Fact Sheet 49a - Work and Holiday Program
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Australia's Work and Holiday Program allows young professionals from arrangement countries to have an extended holiday in Australia by supplementing their travel funds through incidental employment.
Australia currently has reciprocal Work and Holiday arrangements in effect with Thailand, Chile, Turkey and the United States.
Australia has signed Work and Holiday visa arrangements with Bangladesh and Malaysia. These arrangements are not yet in effect, therefore, it is not possible for people from Bangladesh or Malaysia to apply for this visa at present. Information about the commencement of these arrangements will be published on the department's website when it is finalised.
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 the arrangements ensures young Australians can also take advantage of similar opportunities for cultural understanding through work and holidays 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 onshore, 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 9am to 4pm (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 14 August 2008.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2008.