out the help of a trusted agency, this year (or two, or three) will be something that you’ll remember for a long time to come!

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Work in Australia

  Swap work suits for wetsuits, boardrooms for board shorts and working lunches for working holidays. Spend up to 12 months living, working and travelling in Australia.   

Why do a working holiday in Australia?

A rite of passage for travellers, Australia is the unicorn of the working holiday world. Combining the ultimate travel destination with a backpacker-friendly work culture and one of the highest minimum wages in the world, it puts both the ‘work’ and ‘holiday’ into working holiday. 

With employers used to taking on overseas travellers, it's possible to find work across most industries – from construction sites to creative agencies. And across the whole country. Which means you can go walkabout hopping between Australia’s cities, beaches, outback and rainforests – picking up casual work in bars, hostels and farms to fund the next leg of your Aussie adventure.

No hassle travel

We put in the work, so you don’t have to. We’ll process your working holiday visa, set up the essentials such as your Aussie bank account and tax file number, help you find a job and hook you up with hostels, trips and nights out.

The down low on working holidays Down Under

Who can apply

For most nationalities, you must be aged 18-30 to apply for an Australia working holiday visa. Unless you’re from the UK Canada, France or Ireland, in which case it’s 18-35. Click here for the full list of nationalities who are eligible to apply for a working holiday visa.

How long for

An Australia working holiday visa lasts for 12 months, and you have 12 months to enter the country once your visa is approved. It’s possible to apply for a second and even a third visa by doing three months of ‘specified work’ in regional Australia during each visa.

Australia has long hot summers (Nov-Mar) and mild winters (Jun-Sep). But as with all things Australia, there are extremes. Like snowy ski resorts in Victoria and New South Wales in winter (we know, mind blown) and wet and humid summers in the tropical north.

Where to go

What makes Australia such an iconic gap year destination is being able to pick up work as you travel, giving you the chance to experience the true Australia. From reefs to rainforest, wetlands to wineries and deserts to deserted islands – it’s like 365 holidays in one year.

BUNAC presents You in '24

Laidback surf towns, stylish cities and barefoot tropical islands. You’re not in Kansas now, Toto. (Different Oz maybe). Press play on the ultimate Australia working holiday with BUNAC.

All three of our Work Australia packages include your working holiday visa. Our team even apply for the visa on your behalf to make sure it’s submitted correctly. Life’s too short for the extra admin.

7-day Ultimate Australia

Half work trip half road trip – spend your first week with travellers just like you. Includes the visa help and work inclusions of the Essential Australia, but with 7 nights’ accommodation, surf lessons, BBQs, road trips and more.

4-day Essential Australia

Everything you need to hit the ground running in Oz. Find work, find a place, find a date (we’re joking, maybe). Includes your visa, 3 nights’ accommodation, 12 months’ job support, guided city tour, social events and more.

Kickstart Australia

The Baloo of the working holiday world, this is the bare necessities of what you need to start legally working in Australia. Includes your Australia working holiday visa (worth $495 AUD), visa application processing and assistance setting up your Aussie bank account and tax

Get in the friend zone

Confused about where to go and what work you can do? Call us for a yarn. We’ll help you figure out your trip and answer any questions. Such as: what’s a yarn? (Aussie for a chat), or why are thongs flip flops in Oz but underwear everywhere else? (No idea).

“Ben was really nice to chat to and answered any questions that I had about the packages BUNAC provide. Super knowledgeable and knew exactly the position I was in and told me how to proceed going forward!”

“ Lubka and the team @bunac have made getting this visa so less stressful! Huge shout out to them, were with me the entire way and helped with any questions or concerns that I had. They bring all the GOOD news!!! One million thank you’s , you guys are the BEST.”

Book with travellers. Expert job hunters, visa translators and parent whisperers – all our team have worked or volunteered abroad.

We include your visa, plus all the essentials such as your tax file number and Aussie bank account.

We take the stress out of finding a job, both when you land and for the whole of your visa.

We connect you with people like you, through WhatsApp groups, social events and trips.

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From the Blog

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How to get a working holiday visa for Australia

Jun 11, 2024 • 5 min read

Clock off work and head to Bondi Beach to catch some waves in Sydney © xavierarnau / Getty Images

Dreaming of moving to  Australia ? Under 30 (or in some cases 35!) years of age? Read on.

Holiday makers from 40 countries who are up to the age of 30 (or 35 and British, Irish, Canadian, French, Italian or Danish passport holders) have the opportunity to work, live and travel in Australia with a 12-month “working holiday” visa.

The scheme is hugely popular for a post-school “gap year” – or an early career break – looking for a life-defining adventure: you'll make new friends, develop new skills and take home incredible memories (and maybe even some savings).

If the idea of moving to Australia to surf, sail and soak up that famously bountiful sunshine appeals to you, then read on for everything you need to know to make it happen.

Who qualifies for a working holiday visa in Australia?

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is open to young people from 40 countries  mostly up to the age of 30 (that means you've not yet turned 31). Since mid-2023, citizens of the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Denmark and Italy can apply up to to the age of 35 (inclusive). You can arrive in Australia at any time within the 12-month period from the date your visa is granted.

There is a small catch for some would-be holiday-makers, however. For a handful of countries the number of applicants per year is capped putting the dream for 2024, for some, on ice for now.

To increase transparency the Australian government publishes a list of countries that have reached (or are approaching) their annual quotas . And as demand outpaces spots available, the government plans to introduce a lottery-style system for citizens of China, Vietnam and India from next year. 

Industry groups in Australia have also been lobbying to lift the age for eligibility to 50 years to help plug skills gaps, especially in management level roles, but as it stands if you’re over 30 (or 35) you’ll need an employer to sponsor you to work there. 

Find out what else do you need to know before going to Australia

Can I stay for more than one year in Australia?

There are certain requirements that need to be met if you want to extend your visa beyond the initial 12 months – mainly taking up work in industries that have the biggest labor shortages such as seasonal farm work, hospitality jobs in remote locations, fishing and pearling, or mining and construction. 

For more on what jobs you need to do, and for how long, to get a second (and even a third year visa) read up on the latest from the Department of Immigration  and follow these tips on how to make the most of your working holiday visa .

How much money do you need for a working holiday visa in Australia?

The working holiday visa is not cheap. It costs AU$635 and a further AU$635 for each subsequent 12-month visa.

You’ll also need an airfare (you don’t need a return ticket, but you will need to get one eventually), plus enough money to feed and entertain yourself until you find work. The more financially secure you are the less likely you’ll have to take the first job you get offered. Don’t forget this is also supposed to be a holiday! 

A shortage of housing (an issue in many countries now) has seen rental prices skyrocketing across Australian cities, so do your research on upfront costs such as rental bonds, even for share housing, before you depart – and budget accordingly. Adelaide is the cheapest capital city to rent in, with Perth not far behind.

Jobs in more rural areas can come with accommodation included, but ask for details – and even photos – before committing to traveling to very remote locations (and manage your expectations). 

Save this guide to saving money while traveling in Australia

How long does it take to get a visa?

Provided you have an up-to-date passport, you satisfy the age requirement, have enough savings to show and meet the health and character requirements, you can apply online immediately.

