This page may contain affiliates. However, I will never recommend resources which I do not find helpful or useful to myself. For more information on what this means please see my Disclaimers and Policies page. 

How to Apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa

In order to visit Australia, as a tourist or for a working holiday, you will need a visa (In this post, I only will discuss the Working Holiday Visa subclass 417 as this is the only visa I have applied for at this time). However, in your searches you may have encountered a Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462). Check out this post if you need some clarification.

A quick google search on Australian Working Holiday visas will present you with various agencies promising to make the process quick and easy. However, I am here to tell you that those are unnecessary! The Working Holiday Visa application process is super quick and easy to do on your own. Simply put, the best way of getting approved is to take the time and do it yourself for FREE (Minus the costs of application).

So, the big question? How does one apply?

Firstly, before you start, there are a few points you will need to consider.

Do You Have?

• A passport valid for the duration of your stay (This means not just the standard six months but at least the entire year. More if you might want to do a second year.)?
• $450 AUD to pay for the visa application (Cost for Canadians at the time of writing)?
• $5000 in support funds? Note: You do not need to prove that you have these funds at the time of your application. However, there will be a question in the application as to whether you not you do. The Australian border may request proof. For now, during the application, a plan to have those funds before you depart should suffice.
• Do you have up to thirty-five days to wait for an answer? For myself and my travel companions we received nearly automatic approval. However, this may not always be the case. Plan ahead and apply early! Once approved you have an entire year from the approval date to get to Australia. So, applying early does not hurt.

Are You?

• Are you currently outside of the country of Australia? You may not be able to apply for this visa while you are currently in Australia.

Now, the onto the application.

How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa:

Step 1: Get your valid passport ready, you will need it. Also, you will need to pay the fees for this visa at the end of the application (At time of writing, $450 AUD for Canadians).

Step 2: The visa that you will be applying for is Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417). If you are a Canadian citizen, this is the standard visa that allows you to work and travel throughout Australia. In order to start the application process, visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. This website will review the requirements that I have previously discussed. 

Step 3: Create an ImmiAccount. This is where you can check the status of your visa later and ensure that they have received all required documentation.

Step 4: Fill out the application. This took me about ten minutes to complete and I was automatically approved. Also, take special care to ensure that you fill this application out correctly as it may be difficult to change answers later. After the application is complete you will receive a confirmation email. Once you are approved, you will receive an email to confirm. This email will contain PDF documentation that you can print out and bring with you to the border.

What sort of questions do they ask? Well, first, it requests your personal details such as name and date/place of birth. Passport information is required. This includes your passport number, date of issue/expiry, and issuing authority. All of this can easily be found on the biodata page of your passport. There is a question about a health examination, which I answered, “No.” This did not appear to cause any issues with my application. There are questions on your usual occupation and what occupations that you plan to search for in Australia. They will want your contact information including residential address and phone number. There are some standard health questions. You do need to be in good character for a working holiday visa so lastly, there are some questions about criminal history. And that is basically the gist of the application.

Step 5: Once your status changes to finalized in your ImmiAccount, print out all documents and bring them with you. That is all. You do not need to have anything added to your passport at this time.

You are set, it is this easy! Truly, the best way of applying is saving yourself the costs and doing it yourself. Now focus on making sure you have your $5000 support funds and get on a beach.

Extra Recommendation: If you do feel the need to get assistance in some way, www.swap.ca is an agency that I have looked into in the past for Canadians. They offer both assistance before you take off and assistance once you arrive. This could create a nice support system for a solo traveller. I have not personally used it but, I have spoken with others who have and it was highly recommended by them. I have also strongly considered it for myself when I was younger and planning on doing things solo.

Did I miss any questions? Please feel free to leave them in the comments or to contact me.

This page may contain affiliates. However, I will never recommend resources which I do not find helpful or useful to myself. For more information on what this means please see my Disclaimers and Policies page. 

Can a Canadian work and travel in Australia?

