Eligibility
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Currently, the Work and Holiday visa arrangement is in place for people from Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the USA.
You can apply for a Work and Holiday visa if you:
- are aged 18 to 30 years (inclusive) on the date you apply
- hold a passport from a country that has a Work and Holiday arrangement with Australia
- have a letter of support from your government (not required by applicants from the USA)
- are not accompanied by dependent children
- have not previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (417) or Work and Holiday (462) visa.
Education requirements
Chile
You must hold tertiary qualifications or have completed/been approved to undertake a third year of undergraduate university study.
Thailand
You must hold a degree or post high school diploma from an accredited institution.
Turkey
You must hold tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two (2) years of undergraduate university study.
USA
You must have graduated from High School.
English language requirements
Chile, Thailand and Turkey
You must provide proof of English proficiency (evidence can include International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test result of at least 4.5, interview assessment by Embassy, or evidence of post secondary tuition in English).
See: International English Language Testing System
Note: Applicants from the USA are not required to provide proof of English proficiency.
Evidence of funds
You must have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. Generally, AUD5,000 may be regarded as sufficient, but the amount may vary depending on your length of stay and the extent of your travel. You should also have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia.
You may be asked to provide evidence. Evidence may include a certified copy of a bank statement and an air ticket out of Australia.
Government approval
You must provide the department with a letter of support for your application to apply for a Work and Holiday visa (not required by applicants from the USA).
Note: The letter of support does not guarantee a place in the Work and Holiday program.
Thailand
The original letter of approval from the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups in Bangkok.
Chile
A letter of approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You should contact the consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the first instance.
Turkey
A letter of approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You should contact the consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the first instance.
USA
Applicants from the USA are not required to provide a letter of government support.
Australian Applicants
Australians wishing to apply under the program for a Work and Holiday visa with any of the participating countries (except the USA), must obtain a letter of Australian Government support. Australian applicants must provide their passport or birth certificate showing their full name and current address, as well as evidence of their tertiary qualifications to obtain this letter.
For more information as an Australian applicant, contact us.
See: Global Processing Centre
Health requirements
Health requirements will vary depending on your personal circumstances.
You may need to have a medical examination depending on:
- your length of stay in Australia
- other health risks in your home country or countries you have visited for more than three months within the last five years
- the activities you will be undertaking
- your existing health condition.
Note: If you intend to work in the health care industry, (eg. doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists) you must undergo HIV and Hepatitis B testing.
See: Form 1163i Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia (69KB PDF file)
Health insurance
Medical treatment in Australia can be very expensive. As a tourist, you are not covered by Australia's national health scheme, unless there is a reciprocal health care agreement between Australia and your country. Health care for visitors to Australia is explained on the Medicare Australia website.
See: Medicare Australia Health Care for visitors to Australia
It is recommended that you take out health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. You can obtain health insurance through a health insurance provider or travel agent in your country of residence.
For more information about private health insurance:
See: PrivateHealth.gov.au - Cover for overseas visitors
Character requirements
To be granted this visa, you must meet character requirements.
See: Character and Penal Clearance Requirements
Australian Values Statement
If you are aged 18 years or over, you must declare that you will respect Australian values and obey the laws of Australia. For this visa, the values statement is included in the general declaration section of the application form. When you sign the application form it means you will also be signing the values statement. You will not be required to have read the Life in Australia book, but may do so if you wish.
You are also encouraged to gain an understanding of Australia, its people and their way of life, before applying for this visa.
See: Australian Values - Overview