How long it takes to have your visa granted can depend on whether you have all the necessary documentation ready and how many people are applying. There’s an online tool to get a sense of wait times for visa processing at any given time.

What jobs can I do if I am on a working holiday visa?

Matthew Heyes of Backpacker Job Board , Australia’s largest recruitment website for working holiday makers, told Lonely Planet: “Job opportunities for working holiday makers are widespread, covering a range of different sectors. There are fruit-picking and other agricultural-based jobs, which are really popular because these roles contribute to the second- and third-year visa-extension program. The roles are also seasonal and offer the opportunity to earn well while the seasons are high.

“Other cornerstones of backpacker employment include au pair work, plus sales and marketing positions as well as other broader hospitality jobs.”

Not all working holiday makers are there for short-term work, some hope to gain experience that can help advance their careers back home.

A strong Australian dollar is another incentive for some especially if their home currency is struggling. Work hard and save well and you could go home with some major dollars in the bank – unless you're tempted to spend it all having the time of your life traveling around Australia.

Have wheels, will travel: here are some of the best road trips to do in Australia

Can I leave Australia and return with a working holiday visa?

Yes, you can leave and re-enter Australia with a working holiday visa which means as well as exploring this vast and varied land, you can also hop over to neighboring countries like New Zealand , Pacific islands such as Fiji , Tonga and Samoa , or Indonesia  to the north.

With age limits set for the working holiday visa, and the clock ticking, what are you waiting for?

This article was first published Jan 17, 2023 and updated Jun 11, 2024.

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• Jobs Abroad

10 Things to Know Before You Work & Travel in Australia

Megan Lee is an international educator, traveler, writer, & SEO. After leading study abroad p...

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Clock out quick—it's time to catch some waves!

Do you dream of work and travel in Australia? Right on! Here are a few things to know before you go deeper into planning your journey abroad.

Sunshine, sandals, and... paychecks. Working in Australia is a popular right of passage for many young expats keen for adventure and sustained world traveling. With dozens of job possibilities, thousands of opportunities, and a little thing called the Australian Work Visa program , it’s no wonder that intrepid globetrotters head south to Oz every year in droves. 

But is it all tan lines and cute animals? What should you be prepared for as you plan your own work abroad stint in Australia? We’re glad you’re asked. Traveling and working in Australia is about as close to a walk in the (very sun-soaked) park as you can get. Read on as we share our must-know tips for those considering work and travel in Australia .

Pro tips for working in Australia

1. there are a lot of different jobs to consider..

Australia’s working holiday visa programs has made it an attractive destination for practical long-term travelers for years. We’re not really sure which came first. The fun, temporary jobs abroad in a variety of sectors? OR the hoards of international travelers looking for fairly low level, low commitment jobs? It’s a real chicken or egg situation (or are we say cassowary or egg situation).

The most popular short term jobs abroad in Australia are in the hospitality (hostel employment, bartending, barista gigs) and agriculture (physical labor like harvesting crops) sectors. You can also find plentiful work as an au pair abroad and in entry-level marketing and communications positions. If you have your sights set on mid-level or advanced positions, there’s absolutely opportunities for you—it’ll just require a more polished resume and more power heels and dress shoes in your backpack than thongs (flip flops!!!). Not to worry though, because companies like Alliance Abroad or InterExchange are here to assist you through every step of the process!

2. Australia is really, really big—and diverse.

You might look at that country populating the southeast corner of your map and think, “Sure, Australia is big, but I can conquer it all pretty easily.” Think again. A flight from Perth to Brisbane—on opposing coastlines—will take you 4.5 hours. The vast Red Center takes hours (if not days) to cross by train. The tropical rainforests of the northeast give way to one of the biggest deserts on the planet. You can find shrubs and low lying grasses across the southern coastline.

Plenty of options in Oz for a more urban experience—or you can plan to go further afield & work abroad in the Red Center!

Mountains more your style? Stick to traveling and working in Australia in Sydney and the east coast. Love feeling “away from it all” (except maybe quokkas?)? There’s an entire state for you: Western Australia. Laid back, artsy, and uber cultural destinations like Melbourne are a nice respite from the dusty, sun soaked, indigenous vibes of Alice Springs and provide yet another unique Aussie experience for the engaged traveler. Moral of the story: Australia is chock full of unique locations to explore, all overflowing with a variety of cultures and customs to experience.

And if you love to spend your time off the clock by the water, you’d be hard pressed to find a destination with more mileage of beautiful coastline. Talk about a good tan!

3. You need to secure your work visa—but not your employment—in advance.

It’d be really awesome if you could just land in Oz after your direct LAX —> SYD flight and get hired ASAP, but alas, the world doesn’t work this way. You need to research and coordinate your application for a working holiday visa in advance of arriving to Australia.

On the bright side, so long as you fulfill the minimum requirements and can fork out the fees, you are close to guaranteed access to this work abroad opportunity. Further, you don’t need to secure your employment in advance, which gives you a lot of flexibility to find opportunities as they arise. However, companies exist to assist you in securing working opportunities before transitioning to Australia, making your Australian journey that much more smooth from the start! 

And one more bright side: Your visa isn’t attached to employment for a single organization, company, etc. You can move about at-will!

4. The fashion culture is unique—it's not all khaki!

Khaki is out! You might be browsing the internet in search of shades of tans and greens to stuff in your suitcase—“To look like the locals, of course!” And while we applaud your interest and efforts to be culturally sensitive, the khaki has got to go. While some might think Australia is simply removed from many common conventions, that simply is not the case. In fact, the land down under is very keen on staying with the trends. You can dress in western fashion for most employment in Australia but will want to bring additional tools or equipment if you’re planning for specific jobs (i.e. leather work gloves for hard labor).

You'll fit right into Aussie's laidback, western fashion sensibilities

Outside of work, showing off skin is fine, as are yoga pants. There’s a very laid back approach to modesty and fashion, which allows you to let your own style dictate your wardrobe.

While we’re on the subject of stereotypes that aren’t quite true: Aussies don’t actually put shrimp on the barbie. They put prawns on ‘em.

5. You’ll earn money in the Aussie dollar.

While traveling and working in Australia, you’ll be earning the local currency—Aussie dollars (or notes)! The Australian dollar is a strong, stable currency. Some jobs may pay you direct in cash, whereas others will set up direct deposits or even distribute checks for every pay period. It would be wise for you to create a system in advance for where you plan to store your income (in a local bank). If you do opt for the local bank, be sure to transfer bulk amounts of cash periodically back to your home bank account. If you do this systematically, you can avoid hefty transfer fees over time! 

6. Eating out will cost you a pretty penny.

There are some destinations where eating out is encouraged, as the food is cheap and plentiful and wonderful. There are others where affordable street food reigns and you can live like a king. And then there’s Australia, where a cup of coffee can cost you $5 and a lunchtime meal can easily be upwards of $20.

While there are certainly budget options out there (*mmm meat pies*), you should be prepared to make a game plan for feeding yourself through home cooked meals whenever possible. A life of white bread and vegemite isn’t one we’d encourage (though you should still try it!), but having some basic pasta dishes or favorite salads in your back pocket is smart planning. Ideally, these meals can be easily made in a shared kitchen!

