How the Visa Works
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The main purpose of this visa is to allow you to combine a holiday with work and supplement your funds with short term work in Australia.
Applying
You can apply for a first or second Working Holiday visa online or by using the paper form. Your visa application will be processed more quickly if you apply online.
First Working Holiday visa
Applicants must be outside Australia when they apply and when the visa is granted.
Online first Working Holiday visa applications can be lodged from anywhere outside Australia.
Paper first Working Holiday visa applications (on form 1150) must also be lodged outside Australia. The office where the application can be lodged depends on your country or region of passport.
- If you are one of the following passport holders, you can lodge your application by post, fax or in person to any departmental office outside Australia: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
- If you are one of the following passport holders, you must lodge your application in the country or region that issued your passport by post, fax or in person to the relevant departmental office (you do not need to by physically located in that country or region at the time you lodge the application): Republic of Cyprus, HKSAR (including British National Overseas), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, and Taiwan.
Second Working Holiday visa
Applications may be made from either in or outside Australia:
- If you lodge your application outside Australia, you must be outside Australia to be granted your visa.
- If you lodge your application in Australia, you must be in Australia to be granted your visa.
Note: You should apply before your current visa ceases. If you want to travel overseas while the application is being processed, you must contact Hobart office to apply for a Bridging Visa with travel rights.
Visa validity
First Working Holiday visa
If you are granted your first Working Holiday visa you can:
- travel to Australia at any time in the 12 months from the date the visa is granted (this cannot be extended or deferred)
- stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you first enter the country
- leave and re-enter Australia any number of times within the 12 months from the date you first entered the country.
Second Working Holiday visa
The table below outlines how long you can stay in Australia if you are granted a second Working Holiday visa, depending on your circumstances at the time of application.
| When you applied | If granted a second Working Holiday visa |
|---|---|
| You were in Australia, and held a first Working Holiday visa | You can remain in Australia for 24 months from the date you first entered Australia on your first Working Holiday visa |
| You were in Australia, but did not hold a first Working Holiday visa | You can remain in Australia for 12 months from the date your second Working Holiday visa is granted |
| You were outside Australia | You can:
|
Note: Any time spent outside Australia while on your first or second Working Holiday visa does not extend the length of the visa.
If you wish to travel to Australia on an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or a Maritime Crew Visa (MCV), but already hold a Working Holiday visa which you have not yet used for travel to Australia, you will need to have your Working Holiday visa cancelled before making an ETA or MCV application. Otherwise, if you in arrive in Australia holding both visas, your Working Holiday visa will be activated. You should cancel your Working Holiday visa before making the ETA or MCV application because cancelling your Working Holiday visa will also automatically cancel these other visas. To have your Working Holiday visa cancelled, contact the Working Holiday visa processing centre.
Email: Working Holiday application enquiry form
However, if you hold a Working Holiday visa and are granted a Tourist (subclass 676) visa, the grant of the Tourist visa will cause the Working Holiday visa to cease, and you would not be entitled to a refund of the Working Holiday visa application charge.
Accompanying family
You cannot include family members in your application for this visa. If a family member or partner wants to come with you to Australia, they must apply for their own visa to Australia.
See: Visitor visa options
Working
You can do any kind of work in Australia. However, you can only work with the same employer for up to six months.
If your main reason for coming to Australia is to work, you should consider the type of visa intended for work purposes, such as a business visa.
See: Workers
Access to retirement savings
You are entitled to access your retirement savings (superannuation) when you leave Australia. The Australian Taxation Office website provides more information on accessing this money. Follow the links for temporary residents.
See: Australian Taxation Office
Studying
You can study for a maximum of four months.
If you want to study for a longer period in Australia, you may be able to apply for a student visa.
See: Student visa options
Extending your stay
You must depart Australia when your visa ends, unless you apply for another type of visa to extend your stay.
If your Working Holiday visa ends and you have not departed Australia or applied for another visa, you risk being detained and removed from Australia. You may also be subject to a period of exclusion from Australia.
If you are in Australia and your visa has expired, you should contact the department to regularise your status.
See: Expired Visas
A first Working Holiday visa cannot be extended beyond the 12 month validity period. However, if you have completed three months of specified work in regional Australia on your first Working Holiday visa, you may be eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday visa.
See: Second Working Holiday visa eligibility
There are other visa options for remaining temporarily or permanently in Australia at the end of your working holiday. However, your eligibility depends on your circumstances and intentions.
Note: If you apply for a Tourist visa while in Australia on a Working Holiday visa, it can only be granted in exceptional circumstances, such as being unfit to travel.
See: Tourists
Once you leave Australia, you may be eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
See: Tourists