Moving to Australia on a working holiday visa is not a walk in the park. It takes commitment and a lot of planning. Here’s a run down of what you might need to consider before jetting off to the other side of the world.
VISA APPLICATION
It might seem obvious, but applying for the visa is a big first step, and one that some people leave until the last minute before realising it can take longer than they’d thought. The easiest way to apply for your visa is online on the immigration website.
First, you need to be aware that the age limit for entering the country on a working holiday visa is 31. You can enter the country on any date within a year of the application being accepted as long as you are still below this age limit.
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While the process is surprisingly quick and streamlined, you might also be required to visit a local doctor for a chest x-ray to determine that you don’t have tuberculosis. This can hold up your application, so it’s best to get it done as soon as possible.
For more information on a variety of other Australian visa options, check out this article.
TAX FILE NUMBER
In order to work in Australia, you should have a tax file number. It’s not compulsory, but without one, you might have more tax withheld from you. Recruitment agencies will also request that you provide one. It’s as simple as applying online on the Government’s taxation website, so do it as soon as you arrive in Australia.
They will send your TFN in the post, so you will need to give them a permanent address. If you are still staying in temporary accommodation, the best option is to have it sent to a friend’s address – providing you’ve met any residents by this point!
SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT
This is so quick and easy that you can wait until you arrive in Australia to do it, although it’s possible to get it out of the way from your home country. You will want to have your salary paid into a local account, as well as avoiding the hefty withdrawal charges your home bank will apply. The four main options are Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ and NAB.
One advantage of setting your account up in advance is that you can also transfer money in advance. This means that on arrival, you will already have access to funds in the local currency. This might be vital if you need to pay a rent deposit or make some large initial purchases. Click on the link below to learn how you can save loads of money by using TransferWise instead of a traditional bank transfer.
In order to activate your online banking, you will need a local phone number.
MOBILE PHONE
Setting up a tariff for your mobile phone is not as easy as you might think. Providing you’re lucky enough to find that your ‘unlocked’ phone actually does work overseas, you may well struggle to get a contract for it. Some of the better deals involve signing you up for a longer period than you intend to be in the country, and all of the contract plans require you to demonstrate that you have a steady income stream before they will accept you.
The best way around this is to use PAYG for the first couple of months and then to call up and see if they can do you a deal once you’re employed.
SUPERANNUATION
If you’re a Brit like me, you might never have heard of superannuation. This is a system of paying tax in Australia that doubles as a pension fund. When you apply for a job, you can select a default superannuation account for your ‘super’ to go into, but it is far better to set up your own, especially if you think you will have a large number of different employers during your time in Australia.
There are comparison websites that confuse the hell out of you, or you can cut your losses and just opt for the one connected to your bank account. At least that way, you can track your super online along with your other account balances.
It’s worth noting that, when you leave Australia permanently, you can claim some of this money back, so it acts as a nice little parting gift!
FLAT HUNTING
It’s best to start by spending a few days getting familiar with the different suburbs of your chosen city, as well as the public transport systems. For this reason, search for some cheap accommodation just until you get settled. It might seem like an unnecessary expense but it’ll be costlier in the long term if you sign up to live somewhere you end up hating and have to break the lease.
I’ve recently started using HotelsCombined to search for accommodation as I travel. It’s become one of my favourite tools because it aggregates the results of online searches from over 40 travel sites to bring you the best deals much faster than if you had to look them up to compare them separately.
It can be really tough choosing a location before you know where you might end up working, so consider where most of the jobs will be and how long you’re prepared to spend commuting. It’s all very well living by a gorgeous beach for the first time in your life, but if you have to spend 4 hours a day travelling to and from work, you’ll rarely have time to visit it and you will become resentful.
The best site for looking for a flat share is Gumtree. Other decent options are Flatmates.com and Easy Roommate.
JOB HUNTING
If you’ve ever had that pull-your-hair-out experience of applying for jobs and being rejected over and over, then it will only be worse in Australia. The main issue is that the visa requirements stipulate that you can only work for 6 months for the same employer.
This isn’t a problem if you only want to do a bit of hospitality work here and there, but if you’re a bit older and have some decent professional experience, it’s incredibly frustrating. All the better-paid jobs that could utilise your skills are reluctant to take you on when they know they’ll have to go through the recruitment process again before too long.
Your best bet is to keep an open mind. SEEK is the best website for searching for specific jobs, but you should broaden the net by signing up with a number of recruitment agencies with admin and office support roles.
If you would rather do bar work, you will need to apply for an RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) Certificate. They cost around $150 and can be completed in a day.
PACKING
Deciding what to take for a whole year overseas is a daunting prospect. Believe it or not, though, it’s very easy to get by with just a 60 kg backpack crammed to the brim.
It’s important to remember that whatever else you need, you can always buy when you arrive. The difficulty comes from being hit with the high cost of living, while paying rent or hostel fees and desperately trying to find work.
My advice would be to bring a couple of work outfits and one smart, versatile pair of shoes, so you’re all set for interviews. With time, you can gradually build up your wardrobe. Vinnies is a popular charity shop where you can pick up bargain second-hand clothes or other necessities such as bedding. You can also try a second-hand local exchange website like Buy and Sell or Sell Buy Swap Free for cheap or unwanted clothes and furniture.
If you’re looking to bring over all of your belongings, then you should investigate removal companies. Move Hub is a great option that can save you up to 70% on your shipping costs. Its website also provides some really useful background information, such as car hire, work permits and city guides, on an extensive list of popular destinations.
FURTHER INFORMATION/ADVICE
For more information on a variety of other Australia Visa options, check out Auvisa.org.