7. You don’t have to work on land.

Work in Australia on a tourist boat or as a SCUBA instructor!

Do you dream of a life at sea? Then all aboard, baby! Dozens of vessels make daily trips for tourists to the beautiful coral reefs or nearby islands, and working on these boats can be a “salty experience” (in the right way). Become a ship hand, chef, or other crew member. Dream big, captain! 

Tourism is another area of employment that is poppin’ for international travelers. While the pay might be less than ideal, you’ll walk away rich in experience and waterlogged with new skills. Not bad for a trip abroad!

8. For professional jobs, you need to bring your A game.

If you’re looking to add some serious sauce to your resume with a full-time job in Australia, come prepared with your best foot forward. The financial centers of Sydney, Brisbane, and Canberra offer dozens of jobs in finance, banking, and business.

These jobs are incredibly competitive and will require you to have that extra “oomph” to hire you instead of a local. You should treat these lines of work with the same earnest and professionalism that you would afford to an application in your home country.

9. You should take your job seriously, no matter what you do!

Finding jobs abroad in Australia is NOT synonymous with backpacking and traveling in Australia. While you can absolutely adventure with your new mates and see some pretty amazing sites (Uluru is a *must*), your focus should remain on the commitments you make as an employee to a company.

True meaningful travelers follow through with their work and do their best to integrate into the local communities, both in their workplace and beyond. They add value rather than only extract, and part of doing this is holding yourself accountable to the job that you have taken. This doesn’t mean that you have to stay forever or that there aren’t bummer jobs out there on the market that you should consider leaving, but we do recommend that you keep your intentions top of mind with every decision you make as expats in Australia.

Don’t give us (traveling Americans and other nationals) a bad rap in Oz, pretty please?

10. There are organizations that can make working abroad in Australia even easier.

Work in a hostel in exchange for free room & board! There are plenty of paid jobs abroad in Australia to choose from—and even more organizations out there that can help.

One way to approach working abroad in Australia is to wing it. Arrive in-country with your work visa, head to that hostel you pre-booked online, and start to network and get a lay of the land. You might end up getting a little desperate after a few weeks with no bites to your resume, and end up taking a job you *did not* envision for yourself (law office secretary?).

For example, if you want to bypass the potential stress of low quality employment, consider hiring an organization, such as Alliance Abroad or BUNAC. They'll secure and coordinate beneficial employment on your behalf (fo' real!). This not only takes the unexpected out of the equation but can hook you up with ancillary services like on-the-ground support or even instant community with other program participants. 

Immediate paycheck, immediate friends, and a person to turn to if you get in a pickle. Not bad if you ask us! This can be the final notch on your to-do list to an amazing experience traveling and working in Australia.

Next steps to work and travel in Australia

Now that you have the inside scoop and know where many would-be expats fail in their job hunt, it's time to choose who you want to work abroad through! Choosing a work abroad program isn't as hard as it sounds, especially if you follow these steps:

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should work abroad is paramount. Have a short list of Australian cities that sound ideal for your goals. Don't let your experience (or lack thereof!) hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Pick your job. Do some reflection on what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, and which type of company or organization—and role within—would best benefit from your time and energy.
• Choose from the best work abroad programs in Australia. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and how the project's needs match your skills. Some programs may even share contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right job program for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Learning how to save for jobs abroad is essential prior to your travels!
• Get prepared! Preparing to work and move abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days til departure number dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for.

Run quick to these temporary jobs in Australia

Get in touch with your wild side while doing farm work in Australia.

The Australian work visa is a magical ticket to adventure in one of the coolest—not to mention the oldest—places on earth. Wash your hands in the world’s oldest river after a long day of apple picking. Share a smile with a weary traveler as you show them their room in the hostel. Tag along with on your new au pair family’s vacation to the Whitsundays. Give a powerful presentation on potential earnings to high brow executives.

Whatever your style and goals for working abroad in Australia, remember this: vegemite and cheese is a delicious combo. We mean, um, just keep swimming. ;-) You’ll have the time of your life while working in Australia!

Get Matched with 5 Work Abroad Programs in Australia for FREE

This article was written with help from Alliance Abroad . Alliance Abroad is a cultural exchange organization that specializes in offering a variety of programs that enable individuals to work and travel in Australia anywhere from six months to four years!

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Work abroad to enhance your CV by gaining unique experience on your gap year or career break. Showing future employers that you have not only lived overseas but committed to a paid job will set you ahead of everybody else. Most of our paid work programmes run for 3-6 months. Some people even choose to work abroad for a year in multiple jobs. By working overseas and earning money, you can fund further travelling and experience what the world has to offer. If you are stuck for gap year ideas and the thought of volunteering for an extended period of time leaves you feeling anxious, a paid work programme overseas could be just what you are looking for to give you that financial security. Want paid work in the conservation sector? Oyster have teamed up with our friends at  Conservation Careers  who support people to find paid work in conservation following study or a career change. You can add their fantastic and flexible course to your volunteering trip with Oyster. Your Oyster experience will help add interest to your conservation resume as an eye catching addition to your job applications in future. The Conservation Career Kick-Starter: Start your career in wildlife conservation with our unique programme of training, support community & jobs.

RURAL: paid horse work and Sydney tour

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Up to 13 nights orientation available and 12months job support.

• For full support opt for the horsemanship plus 8 day welcome package and job set up in Sydney .
• If you are in country or have your work admin ready to go, no problem! Take the fast track 8 night programme on the horsemanship course and job to follow.

This is a unique equine experience for paid work abroad found nowhere else. A once in a lifetime opportunity for those passionate about horses. Receive a high level of teaching from our very qualified team, who will ‘Australianize’ your existing horse skills and set you up with a professional, paid job in the Australian equine industry.

Price from: £1699

Price Guide

£1699 Sydney Fast track: 8 night Sydney orientation and straight to job

£2460 Full package 13 nights Sydney orientation, full training in Queensland and job

*Sydney orientation includes 8 days tourist week and bonus city work membership.

Eligibility: From reciprocal countries eligible for a 417 or 462 visa. Driving licence required. Horse ability: intermediate to advanced.

Age : 18-35

Whistler, Blackcomb Ski Instructor Jobs, Courses & Training

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Qualify as a CSIA Level 1 ski instructor in Whistler Blackcomb and join a world-renowned ski school, teaching children how to ski for the season. You get a job and staff accommodation for the whole season and get to enjoy the breath-taking scenery  and diverse cultural scene of Whistler Village.

This is the perfect opportunity to spend every day on some of the best slopes in the world suitable for all skill levels. While others typically require a Level 2 CSIA qualification to apply for Whistler Blackcomb positions, with Oyster, you’ll leap straight into an instructor role as a freshly qualified CSIA Level 1 graduate!

Price from: £5495

Includes CSIA Level 1 exam and training from Level 4 instructors, plus accommodation costs for the first 3 weeks (duration of the course).

The season runs from mid-November until mid-April each season.

Return flights from London can be added for an additional £900.

