Planning to make the leap and begin your journey in Australia on a Working Vacation Visa (WHV)? Eeek, you’ve arrived to the right place.
For those who’re on the fence and also you want some inspiration, I’ve over 100 Australia journey guides on this weblog from over 10 years of journey right here. Though, it actually doesn’t take a lot convincing, this nation is oozing with white sand seashores, surf breaks and as soon as in a lifetime adventures.
After 10 years of visiting Australia, I’ve personally simply made the transfer and so I will probably be creating all of the content material to assist encourage and information you in your journey to a working visa down beneath.
P.s. I’ve been including Australia Working Vacation movies to my YouTube too, right here’s the newest episodes so that you can try:
Whether or not you’re about to board the airplane otherwise you’ve simply touched down in Australia to your working vacation visa, this information will stroll you thru every little thing you should do earlier than and after touchdown to set your self up for a stress free, environment friendly working vacation visa course of.
I’ve compiled all my private experiences, together with useful ideas, helpful hyperlinks, and issues I want I knew earlier than I left.
Get your paper and pen on the prepared!
Earlier than You Land to your Australia Working Vacation Visa
1. Test Your Australia Working Vacation Visa Eligibility
Earlier than you begin reserving flights to your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you should be sure you’re eligible for a Working Vacation Visa (subclass 417). The principles differ relying in your nationality however for many you’ll be able to apply as much as the age of 30.
For UK residents, as of July 2024, now you can apply for the Australia Working Vacation Visa as much as the age of 35 (up from 30). Plus, the requirement to finish 88 days of farm work to safe a second and third 12 months is now not vital.
➡️ Test Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see extra data.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Vacation Visa
When you verify your eligibility, the subsequent step is to use to your visa.
I utilized on-line for my Australia Working Vacation Visa and it was tremendous fast—mine was permitted inside an hour. The present price to your first 12 month working vacation is 650AUD.
Word: Visa processing occasions can differ, and the federal government recommends permitting as much as eight weeks earlier than you fly, simply in case of a gradual approval or denial of your visa.
Additionally essential to notice that you simply need to apply to your visa ONLY when you realize you’re undoubtedly coming into Australia. From the date of visa software success, you’ve gotten 12 months to enter the nation earlier than the visa turns into invalid.
3. Resolve your vacation spot and dream up your imaginative and prescient
Subsequent, you’ll need to beginning researching and fascinated with the place you need to begin your Australia Working Vacation Visa and if you happen to intend to remain put for some time or work and journey on the highway. You may actually design it nevertheless you need to! Now’s your time to dream large.
Discover journey blogs, vlogs, discuss to mates and get a really feel for what you need your expertise to appear to be.
Word: One of many restrictions to keep in mind on an Australia Working Vacation Visa is which you can solely work for one employer for as much as 6 months.
➡️ Get impressed for Australia right here on my weblog
4. E-book Your Flights
When you’ve received your visa and completed your analysis – it’s time to determine the place you’d like to begin (common choices are Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane) and to e-book your flights!
5. Type out your first weeks lodging (a minimum of)
It’s a good suggestion to determine the place you’ll keep if you first arrive to your Australia Working Vacation Visa. Have a take into consideration if you wish to hire immediately, e-book a hostel, resort or Airbnb.
It will provide you with peace of thoughts to know that if you land – you’ve gotten someplace to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a scorching minute earlier than your large journey.
In Byron Bay, the place I made a decision to land, Fb housing teams had been invaluable to find a spot to hire. Each of the teams beneath had been those I used and have each short-term and long-term leases out there. It’s a matter of getting within the group and protecting a watch out!
➡️ Byron Bay Housing Teams
➡️ Byron Bay WhatsApp Housing Group
I’m fairly certain a google search will aid you discover comparable ones for any location in Australia!
6. Arrange a journey card & Insurance coverage
Earlier than you allow, it’s a good suggestion to arrange a journey checking account that’s fee-free for worldwide use. Which means that in your layover and upon arrival you’ve gotten a card that you should use!
I take advantage of Revolut, which is a superb choice for managing currencies and avoiding excessive trade charges.
➡️ Revolut Journey Financial institution + Card
Additionally, don’t neglect about journey insurance coverage. For those who’re planning to remain in Australia for an prolonged interval, SafetyWing is a superb firm and affords inexpensive insurance coverage tailor-made for long-term travellers and nomads.