This is a fabulous guide and well thought out. I’m too old to get a working visa for Australia. However I often make business trips there so I don’t miss out.
These are great tips and organising the visa well in advance is good advice.
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You’re lucky then! I’d much rather come here for work. This job hunting is driving me crazy!!
loved living in Australia
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It’s kind of like home for me, but with better weather and beaches! I could do with getting another job sorted out soon though. Finding work here really is a pain!
That’s annoying about the 6 months limit for jobs. Have you managed to find any interesting jobs so far?
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It’s really annoying. I was enjoying working for the National Art School as the editor of their annual year book publication, but that contract came to an end a couple of weeks ago, and now I’m going out of my mind applying for other jobs. Apparently this is the worst time of year to look as well!
Hi Arianwen,
Are there many contract jobs available in Australia? I’m looking to move to Sydney and I very much want to work in a job that furthers my career and follows with my Bachelor degree. Are there paid internships that employers are more willing to give to working holiday visa holders?
If you do find a career-driven job out of the hospitality industry, is it common for the employer to sponsor you?
Thanks in advance!
Taylor
Hi Taylor, I’m only going on personal experience here, but it can be a bit challenging to find a contract job. The main problem I faced was that companies would rather hire someone who they know can stick around for more than 6 months. Even if they’ve been through the sponsorship process before, they would probably rather avoid it if they have other applicants with similar experience who are residents. It’s not impossible, but it definitely makes it harder. I had a few interviews that went really well but they openly admitted that the visa situation would probably be an issue. If you work in an industry where it’s common to take on contracts that last less than 6 months then you will probably be fine. I ended up getting a couple of contacts for editorial work on short-term projects. In terms of getting sponsorship, they’ve recently tightened the rules and it is a bit of a pain for the company. It just depends on your experience and how much they want you to stay. I certainly wouldn’t rely on it happening, but if you get a job it’s not a bad idea to let your employer know you’re very keen to stay on longer and then go about making such a great impression on them that they can’t bear to see you go…! Good luck!
Is it hard to find a job in Australia? When is the best time to go there for work and are there alot of jobs in Melbourne? I’m from the U.S. and my girlfriend lives and is from Australia now. I met her in the U.S. we’ve been together for almost 2 years and want to be with her again. It’s harder for her to live in the U.S. and she presented me with the idea it won’t be hard for me to make a move to Australia. Long distance sucks.
Hi Isaac! I wish I could be more helpful, but I’m really only going on my own experience in Sydney. The situation is different for everyone depending on their work experience, field of expertise and country of origin. It’s also a lot to do with luck. I didn’t try job hunting in Melbourne, but I imagine the job market to be similar to Sydney. I was surprised that it was so challenging to find work, but with a lot of effort you should get there eventually. I signed up to every recruitment agency I could find and applied for jobs daily on Seek.com. You might also want to put some feelers out before you even get there, to save time. I heard that it’s harder to find work towards the end of the year (i.e., summer), but I don’t know how much truth there is in that. My advice is to give it a go. If you really like this girl she’s worth fighting for, and you’ll always wonder if you don’t at least try. I completely agree that long distance sucks, but I know of many couples who’ve overcome it. I really hope it works out for you both.
Some very good starting off advice, Arianwen. All the best…
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Thanks. It’s not an easy process at first! I was a bit overwhelmed with how much I had to do.
Wow, I had no clue this much was involved, Arianwen! Great pictures btw. That would take so much more patience than I would probably have. But, to pursue your dream of course it would be worth the trouble. Why is 31 the cutoff age? And that was fascinating on superannuation as I had never heard of it. I hope you find a job soon and don’t pull your hair out! :)
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I have no idea why they have a cut off age. I guess they imagine that the older you are, the less likely it is you will want to take a career break like this. And it makes sense. Because of the visa restrictions, you struggle to find a job that isn’t temp work. The older you are, the higher the chance you’ll have a career behind you and the more frustrating it will be trying to find something that uses your skills. I guess older people still have the option of applying for a sponsored role and are more likely to be accepted because of the experience they will have.
Thanks! I hope I find a job soon too. I’ll be bald before too long! ;)
Doesn’t look like the job hunting has gone any easier than it was 10 years ago when I was there! I ended up doing all sorts of short-term things – hostel receptionist, waitressing for events, making props for a casino and serving beer samples to brewing award judges. Hope your hunting goes better!
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Wow! That’s quite a list of random jobs! Yeah, it’s not easy, and all the other visa holders I know are struggling too. Even temp work is hard to come by.
Amen to the tough job market here. I’ve been applying for part-time work for months, and absolutely no biters. (Unless it’s me. Oh God, is it me?)
It’s to the point where looking for a job feels like a job and when I’ve completed one of those painfully time-consuming applications I’m disappointed to realize that I haven’t done anything that I’m going to get paid for. (Also – What’s up with the selection criteria? Is that a thing anywhere else?)
Good luck, hope you find something soon!
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It’s definitely not you! Everyone I know on a visa is struggling big time! I didn’t expect it to be easy, but I thought I’d have less trouble than this. I’ve spent 3 weeks applying for every job under the sun and calling recruitment agencies. I’ve even had a couple of interviews, but the fact that we’re only allowed to stay with one employer for 6 months is really putting people off. Even temp jobs are hard to come by because my experience is really specific and the kinds of jobs temp agencies have are data entry or reception. I know I could do it, but someone who’s done it before is much more likely to be hired. I’m losing my mind!!
Good luck to you too! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for both of us! xx
So helpful dollface! Il be saving this one x
Cool! Though you might want to read my next post before you commit to a visa…!