Austria Ski Instructor Course With Guaranteed Job

Join our 4 or 6 week Anwarter ski instructor course in Austria and have a guaranteed job for the rest of the season.

Our course is based in Kaprun, Zell am See, and you could then work anywhere in Austria as an instructor.

Price from: £4355

Prices based on self-catered shared accommodation.

Get in contact for more information and options.

Train and teach English in Vietnam

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Head to dynamic Vietnam – a country rising in popularity with the traveling community. Take part in cultural and sightseeing activities, gain a TESOL qualification and then teach in Vietnam for up to a year!

Price from: £1995

£1995 for the 120 hour TESOL course and paid teaching job

If you already have a 120 hour TESOL or TEFL, you can join the cultural orientation week and then get a paid teaching job straight away for £1395

AUCKLAND: paid city work and orientation tour

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Discover the North Island’s finest offerings on an unforgettable stain Auckland and a 3-day Bay of Islands Adventure. Witness dolphins and marine wonders, explore the iconic Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island, and unwind at the serene Otehei Bay and Paihia Beaches. Our Auckland team stands ready to assist, from facilitating essential tasks like setting up bank accounts, tax file numbers, and SIM cards to providing insightful presentations on job hunting. With 12 months of ongoing support for paid work and abundant guidance for your travel endeavours, your journey promises not only employment opportunities but also countless moments of joy and exploration.

Price from: £995

A full orientation week and support with jobs for up to one year.

Starts every Thursday.

Whistler Ski Season Jobs

Experience the buzz of working in the heart of a busy snow school as a member of support staff for Whistler Kids, or as part of the mountain operations team. Depending on your experience, we have a variety of roles available. Choose from being a kitchen assistant, preparing meals for the students and instructors; work as a den master, or as an Outdoor Ranger supervising the outdoor play facilities.

Whether it’s your first time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.

Price from: £2195

Hospitality Jobs in Whistler With Accommodation

Front of House Experience : Work in one of Whistler Blackcomb’s most prestigious hotels or spas for a whole winter season. The work is tough but the pay is good and the days off are awesome! If you have hotel or hospitality work experience, use your skills to work in Whistler. All of the jobs are in Whistler Village and everything is within walking distance of the ski lifts. On days off, getting up on the mountain is a must!

Back of House Experience : This year we are also opening up the Chef and Kitchen team opportunities – if you have experience working in kitchens, or have just finished working in a culinary specific qualification or internship, you can join the teams at the one of the best 5* resorts in North America.

Join us in Whistler’s top hotels and spas for an amazing kitchen adventure! Picture yourself cooking up a storm in the heart of this famous ski spot. From creating tasty menus to working behind the scenes, you’ll be part of the action. Get ready for a thrilling ski season where your kitchen skills meet snow-filled fun. This is your chance to level up your cooking game with a big-name brand while enjoying the mountain buzz. Come join our team for a tasty journey that’s as exciting as it gets!

The season runs from late-November until mid-May each season.

Gain a TESOL and teach English in Thailand

Head to Hua Hin or Chiang Mai in Thailand and gain an internationally accredited 120 hour TESOL/TEFL qualification which can be used to teach abroad. Want to live and teach in Thailand? Use your qualification to gain a job in a reputable school and experience life living the beautiful ‘Land of Smiles’.

Price from: £1895

£1895 for the 120 hour TESOL course and paid teaching job

If you already have a 120 hour TESOL or TEFL, you can join the cultural orientation week and then get a paid teaching job straight away for £1295

SYDNEY: paid city work and orientation tour

Sunny Sydney is the perfect place to live and work for up to a year, with options to extend for two or three years on an amazing work scheme. Start with a fantastic 7-day orientation programme, including visits to local attractions, and receive full support in setting up your admin. Find paid work quickly through our exclusive online job database. Prefer another city? Options to start in Melbourne and Perth are also available!

Surf camp for second week for upgrade of £499

Available for a minimum of 3 months and up to one year.

Options to extend to 2nd and 3rd year

Banff Ski Season Jobs

Earn money working full-time in a hotel in the resort town of Banff. Expect an entry level position, such as housekeeping. There are certainly worse places to do this job, on a tough day at work, you can look out of the window and see the awesome Rocky Mountains. On your days off, you can be hitting the slopes!

The season runs from late-November until late-May each season.

Return flights from London can be added for an additional cost.

Banff Summer Hospitality Jobs

Spend your summer living and working in the popular resort town of Banff in Alberta. You’ll be in the heart of all the action that Banff National Park has to offer. Make the most of your days off with all of the hiking, biking and water sports that are available. How are you going to afford this for a summer season? This is where the guaranteed job comes in!

The season runs from late-May until early-September each summer. Longer stays are possible.

OUTBACK: orientation and paid farm work

Experience life as a jackeroo or jillaroo by completing an introductory farm work in Australia course in the vast and beautiful outback. Learn to ride dirt bikes and horses, muster and work with cattle, pick up fencing skills, use chainsaws and operate tractors. Oh, and did we mention you are guaranteed a paid job at the end of the programme?

Price from: £2199

Oyster’s Outback farm Programme includes 4 days in Brisbane, a full 5 day agricultural training programme with food and accommodation and up to a year’s worth of jobs.

Start any Thursday of the year except the 4 weeks over the Christmas/ Wet season period.

Why work abroad?

Why not combine travelling with one of our working abroad programs? This is a great way to experience what a country and culture is all about by living and working as a local. Oyster offers a variety of paid work abroad opportunities in different locations around the world.

Our paid working gap year programs include teaching abroad in Thailand or China and gaining a TESOL qualification. We can help you gain a hospitality or city job in either Canada, Australia or New Zealand or help you to become a paid ski or snowboard instructor in one of the worlds’ top ski resorts. For the outdoorsy types, we offer amazing rural farm work and horse work opportunities in the Australian Outback.

The benefits to our live and work abroad programs means you can earn money to finance your tourist and travelling activities. This may mean utilising the amazing surroundings and pursuits in the area you are living, or saving it for expeditions further a field such as getting involved in marine conservation or animal welfare projects.

All these experiences will aid in making your CV look more interesting and desirable to future employers and universities by showing off your paid work abroad experience. Gap year work abroad helps demonstrate that you have the maturity and independence to live away from home and that you can commit to a job or a course. Whilst immersing yourself in a new culture, you may even develop skills in learning a new language.  Don’t forget, you will make loads of life long friends from all over the world!

Oyster Worldwide can help you when it comes to looking for jobs abroad and in some cases assist with organising holiday visas. To help keep costs down even further, some employers include food and accommodation when you work abroad.

If you are not convinced yet, check out our top 5 reasons for working abroad . We have over 15 work abroad programs for young adults.

Learn more about how we select employers to work with on our paid work policy page.

Want paid work in the conservation sector? Oyster have teamed up with our friends at  Conservation Careers   who support people to find paid work in conservation following study or a career change. You can add their fantastic and flexible course to your volunteering trip with Oyster. Your Oyster experience will help add interest to your conservation resume as an eye catching addition to your job applications in future.

The Conservation Career Kick-Starter: Start your career in wildlife conservation with our unique programme of training, support community & jobs.