So, if you stumbled upon this post, you may be wondering if you can extend a stay in Australia by working as you travel. Fair question given the cost of travelling through the massive country. Not to mention the long flight times. Well, if you are a Canadian between the ages of 18 and 35 years old, then I have great news for you! The Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417), is a visa designed for this AND Canadians are eligible. This visa means that work and travel in Australia is definitely something that is quite accessible for Canadian citizens.

So, what is this visa all about then?

Am I Eligible for a Working Holiday Visa?

• Canadian applicants must be between the ages of 18-35 years old.
• You will need a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your stay. So rather than the standard six months, it would need to be valid for at least a year. Canada has these nice, new ten-year passports so that should not be too difficult to achieve.
• You cannot have not previously had a visa under Subclass 462. More information on what that means here. 
• There cannot be any dependent children accompanying you.
• You must have a suitable amount of money to support yourself ($5000) and buy a return ticket home.
• Applicants must be of good character. So, no more convicts allowed.
• You cannot have outstanding debts to the Australian Government.
• Luckily, you do not need to have work lined up for this visa ahead of time. You can show up and find a job there.

What Can One Do with a Working Holiday Visa?

• Someone on a working holiday visa is able to leave Australia and re-enter during the same year. Since multiple entries are permitted, you are able to also explore other countries and return to Australia.
• You are able to work during the visa but not with the same employer for more than 6 months.
• This visa allows for tourism. So, feel free to wander around and take in the sights. You are only here once (Or maybe twice but more on that in a bit).
• If you want to, you are allowed up to four months of study.
• Most importantly, you can remain in Australian for up to 12 months.

The expectation on this visa subclass is that you are mostly travelling Australia and working as needed to supplement your travels.

How Much Does a Working Holiday Visa Cost?

$450 AUD at the time of writing.

How long does it take to get a Working Holiday Visa?

The Australian government lists processing times as being up to 35 days but myself and my travel companions were able to get ours approved much sooner. However, do not rely on that. Apply in advance of your expected departure. You will have one year from the approval date to enter the country, so applying early should not hurt.

Are Canadians only eligible for one working holiday visa?

Not necessarily but some restrictions apply. If you think that you may want to spend a second year in Australia then you must complete three months of farm work during your first visa. For more information check out the Australian government’s website under specified work.

How can you get a working holiday visa for Australia?

The application process can be completed online and is actually quite simple to do yourself. The application can be found on the Australian government website. Simply, make an immiAccount. Or, for a detailed application guide, check this out.

What if I want to work in Australia and then travel to another country for a bit?

You can! The working holiday visa (Subclass 417) allows for multiple entries into Australia. For instance, you could work for four months in Australia and then spend a month travelling New Zealand. If you wanted to come back to Australia afterwards, as long as your visa has not expired, you can!

What do I need before I can apply to Work and Travel?

• A passport that will be valid for the duration of your trip. Canada has started offering ten-year passports which could be a good option. That way if you opt for a second year, it will be ready to go. This process can take time so it’s good to get a head start on this if you need to. Go to your local post office to pick up an application form. For more information on passport renewals head over to the passport Canada website. Also, scan your passport and have it saved somewhere accessible to you in the event it gets lost.
• The visa will cost $450 AUD (At time of writing). This will have to be paid in full before your application will be processed.
• You will need to prove you have funds to support yourself while in Australia and to return home. The Australian government suggests $5000. While this is not necessary to complete the application, it would be a good idea to have all or most of it ready. Or, at the very least, a solid plan for saving it up. You definitely do not want to cut your work and travel short by running out of money before securing a job.

And that’s that. If you’re within the age brackets and able to save you can definitely spend a year down under.

Are you burning with curiosity? Have more questions? Either leave them in the comments or email me. I am happy to help.

Before we get into what an Australia working holiday is, you should know that this page may contain affiliates. However, I will never recommend resources which I do not find helpful or useful to myself. For more information on what this means please see my Disclaimers and Policies page. 