Ok lady, how u doing? Xx
It’s tough! I’m struggling to find work here. I know loads of other people on working holiday visas and none of them have found work either. Yesterday, I had a rejection letter that told me my resume was ‘inspirational’ and yet I can’t find work because the editorial positions are long term and I’m only allowed to work 6 months for the same employer. I’m looking at temp work too, but there’s so much competition, you need really specific experience. My skills are definitely transferable, but it doesn’t seem to matter….!
Shit :/ yeah Becki was telling me it was proving a bit of a mare. Sounds like there’s just so much competition out there. We all wanna be trying that visa. Damnit. I hope u find something soon doll xxxx
Thank you! So do I, or I’ll be on the streets!
You will, I have good feelings about it ;)
I’ve thought about temporarily relocating to Australia for a short time but the jobs I found, or found me, needed longer commitments that I wasn’t sure I can do at the moment. So I let go of the thought altogether. One day, I might finally do it… Good luck with your job search and the new place!
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Thanks! I actually found a good job and started last week. It’s a 6-month contract and it’s full time so I’m really happy. I couldn’t have coped much longer with all the pain of applying and being rejected! The visa makes it so much harder, but if you persevere, it is possible to find something worthwhile! I hope you manage to make it over here one day. It really is a lovely place to be based.
I just started my 2nd year visa last month. I was in Melbourne and found a temp job within 4 weeks. Now I am on the central coast staying with my friend’s parents (lucky I have them!) while I job hunt. I ran out of money as I did wwoofing (willing workers on organic farms) so got paid with food and accommodation, and all my savings went. I have been searching for 6 weeks now and still haven’t found anything. Getting stressed as I have to pay $23 just for a day travelcard to attend interviews. And had to borrow money off my cousin to do my NSW RSA, which will open up more opportunities. I am glad I am not the only one who has struggled! Gives me a bit more motivation. The 6 months thing is annoying. The UK visa for Aussies is a lot more generous. They automatically get 2 years, and can work for the same employer the whole time! Glad you found a 6 month contract Arianwen! Congrats :) That’s exactly what I am hoping for, but right now, anything will do :)
I was in Melbourne last year.
Thanks for sharing your experience Kia. It’s great to hear from other people about how they’ve coped. I agree that the 6 month thing is annoying. I think that, more than anything else, was the main factor in me struggling to find work. And I don’t blame the companies. Not many people want to invest in someone who may leave so soon. I’ll find out soon whether or not my current job will sponsor me. Then I’ll have a difficult decision to make. I don’t know how long I might want to commit to staying here, but I’m not willing to accept sponsorship unless I know I will make it worth the company’s while. We shall see! At the moment, I’m enjoying Sydney so much and can’t imagine going back to miserable Britain! Best of luck with your job search. I’d love to hear how you get on!
Thank you for the article. I’m an American and I too am trying to go to Australia on a working visa for a year. This information helps a lot.
Glad I could help. Good luck with everything!
Hi, I know you kind of answered this already but I just want confirmation (and the immigration website is very unhelpful!!)… My boyfriend is 30y/o and is applying for an Aussie work visa.. he turns 31 in October this year, (if his visa is approved) does he HAVE to enter Australia before his 31st birthday or is the visa good for one year from approval date regardless of his turning 31? I am Australian and so have never had to think about this! Your website is REALLY helpful by the way:)
Thank you!
Thanks for your comment Yogesha. First, does your boyfriend have a passport for one of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom?
If so, it is my understanding that he must have the visa granted before his 31st birthday, but he will still have 12 months from the date it is granted in which to enter Australia. I would suggest he contacts his local immigration department for confirmation though. This was something that confused me too, but I was in Australia before my 31st birthday so I didn’t need to worry about it.
Alternatively, he could look into a Skilled Migrants visa or try to find an employer willing to sponsor him before he leaves, but I think this would be incredibly difficult. It really depends on his profession.
I wish you the best of luck!
Hey Yogesha I am 32 and am in Oz! Just confirming (from experience!) that as long as he APPLIES before 31, he will still have a 12 month ‘window’ for entering the country on this visa. I applied literally 1 month before I turned 31 and didn’t have to enter until just before my 32nd birthday. So it’s all good! :)
Laura
Thanks Laura! That’s great to know. I thought that was the case, but none of the official websites are very clear on the issue. I hope you’re enjoying Oz Laura! :)
Hello everyone,
Thanks for the great feedback. I am seriously considering going to Australia next year on the WHV as well. I am concerned about the job situation, right now we are still in the early-phases, primarily saving right now and hope to go next April/May.
I have a couple questions that I didn’t see mentioned earlier and any additional suggestions would be greatly appreciated- (FYI I am a 24 yr old American and will be traveling with my 26 yr old boyfriend)
Any suggestions on what city would be best to start in?
What is (typically) the most whv-“friendly” jobs to get quickly?
How expensive/difficult is it to find a place to live?
With the high cost of living I am concerned that I will spend most of my paychecks on rent, will it be easier to find a place having my boyfriend with me?
Thanks everyone!!!
I can only answer your questions based on my own experience, but I would recommend either Sydney or Melbourne as a starting point. I prefer Sydney because it has better weather and gorgeous beaches, but a lot of people like Melbourne more because it’s really cultural and ‘cool’. Seek.com is a great website to use to search for jobs if you have some experience in a particular area. Otherwise, Google recruitment agencies and call as many as you can, securing mini interviews so that you’re on their books. Or you could walk around and ask if anywhere needs retail or bar staff, but bear in mind that you have to pay to do a short course before you can do bar work in Australia. My rent in Manly, Sydney, was about £1000 per month, paid on a weekly basis. The best way to search is by using a site like Gumtree. It only took me a few days to find somewhere. I think that looking for a place with your boyfriend might make it a little harder to find a flat share, unless you offered to pay a bit more than the room was advertised for. Otherwise you could look for a place for just the two of you, but I imagine this would be more expensive…
Also, I was wondering – do most travelers on the WHV still have to pay student loans on abroad?? Or is it typical to be able to get deferment/forbearance for this type of travel?