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Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

Australia working holiday visa (subclass 417).

Backpackers Paradise, Bondi Beach, NSW

The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is a visa for young adults who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to 3 years. It is a visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between Australia and eligible countries.

You may apply for up to 3 Working Holiday visas. They are simply known as: first. second, and third Working Holiday visas. Each of the visas allow you to stay for 12 months each.

You must be offshore to apply for your first Working Holiday Visa.

Employers seeking to sponsor or hire foreign workers can visit our Australian Employer Services page.

Working Holiday Visas

First working holiday visa, second working holiday visa, third working holiday visa, to apply for a first working holiday (temporary) visa (subclass 417), you must:.

• Be outside of Australia when you apply;
• Have not previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (Temporary) Visa (subclass 462);
• Hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia;
• Be aged 18 to 30 (inclusive)

Note: Canadian, French and Irish citizens aged 18 to 35 years old (inclusive);

• Be a genuine visitor who wants to have a holiday in Australia;
• Have enough money to support yourself on a working holiday (about AUD 5000);
• Have enough money to buy a return or onward travel ticket at the end of your stay; and
• Not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay.

You must hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia.

Eligible countries are:

• Republic of Cyprus
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
• Republic of Ireland
• Republic of Korea
• Netherlands
• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

To apply for a second Working Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 417), you must:

• have complied with all the conditions on your first Working Holiday visa
• have not previously held more than one Working Holiday visa
• be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens who can be 18 to 35 (inclusive)
• have completed three months of specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa

Three months (to qualify for second visa)

Specified work.

'Three months' of specified work means a period equivalent to three 'calendar' months, which is taken to be a minimum period of 88 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days during your period of employment.

To meet the three months specified work requirement you must actually work for the same number of days that a full-time employee would normally work in a three month (88 calendar day) period.

To apply for a second Working Holiday visa, you must have already completed three months of specified work in regional Australia. This specified work must have been completed while on your first Working Holiday visa.

Approved industries for specified work include:

Plant and animal cultivation.

• the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops
• pruning and trimming vines and trees directly associated with the cultivation and commercial sale of plant produce, such as fruit and nut crops (commercial horticultural activities).

Note: This must be your primary employment task and general garden maintenance is not eligible.

• general maintenance crop work
• cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts
• immediate processing of plant products
• maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce, including natural increase

Note: Maintaining animals for tourism or recreational purposes is not eligible.

• immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning
• manufacturing dairy produce from raw material.

Examples of eligible specified work in plant and animal cultivation:

• picking fruits on an orchard
• feeding and herding cattle on a farm
• horse breeding and stud farming
• conservation and environmental reforestation work
• zoo work involving plant or animal cultivation

Examples of ineligible specified work in plant and animal cultivation:

• working as a nanny on a farm
• wine-making, brewing and distillation
• manufacturing of smallgoods
• retail of dairy or butchery products
• giving wine tastings at a vineyard

Fishing and pearling

Tree farming and felling.

Work undertaken in the areas of plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, and tree farming and felling must be described in the list above to meet the specified work requirement.

• coal mining
• oil and gas extraction
• metal ore mining
• construction material mining
• non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying exploration
• mining support services.

Examples of ineligible specified work in mining:

• performing specialised social science services (such as anthropological and archaeological assessments) for mining companies
• cooking/catering on a mine site
• cleaning the interior of mine complexes or buildings

Construction

• residential building construction
• non-residential building construction
• heavy and civil engineering construction
• land development and site preparation services
• building structure services
• building installation services
• building completion services
• other construction services

Examples of eligible specified work in construction:

• landscaping the grounds of a construction/house site
• painting the interior/exterior of new buildings
• erecting fences on a construction site
• scaffolding

Examples of ineligible specified work in construction:

• ship/boat building
• manufacturing materials used on a construction site (such as concrete or steel)
• town planning or architecture

The Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) provides further detail about eligible work in mining and construction . Work undertaken in the mining and construction sectors must appear in the ANZSIC division for these sectors to meet the specified work requirement.

Bushfire recovery work

• construction, farming, or any other work in association with recovery or restitution of land, property, farm animals or wildlife
• providing support services or assistance to people living, working or volunteering in the affected areas.

Examples of eligible specified work in bushfire recovery:

• re-building fences destroyed in a bushfire affected community
• caring for wildlife in a bushfire affected community
• support work for volunteer organisations assisting victims of bushfires
• demolition of buildings, trench digging, land clearing and earth moving
• residential and non-residential construction or renovation/repair, including of roads, footpaths, bridges, parking lots, fencing, railways, dams, irrigation systems, sewage and storm water drainage systems

Examples of ineligible specified work in bushfire recovery:

• hospitality, cleaning or administrative work in a business that was not damaged by bushfire
• construction or renovation work in an area that is not a declared bushfire affected area
• work carried out on or before 31 July 2019

Critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors

• medical treatment, nursing, contact tracing, testing and research
• support services including cleaning of medical and health care facilities and equipment

Examples of eligible specified work:

• providing care to COVID-19 patients in a hospital
• research relating to COVID-19 treatment
• cleaning at a COVID-19 testing centre

Examples of ineligible work:

• general administration or cleaning work that is not in response to COVID-19
• selling personal protective equipment

To apply for a third Working Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 417), you must:

• have previously held 2 subclass 417 visas in Australia. If you haven't, see the first Working Holiday visa or second Working Holiday visa
• be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens who can be 18 to 35 years old (inclusive)
• have undertaken, from 1 July 2019, 6 months of specified work while on your second Working Holiday visa, or a bridging visa in certain circumstances

Six months (to qualify for a third visa)

'Six months' of specified work is taken to mean a period equivalent to the six shortest 'calendar' months of the year, that is, a minimum period of 179 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days during your period of employment.

To meet the six months' specified work requirement, you must complete the same number of normal work days or shifts as a full-time employee in that role and industry would normally work in a six month (179 calendar day) period.

You do not need to do your six months of specified work all in one go, or all with one employer. You are free to spread the work over the period of your stay in Australia. You can also undertake specified work for longer than the required minimum of six months.

You cannot complete the six month specified work requirement for a third Working Holiday (subclass 417) in a total period of less than six calendar months.

All of your six months of specified work must have been undertaken:

• on or after 1 July 2019; and
• your second Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa; or
• after your first Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa expired, a bridging visa that was granted before your first Working Holiday visa expired when you applied for your second Working Holiday visa.

Work undertaken while you held any of the following visas is not eligible:

• your first Working Holiday visa; or
• any other kind of visa, for example a student visa; or
• a bridging visa granted while you held any other kind of visa.

Regional areas

Bushfire affected areas.

Bushfire recovery work carried out after 31 July 2019 eligible specified work for the purpose of a second or third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa. View the list of postcodes .

We provide the support and advice you need to move forward with your Working Holiday Visa application in Australia.

If you are a current client and have an active ongoing matter with us, DO NOT submit a booking request or enquiry through this page. Please email your Registered Migration Agent and/or Legal Practitioner or case manager directly.