Plus, which Australian holiday visa subclass should Canadians be looking at?

If you have been doing some research on Australian Working Holiday Visas then you may have noticed two different, but similarly worded visas. The Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462). While, these are similar in the idea they do have some very important differences. So you may be wondering, what is the difference between an Australia “Working Holiday Visa” and a “Work and Holiday Visa”…? And which one is right for you?

Australia Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

This visa allows individuals between the ages of 18 – 30 years old come to Australia for a period of up to year (In 2018, this became extended to 35 years old for Canadian and Irish citizens). Those who have received this visa may be eligible for a second visa pending completion of three months of farm work during their first visa (This is a very important point for those who think they may at any point want a second visa).

Countries eligible for this visa are:

• Belgium
• Canada
• Republic of Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Republic of Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

Requirements:

• Applicant must be between the ages of 18-30 years old (Except Canadian and Irish citizens who now have until age 35. Hooray!). However, you can enter the country up until your 31st birthday.
• Eligible passport- so, not expired and from one of the countries listed above.
• You cannot have had a previous visa under subclass 462 (We will discuss that momentarily).
• There can be no dependent children accompanying you.
• You must have a suitable amount of money to support yourself ($5000) and buy a return ticket home.
• Good character. So essentially, no criminal records.
• You cannot have outstanding debts to the Australian Government. Plus, if you want to get a second year visa, try not to incur Australian debts.

What This Visa Allows:

• Multiple entries. In other words, you are allowed to exit Australia and re-enter provided these travels occur while the visa is still valid.
• Work during the visa but not with the same employer for more than 6 months.
• Up to four months of study.
• You are allowed to remain in Australian for up to 12 months.
• Tourism. Therefore, you can travel as freely as you want within Australia and supplement your travel funds with work.

Cost:

• $450 AUD

The expectation on this visa subclass is that you are mostly travelling Australia and working as needed to supplement your travels. Most importantly, this is what Canadian citizens will be applying for. Conveniently, I have written about how to apply for a working holiday visa.

For more information in general, check out the Australian government’s website.

Australia Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

Firstly, this very similar visa is for individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 years old who wish to work and travel in Australia. Those who hold this visa may be able to obtain a second one pending completion of three months of work in Northern Australia during your first visa.

A noteworthy point is that there is an annual limit on applications accepted per year for this type of visa. The visa year is July 1.

This visa is for people from:

• Argentina
• Austria
• Chile
• China, People’s Republic of
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Luxemborg
• Malaysia
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Vietnam

Requirements:

• Applicants must be between the ages of 18-30 years old.
• Eligible passport- So, not expired and from one of the countries listed above.
• You may not have previously had a visa under subclass 417 (Discussed above).
• Unfortunately, no dependent children.
• Meet education and English requirements. These may vary depending on your passport.
• You must have the support of the government in your home country.
• You must have a suitable amount of money to support yourself. For instance, $5000 and enough to buy a return ticket home.
• Must be of good character. Therefore, no criminal records.
• You cannot have outstanding debts to the Australian Government.

What This Visa Subclass Allows:

• Firstly, multiple entries. Again, this means you are allowed to travel to additional countries and come back to Australia within your year.
• Secondly, work during the visa but not with the same employer for more than 6 months.
• Thirdly, tourism. So, you can work and travel around.
• In addition, you may study for up to four months.
• Finally, you can remain in Australia for up to 12 months.

Cost:

• $450 AUD

The expectation again is that you are building cultural ties and working to supplement travels. For more information visit the Australian Government’s website.

Therefore, as we can see, one of the major differences is your citizenship. Depending on what your citizenship is you will have different requirements for applying. The other differences between the two visas are italicized under Subclass 462. That being said, I believe the application website will help direct you to apply for the appropriate visa. As such, there is a limited possibility of you applying for the wrong one.

Final Note: Canadian citizens apply for the Australia Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417).

Pin This:

Am I forgetting something? Or, do you have more questions? Please feel free to leave them in the comments or contact me.