I think you will need to contact your loan company about this. I don’t have to pay mine while I’m overseas. I told them my situation and had to send photocopies of bank statements. It might be different for you as you are American…
Hello! Great website here with very well detailed advice!
I mostly have my plans thought out and the stuff i wanted to do in Melb, and will be following your advice on searching for a place in gumtree.
Just a couple of questions(background: 25, single, Singaporean)
1) Going over to get my Skydive AFF license at Melb. Will u recommend that a car is quite essential? And would you also recommend finding it in gumtree?
2) Have you found a job that you are settling at yet? Reading from the comments that past readers have left, and your replies, seems like you’re still having problems with getting a more secured job in Austrailia. I am looking at doing farm work, with accom provided sort of. Any idea where i could search from? Most jobs require an australian line to call, but i thought if i could secure one before i fly over would be great, but it seems a bit too far fetched. hahaha.
thanks!
Wow! Skydive license! That’s very impressive! I’ve done one tandem one before, but I don’t think I’d ever trust myself to pull the cord!
As for your questions, I’m not sure about the car one. I didn’t have a car in Sydney and got by just fine. Transport links were good and if I went away for the weekend I went with a tour company or with friends. I was only in Melbs for a few days. The transport links there seemed excellent. You have the choice of trams, trains, buses, bikes, etc. It depends if you need to get outside the city regularly though. Perhaps you should check with the airfield where you’ll be doing your dives from… I do rate Gumtree for finding pretty much anything. I used it to find my flat and I’m sure it’s a decent place to search for cars if you do decide to get one. There are also local facebook groups for buying, selling, swaping and giving away items. It might be worth asking around about those too.
Re work, yes, I managed to find a full-time 6-month contract. It was hard because of the visa restrictions – a lot of companies don’t want to hire someone for just a few months when they could train someone up who’d stay longer. With enough effort most people land on their feet though. I signed up with a lot of recruitment agencies and applied for loads of jobs on Seek.com. I didn’t do the farmwork thing, but if you search for farmwork placements in Australia on Google, I’m sure you’ll find some links. You might be able to apply before you leave, perhaps by emailing instead of calling them? Or could you use Skype? I don’t know if the visa situation is the same for Singaporeans as it is for Brits, but for us, if we did 3 months’ farmwork we could apply for a second year working in Australia. If that’s the case for you, it’s worth checking if the farmwork you’re looking at would be valid for an extension of your visa.
Good luck! I hope it all works out for you!
Hi Arianwen,
Great website. So do you think that if you have professional experience it’s probably going to be easier to get a more menial job for the first six months, and then to go for the “professional” job for the last six months, given how the first employer will know they can’t keep you on, and the second one will know they can?
Also, you mentioned in October 2013 that it was not a good time to be looking. Someone else had told me there are particular times of the year that seem better than others. What are the better months to be looking in your opinion?
Thanks!
P.S. Do you see most people who do manage to get jobs being kept on by their employer through sponsoring, etc, after the 12 months is up?
Neither employer is allowed to keep you on for more than 6 months unless they sponsor you, so you should just go for whatever kind of job you want to do from the beginning. My approach was to apply for lots of jobs in my field but to also sign up with recruitment agents who might be able to find me other work. It’s all about increasing your chances. As admin roles are also quite picky about who they employ, I’d say you’ll probably have more success in whatever you already have experience in, but don’t burn any bridges and be open to doing something different if it comes along.
I’m not really sure when the best time of year to look is. I had a few locals tell me that around December/January is a bad time. I guess that’s their summer holidays so people have a bit more time to think about other jobs and may be looking to make a fresh start…?
I met quite a few people who’d been sponsored by their jobs, but most of them had been there a few years. I didn’t know anyone who was sponsored while I was in Australia in 2013/14, but most of my friends were Australian. I think it really comes down to the kind of work you do and whether the company is open to it, so it’s really hard to second guess…
I hope this helps!! Good luck!!
Great website. Definitely putting a lot of questions to rest. And confirmed the rumors I’ve heard about how hard it is to find work. I have my BA but heard skilled labor is more in demand.
What do you recommend as the most common bank used throughout the county? I will definitely not be paying my local banks international transaction fees and would like to set up an account in AUS.
I’m not sure about the bank situation. Commonwealth is the one I used and I had no issues. Their branches are all over the place, their online services are good and I used their superannuation fund too. There are three or four main bank companies, but I didn’t do a lot of research on which is the best. I definitely recommend you set up an account asap if you intend to work in Australia – you can do it before you arrive, but in your first week should be fine!
does your credit effect your visa approval at all?
Not that I know of… I think you would be best asking someone official about that as I’m afraid I’m not sure.
Please let me know about bringing my computer and cell phone. I am from the United States and am coming on a HWV a month from now. Don’t have a job yet or a place to stay. I am trying to decide if I should work and stay in Sydney or Melbourne. I plan on bringing my computer and my cell phone. I will be staying in a hostel to begin with and wonder are they safe for brining these things? Also, I don’t understand the cell phone thing. Are most places equipped with WiFi so I could use my cell phone to text or email home? Or should I buy a cheap cell phone there? Thanks.