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This Is Australia can determine your eligibility for a work visa and provide you professional advice on the documentation, fees and submission process. Begin your pathway to permanent residency by contacting our migration agents via our booking form  or call our Queensland office on (07) 5592 0755 .

Related Visas

Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

Covid Visa (Subclass 408)

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Are you a skilled professional who wants to live and work in australia.

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What is a working holiday?

Working overseas is possible! Combine your desire to explore a new country while supporting yourself (and your travels) financially in the process. A working holiday is a cultural exchange concept which allows you to work abroad on a special, government-issued ‘working holiday visa’. You’ll earn a local income to fund your travels and have the freedom to explore the country for longer than the average tourist - some visas can even be extended for up to two years.

You’ll have plenty of downtime and extra cash to freely tour the country, party hard, try out new hobbies, and even visit nearby countries if you wish. It’s the perfect opportunity to travel, live like a local, and immerse yourself in a different culture. International work experience can even be added to your resumé/CV and will for sure boost your confidence and impress future employers! There’s nothing to lose and so much to gain on a Working Holiday from making interesting friends to growing both personally and professionally. 

Highlights of a working holiday with Global

Land a job before you fly from the comfort of your own home

Dedicated Trip Coordinator to make sure you are fully prepared

Stay abroad long-term to fund your travels along with epic days and nights out

Meet new friends from all over the world

Grow both personally and professionally

Impress future employers with international work experience on your resumé/CV

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We understand that the unexpected happens sometimes. Can’t travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.

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My working holiday in uk journey so far with bianca s., the great canadian roadtrip: besties, baes and a car named betsy., 5 reasons the gold coast is the best working holiday destination.

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How to Travel and Work in Australia

Last Updated: October 30, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Deirdre Nero . Deirdre D. Nero is an Immigration & Nationality Law Attorney and the Founder of NERO Immigration Law, P.L., based in Miami, Florida. With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in business-based immigration, family-based immigration, and naturalization. She earned her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law and her BA from Florida State University. In 2014, Deirdre won Business Immigration Lawyer of the Year–Florida in the Global Mobility & Immigration Awards given by Acquisition International. She’s also earned an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which annually rates lawyers on their abilities and ethics. Additionally, South Florida Legal Guide named her a Top Lawyer in South Florida several years in a row. In 2019, Deirdre was honored to receive the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award at the 2019 AXA Businesswoman of the Year Awards by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the Merrick in the Making Award by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In 2019 and 2021, Deirdre was named to Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 143,665 times.

Australia is a popular destination for expatriates. Many people enjoy the climate, culture and communities enough to seek temporary or permanent employment in the country. If you want to work in Australia, you will need to find an employment scheme that sponsors your work visa. There are different options available, depending upon your nationality. On your visa application, you will be awarded points based on your qualifications, which will then determine if you get a visa. This process can take anywhere from 3 months to 18 months, so you may want to get a travel visa to visit Australia in the meantime. Find out how to travel and work in Australia.

Australia Travel Options

• Any website that ends in .gov is an official government website—you can trust the information on there.

• This visa will cost $20. You can apply at www.eta.immi.gov.au. If you currently hold another type of visa, or you are applying after an ETA is expired, you may have to appear in person at an Australian consulate to reapply.

• Visit www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/evisitor.htm to start an eVisitor application. Charges will apply.

• Visit www.ecom.immi.gov.au/visas/app/uu?form=VSS to apply for a tourist visa. Some nationalities are not able to submit an online application. In this case, you will need to visit an Australian consulate.

• People from a specific list of countries, including the UK and many European countries, should apply for a subclass 415 visa to gain short term employment in Australia. [6] X Research source With this visa, you can stay and work for up to 12 months, study for up to 4 months and work during this period. Visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/how-to-apply.htm to get applications and learn how to complete them.
• People from various Asian and South American countries and the United States can apply for a subclass 462 visa. [7] X Research source The restrictions on this visa are similar to the subclass 415 visa; however, you can only work with 1 employer for a period of up to 6 months. Visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/usa/how-to-apply.htm to download applications and learn how to apply.

Australian Work Options

• Contact a recruiter in Australia to get help with finding a position. You can find recruiters through Internet searches, and you may be required to pay for their services. This is a good idea if you have a highly specialized profession that is listed on the SOL.
• Register for a free "work in Australia" online job board. These sites ask you to sign in and allow you to look for job boards.

• Visit www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule1.pdf to read the most up to date SOL.
• Do research on international companies that have bases in Australia. Applying for work in 1 of these companies may allow you to go through training in Australia or work in an Australian office.
• Search for applicable jobs in large Australian companies. Very large companies are more likely to hire international employees because they can afford the visa costs. Keep in contact with all of these companies and search often for new jobs.

• If you are planning a business visit, you will need to apply for an ETA or eVisitor visitor visa before being granted a subclass 956, 977 of 651 visa. Visit www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/business-visit-visa-options.htm to find out how to apply.
• You will need to apply for a short stay business visa if you are not eligible for an ETA or eVisitor via. Visit the link above to apply for a subclass 456 visa. [11] X Research source

• Visit www.immi.gov.au/skillevents/upcoming-events.htm to view a list of these events.

Community Q&A

Things You'll Need

• Valid passport
• eVisitor visa
• Application fees
• "Skills Australia Needs" recruitment event
• Skilled Occupation List
• Business visa
• Employer sponsored visa
• Skilled independent visa

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about working abroad, check out our in-depth interview with Deirdre Nero .

• ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/how-to-apply.html
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/repealed-visas/foreign-government-agency-visa-subclass-415
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/learn-about-sponsoring
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/repealed-visas/business-short-stay-visa-subclass-456
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189

About this article

If you want travel and work in Australia, apply for a working holiday visa, which allows you to travel and supplement your income with work for up to 12 months. Next, find an employer to sponsor your visa by contacting an Australia recruiter, or register for a free online job board. If you’re a professional working in a field such as medicine, engineering and computers, consult the skilled occupation list (SOL). Search for jobs in large companies, since they can afford the visa costs. For more information on traveling and working in Australia, including visa options for visits shorter than 12 months, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Beyond Borders

Australian Work Visa Guide for 2024

Immigration & Life Abroad

Last updated on September 17th, 2024 at 09:46 am

As a large country with a relatively small population, Australia depends on new arrivals from overseas to keep its economy moving, and here at Remitly , we have many customers who have moved internationally to the land Down Under.

Some only stay in the country for a few years, while others pursue an Australian work visa with a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship.

The country’s robust economy and high quality of life make it an attractive destination for many immigrants. But Australia’s work visas have detailed eligibility requirements and conditions for employment.

Before moving to Australia , be sure to get all of your paperwork in order and apply for the right visa for your situation.

Types of Australian work visas

Each visa has its own application fee, processing time, and eligibility requirements.

Short-stay work visas

Short-stay work visas are for those who want to take on temporary or seasonal jobs in Australia, such as agriculture and hospitality, before returning home.

The Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) allows applicants from eligible countries to work in Australia for up to one year. You must be between the ages of 18 and 30 when you apply (or up to 35 for some countries, such as France and Canada ) to qualify for the holiday visa.

