Fact Sheet 49a - Work and Holiday Program

Australia's Work and Holiday Program encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between arrangement countries by allowing young people to have an extended holiday supplemented by short-term employment.

Australia currently has reciprocal Work and Holiday arrangements with Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Australia has signed a Work and Holiday visa arrangement with Bangladesh, however this arrangement is not yet in effect. It is not possible for people from Bangladesh to apply for this visa at present.

Benefits of the program

The Work and Holiday program enhances the cultural and social development of young people, promotes mutual understanding between Australia and other nations and is an important part of the tourist industry.

The reciprocal nature of these arrangements ensures that young Australians can also take advantage of similar opportunities for cultural understanding through working and holidaying overseas.

Criteria for visas

Applicants' main reason for coming to Australia should be to holiday; any work they do should be to support themselves while on holiday. They should also have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay.
See: Work and Holiday visa

Work and Holiday visa holders are permitted to stay for 12 months from the date they arrive in Australia, regardless of whether they spend the whole period in Australia.

Work and study conditions

Work and Holiday visa holders are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature. As the main purpose of the visit is for holiday and travel, work for longer than six months with any one employer is not allowed.

Work and Holiday visa holders are allowed to study or train for up to four months.

Further Work and Holiday visas

Iranian Work and Holiday visa holders who currently hold a Work and Holiday visa may apply for up to two subsequent and consecutive Work and Holiday visas in Australia, provided they have the continuing support of their government and their employer and continue to meet all other visa criteria.

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 49a. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 1 July 2009.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.