I would recommend that you bring them both. If you’re planning to stay at least a year, you’ll probably regret not having them with you. I’ve backpacked through the whole of Latin America, as well as parts of New Zealand and Australia, and I’ve never had either my phone or my laptop stolen. Annoyingly, Australian hostels are not great at providing lockers. I would invest in a good padlock or cable lock and check before you book to see if you will be able to lock up your valuables. You can probably find out by checking the services of the hostel on a website like Hostelworld or by reading the reviews, but you can always email them directly if you’re not sure. Usually, if a hostel doesn’t have lockers they will have a safe behind reception where you can leave smaller items. Something I do when there’s no locker and I can’t be bothered with the hassle of going back and forth to reception is to put my valuables under all my clothes in my backpack and padlock the zips closed instead. Most thieves are opportunistic, so if you make it a little harder for them, they probably won’t take anything. Most travellers are in the same boat and very trustworthy too. I’m not saying theft doesn’t happen though, so do be as careful as you can be.
As far as WiFi is concerned, yes, you will be able to get it in almost any hostel or hotel. Sometimes they charge quite high rates to connect though. A lot of them sell top up-style cards with a limited amount of connectivity time on them. It can be quite frustrating. If you think you might be spending a while in hostels to begin with, you should definitely inquire about the cost of WiFi before you book. There are plenty of cafes and hotspots around the CBD in Sydney where you can connect, and I would guess the same is true for Melbourne, but it is frustrating to not have it whenever you need it.
If I were you, I’d see how you go with your regular phone. You might even be able to unlock it so it works over there…? If you’re staying at least a few months, I reckon you’ll probably be seriously tempted to buy a new phone – if nothing else than for contacting friends when you’re not in your hostel/flat. You’ll also probably need a number for recruitment agents and potential employers to call. If you don’t want to spend too much, I think you’d get by ok with a cheap phone for calls and texts and your other phone for easy internet access at home.
This is a very good website and has given me lots of information I didn’t already know. I am planning on getting WHV and moving over with my boyfriend. We are both professionals but are hoping to travel a bit first and then pick up some work just to keep us going. Some of the comments about how hard it is to get work are worrying me. We don’t mind not working in our trained areas as we are taking it as a year out. So I’m just wondering are all jobs hard come by or just ones you would need to have qualifications for, we are happy enough to do hospitality, shop work, bar work etc.?
It’s a tough one to answer. Some people get lucky, but it can be a struggle. You’ll probably have more luck in less obvious places. Sydney and Melbourne are especially competitive. If you want to do bar work, bear in mind that in some states you have to pay to do a short course first. If you have some money as a buffer it will be a lot less stressful. Also if you’re willing to move around and look in new places if you don’t find work, this could help. It sounds like you’ll be travelling first, which is a great way to scout out opportunities. You might find a hostel that needs staff or a farm where you can work for free board. Sign up with as many agencies as you can and be proactive and you should get there eventually, especially if you have some experience already – but don’t expect it to happen overnight. You might even want to start looking and applying a few weeks before you get there, or look as you travel.
Hi! Such a helpful article. I am from the Philippines and planning to apply for Working Holiday Visa Scheme in NZ. Can you give me some tips on how to answer for my travel plans. Thank you.
Thank you for your message. I’m not sure that’s something I can really help with as I applied to the Australia scheme not the NZ one and they will be different. It would also depend on your circumstances. I think you’re better off contacting people at Immigration New Zealand. Their website is also very helpful. Good luck!
I love all the tips! I am 24 years old and I am planning on moving to Melbourne, Australia in the beginning of 2016. I am trying to gather as much information as possible.
Thank you! I wish you all the best with your move. To be honest, you’ll figure it out as you go when you get there. Obviously, it’s good to be prepared, but I think it’s fine to do a lot of the nitty gritty once you’ve arrived and have a better idea what you want. For example, I waited till I was in Sydney to buy a phone, set up a bank account, apply for a tax file number, apply for jobs, etc and it was fine in the end. Anything you can do to relive the stress will help though. Australia is amazing. Have a great time!
I am 25 years old, I’m American but i live in Israel. I want to move to Oz next november for a year at least. I noticed though, that most of the programs I’ve seen so far are vatered to students. I am not nor have been to Uni( I went to the military instead) and wanted to know if that is going to change my status or put me at a disadvantage in the group. Also, In terms of places to work, what do you recommend for someone who wants to work in the cattle/animal industry?
Hi Aaron. I wrote that article based on personal experience and I’m not an expert on immigration or visas in Australia. I think you would be best off to contact the Australian immigration team with those queries. Having said that, I think you should be fine looking for work with animals. Farm work is something they want more people to get involved with, which is why they extend a lot of working holiday visas to two years if you do at least three months of farm work (I don’t know if this applies to Israelis – you would need to check). I would recommend you think about what transferable skills you have from the military when you’re applying for jobs. Not having been to uni will only affect your application for jobs that require specific qualifications. Plenty of people travel to Australia to work for a year during their gap year from the UK so they won’t have a degree either. Good luck!
Hi great site , hopefully I can get your opinion , I’m 29 turning 30 in April I have just applied for my 2nd whv with
The intention to go in November , I did 12 months back in 2007 and always said I would go back. I have a mortgage and have decided to take a 7 month career break from work in order to try and get a sponsorship in oz I generally don’t have specific skill but have worked in insurance 7 years , as I have only 7 months to get a sponsorship what is the liklihood of it happening , I’m prepared to go anywhere in Australia to get this sponsorship but worried this is maybe just a little bit ambitious ?