A similar visa, the Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) , covers an additional set of countries, including the U.S., China, and Singapore. Depending on which passport you hold, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility requirements to obtain this type of holiday visa, such as:

• Having functional English language skills
• Having enough money in your bank account to live on while you’re in Australia and to depart Australia (around $5,000 AUD)
• Having a secondary or tertiary education certificate (varies by country)

These visas don’t require you to have a job lined up in advance or be sponsored by an Australian employer, but you’ll be limited to six months of work with each employer.

You may be able to apply for a second and even a third visa if you perform certain types of work during your first year in Australia. This includes tourism and hospitality work in remote regions, as well as bushfire recovery and construction work.

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream is another short-stay visa. It allows residents of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and several other countries to undertake seasonal or temporary work for an eligible employer.

This visa costs $335 AUD and may be granted for up to four years, depending on the type of employment.

Another short-stay option outside of the holiday visa programs is the Temporary Work (Specialist Short Stay) visa. Good for up to six months, the work visa is for people with highly specialized skills that an Australian employer needs and can’t reasonably find in Australia.

The Specialist Short Stay work visa costs $405 AUD, and you can only complete the visa application before coming to Australia.

Holiday visa applications and other short-term visa applications are usually processed faster than other Australian work visas. Processing times for the 417 Working Holiday visa range from just one day to 44 days, while 90% of Pacific Australia Labour Mobility visas are processed in two weeks.

Temporary work visas

Temporary work visas are more complex than short-stay visas and typically require you to have a specific skill set or sponsorship from an employer.

These visas may allow you to bring your family to Australia with you and could lead to permanent residency if the requirements for a permanent visa are met.

The Temporary Skill Shortage visa category (Subclass 482) costs $1,455 to $3,305 AUD to apply and allows skilled workers to stay in Australia for anywhere from two years up to five years.

You’ll need to have training or work experience in a career on the skilled occupation list , including accountants, cooks, and chiropractors. How long the visa will remain in effect depends on your nominated occupation.

Skilled workers who have recently completed their studies have additional visa options, such as the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) . This visa is for international students who have studied in Australia or overseas in specific occupations. The visa application costs $1,895 AUD, with five to 17 months processing times.

Australia also has visa programs for skilled workers willing to live outside major cities. The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) has visa fees starting at $4,640 AUD and is valid for up to five years.

You’ll need to live in a “ designated regional area ” and can apply for permanent residency after three years.

Permanent work visas

In some cases, you may be eligible for a permanent visa without spending time in Australia as a temporary resident first.

An Australian employer must nominate skilled workers with at least three years of experience, undergo a skills assessment, and qualify for the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) .

The Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) requires nomination by a government agency, while the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) doesn’t require a nomination at all.

The skilled visas are only available to applicants under 45 years of age. You’ll need to submit an expression of interest on the SkillSelect platform and earn at least 65 points based on factors like your age, English language skills, and work experience.

Other permanent visa options include the Global Talent Visa Program for “highly skilled professionals” and the Business Innovation and Investment visa .

If you aren’t sure which Australian work visa to apply for or whether you meet the visa requirements, consider seeking a migration agent or a short-stay specialist.

How to apply for an Australian work visa

The Australian immigration system uses an online portal to handle visa applications. In most cases, you can apply for a visa online and receive your visa by email. Since processing times can vary widely from one visa to the next, be sure to prepare for your Australian visa application and submit it well before your intended arrival.

For a short-stay work visa , be prepared to upload documents such as:

• A valid passport
• Your work history and education
• Proof of sufficient funds in your bank account
• Proof of English-language proficiency (if applicable)
• Letter of support from your country’s government (if applicable)

You may need to go through additional steps for long-stay visas to show that you meet the Australian government’s health and character requirements. This might include:

• A medical check
• A police certificate from your country of residence
• An interview at the nearest Australian embassy or consulate

Once you have an Australian work visa, your prospective employer can verify it with the Department of Home Affairs using an online portal.

Who needs a visa to work in Australia?

If you’re coming to Australia from overseas and you aren’t already an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you’ll need a valid visa to enter the country and work there.

The type of visa depends on the purpose and duration of your trip.

Residents of certain countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) , which allows you to visit Australia for up to three months at a time for tourism and limited business activities, such as going to a conference.

However, if you’re performing any kind of paid work, you’ll need a visa that allows you to undertake that kind of employment.

The exception is if you’re a New Zealand citizen with a New Zealand passport; in that case, you can live and work in Australia indefinitely and will be granted a Special Category visa (Subclass 444) upon arrival.

Another scenario is if you’re the spouse or partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident. You’ll still need to apply for a partner visa —which may be pricier than a work visa—but you won’t need to apply for any additional work permits.

Student visa holders also don’t need to apply for a work permit, but there are limits on the number of hours you can work per week.

Australia work visa FAQs

Still have questions about the Australian work visa programs or immigrating to Australia? Read on for answers to some of the most common visa questions.

What is permanent residency?

Permanent residency is an immigration status that allows a person who isn’t a citizen of Australia to legally remain in the country indefinitely. People who hold this status are known as Australian permanent residents.

Can you work in Australia permanently with a work visa?

The permanent visas outlined above provide a pathway to permanent residency. If you apply for and are granted a permanent visa, you can typically remain in Australia indefinitely, provided that you remain eligible.

With a temporary visa, applying to become a permanent resident may be possible after you have lived in the country for a few years. The rules vary for each type of visa, so check the information on the official page for the visa you’re applying for to learn more.

In most cases, short-stay visas like those issued through the working holiday program aren’t a path to permanent residency. If you wish to find a job and remain permanently in Australia, you’ll likely need to return home and apply for a permanent visa.

What is an approved Australian employer?

An approved Australian employer is a business that has been granted permission from the Australian government to sponsor visa applicants. For many visas, you’ll need to be hired by an approved employer for a permanent or temporary job before starting the application process.

How can I check what the latest visa requirements are?

The Australian government frequently updates the requirements for and fees associated with work visas. Check the official website via the links above or contact your closest Australian embassy or consulate for the latest information.

Where can I find a complete list of skilled occupations?

The Department of Home Affairs website lists all of the skilled occupations. You can access the list here .

What is the age limit for the Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417)?

The age limit for the working holiday visa program varies by country of origin. In most cases, the age limit is 30 or 35. You can find out the specific guidelines for the working holiday visa for your country here .

Can my family members stay in Australia with me if I am eligible for a work visa?

Certain family members can typically relocate to Australia with you, depending on the type of visa you apply for.

Normally, Australia allows the spouse or partner of the applicant and their dependents to apply through the family member visa program. Keep in mind that, in most cases, all of your family members will need to fill out an application and pay a fee.

Can I legally work and stay in Australia if I’m self-employed?

Yes, you can legally work in Australia as a self-employed person if you obtain a visa. Two streams are available for self-employment: the Subclass 132 Business Talent Visa and the Subclass 188 Business Innovator Visa . Follow the links to learn more about the eligibility requirements.

When and how do I pay the fees for a visa?

With most visas, you will need to pay the required fees when you submit your application. You can do this online via credit card, PayPal, UnionPay, or BPAY. Learn more about fee payments here .