➡️ Insurance coverage for Nomads
7. Watch These Associated YouTube Movies
For extra ideas in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, I’ve created a few detailed YouTube guides:
➡️ Information to WHV
➡️ Farm Work Information
After You Land in Australia
1. Set Up Your Australian SIM Card
One of many first belongings you’ll have to do if you land in your Australia Working Vacation Visa is to get an area SIM card to keep up a correspondence and to navigate round. Telstra is a extremely beneficial community supplier for good protection, however there are different suppliers like Optus and Vodafone. You may simply decide up a SIM on the airport or at any main grocery store.
2. Open a Financial institution Account
I went with Commonwealth Financial institution, because it’s essentially the most beneficial by far. They’ve an incredible app so to simply handle and navigate your funds.
Establishing your checking account to your Australia Working Vacation Visa is easy—you’ll be able to fill out the shape on-line beneath earlier than you arrive, and when you’re in Australia, it solely takes about 10 minutes to activate your account at your native department.
You’ll have to carry your passport with you to set it up. The primary 12 months of banking is at present free so it’s a no brainer!
➡️ Set Up Commonwealth Financial institution Account On-line
3. Purchase a Automotive (If Wanted)
For those who’re planning to remain outdoors the key cities like I’m in Byron Bay, getting a automotive is crucial. The general public transport choices right here aren’t nice, and having a automotive will aid you with every little thing from job interviews to assembly new mates to social commitments. I discovered my automotive through Fb Market – however after all, you should watch out and there are numerous issues to notice and examine that can assist you discover a good buy.
➡️ Suggestions for Shopping for a Automotive in Australia
➡️ Free Rego Test
4. Register Your Automotive
Inside 14 days of buying a automotive, you will need to register it. For those who don’t you’ll get a nice.
You are able to do this at an area service centre, it takes round 20 minutes and also you’ll simply want your proofs of identification, proof of tackle and a card to pay the switch payment + stamp responsibility.
For those who’re transferring a automotive that’s registered in one other state, there could also be a payment for that too.
Check out the hyperlink for extra info: ➡️ Registering Your Automotive
5. Switch Your Driver’s License
For those who’re staying longer than six months in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll have to switch your international driver’s license to an Australian one.
It’s a easy course of with a small payment and you’ll apply at your native service centre.
➡️ Transferring Your Driver’s License
6. Apply for a Tax File Quantity (TFN)
You’ll want a TFN to work legally in Australia. That is your private reference quantity within the tax and superannuation programs. So if you happen to’re planning to work in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll want one. It’s free and it takes 5 minutes to do on-line. You’ll want your passport to use.
7. Superannuation: Setting Up for Retirement
For those who’re working whereas in your WHV, you’ll should arrange a superannuation account. That is Australia’s retirement financial savings scheme and employers pays 15% on high of your wage as a contribution to it.
As soon as you allow the nation, you’ll be able to declare your tremendous stability.
➡️ Information to Superannuation
8. Set Up Your myGov Account
Your myGov account is your gateway to various important authorities providers, together with well being care, tax returns, and extra. I used myGov to arrange Medicare, Australia’s public medical health insurance scheme.
9. Establishing Medicare
Medicare is Australias medical health insurance scheme. it helps with the prices of seeing a health care provider, getting medicines and accessing psychological well being care. It ensures all Australians (and a few abroad guests) entry to a variety of well being and hospital providers at low or no price.
As a UK citizen, I’m eligible for Australia’s reciprocal healthcare settlement, which suggests I can entry Medicare at lowered charges. For those who’re from the UK or one other nation with a reciprocal settlement, make sure that to use for Medicare when you arrive.
10. Byron Shire Resident Parking Move *bonus*
For those who’re establishing for some time and renting (like I’m in Byron Bay), you may need to examine if there’s a free residents parking go. This may aid you keep away from parking charges as you go about your life and ocean dips! I utilized for a free one right here in NSW and it was tremendous easy!
➡️ Free Shire Resident Parking Move
11. Library Card *bonus*
Within the Northern Rivers area, a library card grants entry to quite a few libraries, free Wi-Fi, and different sources. It’s a good way to economize and get some quiet time to learn or research.


That’s every little thing (I feel?!)
Getting your life arrange to your Australia Working Vacation Visa may seem to be rather a lot, however with a bit of prep, it’ll be a breeze!
From visa purposes to establishing financial institution accounts and securing lodging, I hope this information helps streamline your course of.
Have any questions or ideas of your individual? Depart them within the feedback beneath, we’d love to listen to from you.