Hi Matthew, that’s such a difficult question to answer as it depends on a lot of variables. The fact that you don’t mind where you base yourself might help, but I know a lot of people (including myself) who’ve found it difficult to get employment at all (despite having years of experience in a specialised industry), let alone finding somewhere that will sponsor you within 7 months. It could take you the first month or two of that to even find a job. Of course, there are those who get a lucky break and I always believe if you want something enough you should do everything you can to make it happen. If you loved Oz the first time, why not give it a go. If you have a bit of money saved up you could have a backup plan to leave earlier and travel through Asia or Central America, where your money goes a long way. Whatever you do, make sure you make the most of your time off work. Good luck!
Hey! Thanks for the tips, it’s definitely given me a lot of good information to know before I make my move to Sydney this September. I’m from Canada, and was just wondering approximately how much do you think I should bring with me to Sydney? I don’t have a place lined up yet — I’m staying at a hostel for the first week of my arrival and plan to look at flats during that week. Also, what are some good areas to look into in Sydney?
Thanks!!
Hi Dawn, I think it really depends on your preferences. I took very little. I had a backpack, which I carried with me through New Zealand for 6 weeks before I arrived in Sydney. Considering how little you can fit in a backpack and how much of that stuff was outdoorsy clothes, I didn’t have much at all when I first arrived in Sydney. I stayed with a friend for the first week or so while I looked for a flat to rent. Then, when I was looking for a job I bought a few work outfits and some ‘essentials’ like a hair dryer… I bought bedding off the person who rented my room before me (for very little money). Basically, you can definitely get by taking very little. Having said that, my English flatmate in Sydney had all her worldly belongings shipped over. It’s not cheap though – and the cheaper shipping takes 3 months!
In terms of where to live, I loved Manly. If you’re on the Northern Beaches, I wouldn’t recommend being much further north than that or your commute will be a long one (depending on where you end up working). Bondi and Coogee are also very nice if you’re after the beach life. If not, I quite liked Darlinghurst, which is close to Surrey Hills and a lot of bars, etc. I think it’s best to wait until you’re there and test out a few areas. Perhaps line up some viewings in different places for when you arrive…?
Good luck and enjoy! I’m very jealous!
Hi Arianwen,
Just read this thread from beginning to end… so incredibly helpful! A bit discouraging about the challenges with finding work, but definitely understandable that companies would want to hire permanent workers over temp workers. Do you have any suggestions on top recruiting agencies to contact in Sydney or Melbourne? Do you know if particular recruiting agencies are better suited for different industries?
My fiancé and I are definitely big on travelling, and hope to go to Asia, New Zealand and see other parts of Australia during our time there. I think i’ve read that you can only be in Australia for a year, but we were hoping to take a bit of time off to travel in between contracts. If we do that for say 3 weeks to a month, can we only work 5 months with our second contract (assuming we get one right away), or are there other rules if you are out of the country in between contracts?
Thank you!
Hi Julie. My job hunting wasn’t very selective. I figured the best way to increase my chances of finding something was to apply for anything I had a remote chance of getting and to sign up with any recruitment agency I could find! I think the best approach is to Google ‘recruitment agency’, the city you’re in and the industry you’re most keen on working in and then to call them all. Some will ask you to send your CV while others will want you to go to their office for a meeting. My first job was kind of a fluke because I was the first editor they’d signed up in over a year and it just so happened that they’d just had an enquiry from an employer looking for an editor (also a first!). The second time around, I ended up getting a job I saw on SEEK (it really is a great site), and it was very suited to my experience and qualifications, so perhaps the blanket approach is time consuming and not that likely to work. I think it probably depends a lot on the industry you’re looking to work in.
In terms of when you’re allowed to work, the visa lasts one year. If you leave the country to travel, your visa is not extended. You’re right that you can only work for the same employer for 6 months, so if you did go away after a 6-month initial contract, you would probably find it very hard to find a second job, especially if you also spent a few weeks getting settled when you first arrived before your first job began. If you do three months of ‘farm work’ you might qualify for a second year of work visa, so that would be worth looking into. I would recommend that you save the majority of your travel for before or after the year in Australia, though, as once you enter the country the visa is activated and time starts ticking!
Have a fantastic time!
Hi, great article – me and my boyfriend are due to arrive in Australia and we would love to get sponsored so not sure which way to go about it, do we get a working holiday visa and try set something up on e we’re out there. Also on working holiday visas can you leave the country within the year and if you do is the visa still valid?
Thanks for your help :)
Hi Jen, if you’re eligible for a Working Holiday Visa, I’d recommend you get one. It would be much harder to find a job if you were only on a tourist visa as you’d have to convince the company to sponsor you, which is quite difficult. You can apply for a Working Holiday Visa before you arrive and it’s activated when you enter the country. I would recommend you check the Australian Government Department of Immigration website to make sure you’d be eligible and to familiarise yourself with the rules. You can start looking for and applying for jobs before you arrive in Australia, but a lot of recruitment agents will want to meet you face to face. I waited until I was there to start applying, but there’s no harm in starting early. While you’re on your visa, you’re allowed to leave the country and come back again, but the visa will still run out a year after you entered Australia the first time. I hope you have a fantastic time over there!
Hiya, this site is so helpful! Just wondering about sponsorship, am hoping to get a job and sponsorship while on WHV but have heard that even if your employer wants you to stay,you can only get sponsored if your job is on the Australian government immigration skills list. Is that true? As I have experience and hopefully will make myself indispensable but not a listed skill. Could be the end of my dreams before I start :-(
Thanks Sandra. I’m afraid I don’t know the details of which jobs would qualify for being allowed to sponsor people. I know they made the rules tighter recently. They have to prove that you’re the ‘best person for the job’ and they probably have a list of skills shortages that they take into consideration too. To be on the safe side, you’d be best checking the immigration website or calling them. I think if a job wants to sponsor you they’re normally able to find a way. The issue you might face, though, is that it’s hard to convince an employer to sponsor you when they haven’t had a chance to see what you’re like. If they hire you without sponsoring you, you’re only allowed to stay 6 months before they would have to sponsor you. This means it’s usually less of a gamble for them to go for a resident Aussie. You either really need to stand out as the best candidate, or you have to hope that they don’t mind the possibility that they might be replacing you in 6 months if their application to sponsor you is rejected. It’s a gamble. I think the best way to approach it is to see it as an incredible one-year experience. If you find somewhere that will sponsor you it’s a huge bonus, but if you don’t, you’ve still had a year there, which you will not regret.