More about Australia and other countries:

• 4 Things to Do Before Moving to Australia (and 4 After You Arrive)
• The Expat’s Complete Guide to Moving to Australia
• The H-2B Work Visa in 2024: A Guide for Immigrants and Foreign Workers

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Working and volunteering in Australia

Planning a working holiday in Australia? Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Work and Volunteer in Australia frequently asked questions

If you intend to work while you are on holiday in Australia, you must apply for the correct visa before you arrive. The Australian Government has strict laws regarding employment of non-citizens and penalties for breaking the law. This applies to all types of full-time, part-time, casual, shift and voluntary work. Visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website for more information on the types of visas that legally allow visitors to obtain employment while in Australia.  

Australia offers a Working Holiday Maker program that allows young adults from participating countries to have an extended holiday in Australia and earn money through short-term employment. There are two types of Working Holiday Maker visas: Working Holiday visa ( Subclass 417 ) and Work and Holiday visa ( Subclass 462 ). The visa you should apply for depends on your country of residence. These types of visas allow you to stay and work in Australia for up to 12 months. 

Yes. You must be aged between 18 and 30 years (or 18 and 35 in some cases) at the time of applying for your visa. To find out the eligible age for your country of residence, visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website.

Work and Holiday Visa ( subclass 462 ) For visitors holding passports from Argentina, Austria, Ecuador, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, the USA and Vietnam.

Working Holiday Visa ( subclass 417 ) For visitors holding passports from Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK.

There is currently a non-refundable charge of AUD $635 per visa, depending on the date of your application. This is subject to change, so be sure to check the Department of Home Affairs website for the latest information.

Once you are granted a Working Holiday Maker visa, you will have 12 months to arrive in Australia. You are allowed to stay for a maximum of 12 months from the date that you first enter the country. With the completion of specified work, you may be eligible to extend your stay in Australia with a second (or even a third) Working Holiday Maker visa. See below for more information on the requirements for second and third-year visas.

Yes. You can leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid.

You can undertake temporary employment in Australia for the duration of your visa with any one employer. You can also study for up to four months. These rules are subject to change, visit  the Department of Home Affairs  website to view the latest updates.

A  WHM visa  only lasts 12 months, but if you meet certain criteria, you can apply for a second or third Working Holiday Maker visa and stay for up to three years. Most applicants will need to complete specified work requirements to be eligible, such as farm work in parts of rural or northern Australia. Learn more about how to stay in Australia for a second or third year.

There are many different industries that are approved for specified work for a  417  visa and a  462  visa. This work must be completed in regional Australia and excludes Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Wollongong, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth.

There are heavy penalties if your Working Holiday visa expires and you have not left Australia or applied for another visa. You may also not be allowed to return to Australia for a period of time. Get  more information  on the options available to you if your visa is expiring or has expired.

There may be options if you wish to stay temporarily or permanently in Australia at the end of your working holiday. Explore visa options for  working in Australia .

The visa you should apply for depends on your country of residence.

See the above list to see if your country is eligible for a Working Holiday Maker visa. Get detailed information on the requirements for this visa as well as instructions on how to apply  here .

If you are a resident of a country not included in the Working Holiday Maker program, click  here  to find out which visa subclass you should apply for.

A Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) is generally processed within 14 days. Processing times may be affected by factors such as the completeness of applications lodged and additional checks performed by visa processing officers, such as those relating to health and character.

You can do any kind of lawful work on your working holiday visa including full-time, part-time, casual, shift and voluntary work. There are a number of industries around Australia that regularly hire Working Holiday makers. See what  types of jobs  are most common for Working Holiday makers around Australia.

There are several avenues to explore when it comes to finding a job in Australia, from online job marketplaces to full work programs that will help you to transition with ease. Learn about some of the ways to find Working Holiday jobs .

You can study for up to four months during your 12-month visa. The working holiday programs are not suitable for those seeking to study full-time in Australia. If your primary reason for coming to Australia is to study you should ask about a  student visa , which may better suit your needs.

For your Working Holiday Maker visa application you must demonstrate that you have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. As a general rule, about AUD $5,000 is considered sufficient. You should also have a return or onward ticket for your departure, or the funds for a fare to depart Australia.

Wages in Australia are generally high when compared with other countries. The current national minimum wage is $21.38 per hour or $812.60 per 38 hour week (before tax).

All employees working in Australia have rights and protections at work. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) can help you understand your rights while working in Australia. Their service is free.

The FWO has information in  30 different languages , and  storyboards  (short videos) in various languages to assist you to understand your rights and obligations in Australian workplaces.

The FWO also has tailored information for working in the  fast food, restaurant and café  industry and the  horticulture  industry. Select your preferred language from the drop-down menu available at the top of each page.

You must be paid money for the work you do in Australia. The amount you need to be paid can depend on your age, duties and hours of work. Use the FWO’s  Pay Calculator  to make sure you have the right pay rates.

A pay slip must be given to you each time you are paid. Visit the FWO’s  pay slips  page to find out what should be included on yours.

Make sure you keep a record of the hours you work, the places you work and the type of work you are doing. Use a diary or download the FWO’s  Record My Hours app . The app is available in various languages and is free to download from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

The FWO can help with workplace issues. You can’t get into trouble or have your visa cancelled for contacting the FWO for information about your pay or other entitlements. If you have a question about your workplace rights while working in Australia, you can ask the FWO  online , or call them on 13 13 94 during business hours. If you or someone you know needs an interpreter when contacting the FWO, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Taxes will be deducted from any money you make. Before you can get paid you will need to open an Australian bank account. It’s also advisable to obtain a tax file number (TFN) to ensure you receive all due entitlements.

In Australia,  superannuation  is a regular payment made into a fund towards a future pension. These payments are made on top of your salary and wages when you earn more than AUD $450 per month. If you are a temporary resident who works in Australia, you are entitled to receive a superannuation guarantee (also known as ‘super’) from your employer/s.

Normally you can only access your superannuation when you retire. However, temporary residents can claim their super when all of the following criteria apply:

• They visited Australia on a temporary visa (excluding Retirement visa holders and Investor Retirement visa holders)
• Their visa has ceased to be in effect (expired or cancelled) 
• They have left Australia
• They are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia

This payment is known as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). See  ato.gov.au  for more information.

Volunteering is a great way to get involved with a local community and deepen your Australian experience. WWOOF ( Willing Workers on Organic Farms ) place travellers on organic farms, where farmers provide flexible jobs in exchange for accommodation and meals. Expect to work half a day for a full day’s board. This model applies to a huge variety of other volunteer roles, from rescuing turtles in Cape York to organising arts festivals in Arnhem Land. You could also sign up as a  Conservation Volunteer  and work as part of a team to help preserve precious Australian eco-systems. Your meals, accommodation and travel to and from the project are provided. There are also lots of global organisations offering volunteer research expeditions and volunteer holidays in Australia.

Note : Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority.  The visa granting authority is the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. For up-to-date information, please refer to their website:  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder .

The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.  Please consult with an Australian qualified immigration lawyer or migration agent if you are seeking legal advice.

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