Eligibility

You may be eligible for this visa if you:

• are aged 18 to 30 years (inclusive) at the time you lodge your application
  Important: Your age will be determined as the age you are in Australia at the time your application is lodged (Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) or the Australian Eastern Daylight Savings time (AEDT)). Because of this time difference you are advised not to wait to lodge your application until you are about to turn 31, as the system will take the current date in Australia as your application date.
• hold a US passport
• meet educational requirements
• are not accompanied by dependent children
• have not previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (417) or Work and Holiday (462) visa
• meet character, health and evidence of funds requirements.

Education requirements

You must have graduated from High School or completed an equivalent qualification.
Example: A bridging course to university.

Dependent children

Applicants for this visa must not be accompanied by dependent children.

It is not possible for you to travel to Australia on a Work and Holiday visa with children. If you want to travel to Australia with children, you should apply for a different kind of visa.

Evidence of funds

You must have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. Generally, AUD5000 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.

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
• any existing health condition.

See: Form 1163i - Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia ( 58KB PDF file)

Note: If you intend to work in the health care industry you must undergo HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing.
Example: Doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists.

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

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