I really miss Australia and I’d go back if I could get sponsorship. Now I’ve done the WHV and I’m 32, I’m looking into getting a BUNAC work exchange visa in NZ. You can get them until you’re 35. I think it might be easier to find work/sponsorship in NZ. You can even apply for residency if you meet certain criteria. You never know – it could be a back door to one day being a NZ citizen and being allowed to work in Australia too. I don’t know the details/rules around this, but it could be worth thinking about and researching in the future…
Good luck!
Hi Arianwen! Wow, I really wish I would have found your site *before* I did my WHV. I had the same issue finding work as someone with a skilled background. It happened eventually, but I had many many awesome (professional) opportunities fall through because of that darned 6 mo.!
Same on packing – it’s surprising how easy it is to get by with less. I brought WAY too much and ended up hauling it all around the “back of bourke.” :)
I wish I would have gotten around to typing up my tips for incoming working holiday makers, sooner, but better late than never! You’re welcome to add any of these to your list:
http://halftheclothes.com/australia-working-holiday-visa-checklist/
Cheers!
Jema
Thanks for sharing Jema! That’s a really handy article. I’m sorry to hear you had the same difficult experience finding work. The 6 months thing really has an impact doesn’t it?! Still, I’ll never regret going over there and it worked out in the end :)
Thank you for the detailed information! I’m planning my move for next September and I’m still looking for helpful information that will make the whole moving process smoother and less stressful for me. It’s good that people like you share their experience, because people like me feel lost in a million things that should be done before the arriving itself. Thank you!
Hi Rosemary. Thanks for your lovely comment. I’m glad it helps that I’ve shared my experience. I know it will be different for everyone, but it’s always helpful to hear how other people got on I think. I hope you have a wonderful time over there!
Hi Arianwen! I find your post really helpful! My boyfriend and I are planning to move to Australia for one or wo years! It’s been a dream of ours and now we finally have the opportunity and we want to do it! We have a business that we have developed and now we can leave it to trusted people. It is very exciting to read about what we should do and what we should pack in order to go there! I am very curious to see the nature and explore the the wildlife as much as we can! Thanks for the detailed post! Greets, Louise!
Hi Louise! Thanks so much for your message. I love to hear that my posts have been helpful. To be honest, I’m sure you’d figure it out as you go, but it’s always reassuring to hear how someone else got on when they did it before you. Good luck with your business back home and with your move to Oz. It’s such a wonderful country to live in and to explore!
These details are really helping me with my prep prior to departure! Thanks for sharing!
That’s great to hear! Good luck with the move and enjoy! It’s incredible over there! :)
Hey, great article!!! i really enjoyed reading the stuff you experienced in OZ. one question is about finding jobs out there, im planning on getting a WHV in 2016, just being graduated from highschool and with no degree, you think it’ll be harder for me or should I get a degree first then move there?
Hi Casey! Thanks so much. I can’t really say, as I only have my own experience to go on, but I always say if you’re really keen to do something you should go for it now rather than put it off. To be honest, I don’t think a degree will help that much if you don’t have work experience too… You’d probably be better off travelling about a bit and looking for hospitality and farm work along the way. It can be tough to find work – especially in Sydney – but all the people I know who struggled at first eventually found a job and had the time of their lives. Just be prepared to put in a lot of time applying for jobs and signing up with recruitment agencies. Good luck!
thanks for the useful information.
Just wanted to know how much time it took you to get your acceptance because some people say 48 hours and others say 14 working days.
I think it really does vary, depending on the country you’re from as well as other factors, but it took me about a week. I had to arrange to have a chest scan to prove I don’t have TB. I’m pretty sure the visa came through before they could have reviewed the scan, so it seemed a bit pointless! My advice would be to apply asap if you’re sure you want to do it. You don’t have to activate it straight away…
ok really thanks for the useful information and I’m from Arizona so I should be expecting it very soon.
This is a fantastic article, I have found it incredibly helpful pre and during my time in Oz!
You’re definitely right about the 6 months per employer. I am really struggling as everyone has been put off by this aspect. So have so far been unable to find work using my professional skills. I have been applying for retail jobs to tide me over, but there is so much competition in Melbourne, even that is proving unsuccessful. My partner, however has had no trouble, and his company have already talked about sponsorship. He is in the automotive trade.
It’s good that your partner has at least found success. It’s unfortunate that they limit the time you can work for the same employer. I think if you could spend a year with them they’d be much more open to employing people. All I can suggest is that you keep on plugging away. I applied for so many jobs and attended so many interviews, but eventually I found a company that was a good match. I hope you’re successful soon. It can be really disheartening to keep getting rejected, but if it’s for visa reasons, it’s no reflection on your talent. I was about to give up when I found the perfect job. Good luck! :)
Hey Arianwen,
Thanks for the great post here as I will be looking for work (on a work visa from Canada) this spring in Australia. I already have my work visa granted and I’m going to start looking for work in a about a month or so. I am a certified designated accountant so it may be easier for me against other competition to land a decent job. My questions for you are as follows: Would It have been easier to find a job first before you travel over to Australia, before you even find a place? and how long did it take you to land your first job in Australia?
Thanks !!
-Dan
Dan recently posted..Visiting the Phong Nha Caves
Hi Dan! It sounds like you’ve got it all sorted! I do think it helps to already have a certification and some experience. I definitely don’t think there’s any harm in looking for jobs before you arrive in the country. I really liked SEEK as a source. I’d recommend sending off some applications a month or so before you arrive and definitely having your CV and a cover letter template sorted before you arrive. If you apply really early you might have issues if they want to meet you, so it could be wasted effort, but definitely start looking in advance. I landed my first job after about 3.5 weeks in the country and only a couple of weeks after I started looking properly. I found it through a recruitment agency I’d called and then gone to meet with. I was lucky because the employer had only used the one agency and I was the only person on their books who really matched the description of what they were looking for. It took me about 6 weeks of searching and applications to get my second job there. That was a bit more stressful. Good luck!
I’m 29 and planning to go to Australia to live and work on a WHV. Can I ask about costs pre-departure. I’m currently trying to save up enough to be able to go over there and not worry. I assume that the pre-departure costs are:
1. travel insurance, which I’m finding is minimum £450 (do you have any tips on where does good WHV insurance)?
2. The flight out there (I’m buying a single) £600+
3. paying off my phone contract and getting a pay as you go contract (any tips on what you did phone-wise when you went would be great)
Am I missing anything? I am lucky to have a few friends in the city i’ll be heading to so accommodation won’t be an issue immediately. I’m aiming to save a minimum of £3000.
Your article is fab. So informative.
Hi! Thanks for your comments. I’ll do my best to help. I always get my travel insurance with World Nomads. They’re a little pricier than some but you can choose which activities you want covered and I’ve had to claim with them before and they were great. I actually don’t think I had insurance the whole time I was in Australia, because the Medicard covers your medical concerns. I’d still recommend you get some, but it all comes down to personal choice.
I’ve never had a contract for my phone in any country so it was easy to stop my UK SIM and get a new one in Australia. You might struggle to get a contract over there – especially to begin with – as they usually require loads of information like a permanent address and proof that you’re working and earning enough to pay your monthly bills. I ended up getting PAYG there too, which wasn’t too hard to set up. They have some decent monthly packages with a fair bit of data for AUS$20-30 a month. I guess it depends how much you use it…
It’s great that you know some people, as accommodation drains your money while you’re looking for work. I’d suggest you get straight onto looking for a good place and a job as soon as possible, and probably before you go if you have the time. £3000 should keep you going for a while and I think that’s a good safety net, but money can drain fast if you don’t find work for a while, and that can be a struggle.
I hope you have an amazing time. It sounds like you’re pretty clued up so it should be a smooth ride! I’m jealous!
Thanks for getting back to me. I am planning to save more than £3000 if at all possible, it just terrifies me to think I might run out of money. I’m not actually going with the aim to travel etc I’m hoping to get some decent professional employment asap on arrival (don’t worry I’ve read all of your warnings about the difficulties I might face there!)
Whats the Medicard? And how do I get one/use it? I was under the impression that travel insurance was essential for you to be able to get a WHV, would you recommend getting the insurance policy in place before applying for the visa? I guess its tricky when, like me, you don’t know exactly what date you’ll be heading over there. I’ll be off as soon as I have enough money in the bank.
I have done endless research on sponsorship and jobs etc etc and realise how hard it might be – I would love to think I’ll get offered sponsorship for a job I enjoy over there but definitely not getting my hopes up. Its really not easy for those of us with skills, but not the RIGHT skills to be seen as sponsorable. Their system seem insanely tough on both employers and overseas workers. But I’m ready to give it a go! I’m obviously not a young 21 year old traveller looking for farm work and a good time, I’m moving to experience something different, be near some friends over there and hopefully find a way of staying on a more permanent basis. If only your 2 years on WHV counted towards permanent residency!!!
Thanks again for the awesome advice, the internet is full of this stuff but yours is the best and most comprehensive I’ve seen.
What I always do is figure out how much it would cost to get home if I really was desperate and keep that money aside in case I need it. You don’t want to get stranded! If you know you can afford to leave if you can’t find a job then the worst case scenario is you’re not there that long. Chances are you’ll find work and have an amazing year (or more) there, but there’s no need to worry about it.
The medicard is a card that allows you to claim back expenses if you see a doctor. It’s good for if you just need to get something small seen to and don’t want to claim on your insurance. You should visit a local doctors for an application form when you arrive. Call them first to make sure they have them. I actually didn’t get round to doing this and I regretted it when I had to see a doctor three times in my last month there!
I don’t know if you need travel insurance when you apply for the WHV. I don’t think I was asked for it. You can apply and then activate it months later, so my advice would be to apply now if you’re sure you’re going. They can’t expect you to have your insurance months in advance but they might stipulate that you get insurance as one of the terms of entry… I’m not sure.
I think sponsorship has a lot to do with luck. Obviously if you’re great at your job or have a unique set of skills you stand a better chance, but in many cases, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. If you do a skilled job I think you stand a better chance of them keeping you on. The difficulty is getting that skilled job in the first place when you’re only allowed to work for them for six months. It’s all doable though, and in my opinion, Australia is definitely worth those brief struggles :)
There are definitely many steps to take before being ready and allowed to go to Australia. I can’t wait to visit the Australian continent and the wonderful surrounding islands. :) Thanks for the helpful post!
You’re welcome. Yes, it’s a bit overwhelming at first, but you’ll soon get settled. At least there are lots of people who can help, and there isn’t a language barrier if you speak English. That helps a lot! Have an incredible time there!