If you want to move to Australia, and you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you will need to apply for, and obtain an Australian visa before you travel.
The type of visa that is right for you depends on how long you intend to stay in Australia and what you want to do in Australia.
The Australian Working Holiday visa is open to applicants aged between 18 and 30. Citizens of Canada, France or Ireland are eligible to apply for the visa until the age of 35. Check working holiday age limits and eligibility on the Department of Home Affairs website
A person can legally work in Australia if:
If you want to spend time working in Australia you will need a work visa. The type of visa you are eligible to apply for will depend on how long you want to stay.
You can decide what visa you need based on questions that the Australian government has put together.
Your first Working Holiday visa lasts for 12 months and you will have 6 months to work with each employer. However, there may be options to extend your working holiday visa if you complete regional or farm work specified by the Australian Government.
Learn more about specified work for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) .
The application form will take a few hours to complete accurately.
You will also need to prepare and submit supporting documentation to accompany your visa application.
Learn more about the process and documentations required for the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) before applying.
The Working Holiday visa application requires identity documents such as your passport and financial evidence that proves you have the funds to stay in Australia, usually AUD $5,000.
You’ll need to meet certain health and character requirements, and you may also be asked to provide a police certificate.
All documents must be in English, and any scan or photograph of documents must be clear and in colour.
See the most up-to-date document checklists for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) for more information.
There are many work visas to choose from.
To explore your options and see what visa might be suitable for you then try out the visa finder.
Eligible nationals can obtain a first working holiday visa for Australia only once.
Second and third visa applications may be possible depending on your circumstances and if subsequent visa requirements can be met.
If you have traveled to Australia with a WHV in the past and the permit has expired, you cannot apply for a new one.
It costs AUD $495 to apply for an Australian Working Holiday visa, though the price can change at any time. Check the price for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) before applying.
It costs AUD $495 to apply for an Australian Working Holiday visa, though the price can change at any time. Check the price for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) before applying.
A visa application can be denied for many reasons, including providing false or misleading information, bogus documents or not meeting visa application criteria such as English language, health or character requirements.
The employer-sponsored visa allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers in one of the eligible occupations, to serve their business needs.
It also allows skilled workers of a foreign country to explore their employment options with Australian employers, in case they may need their skills.
Friends cannot sponsor you directly, however, if you have a friend who owns a business in Australia and they can offer you a position that aligns with your qualifications, skills and employment experience, they may be able to offer you a position and sponsor you to work on a work visa.
Your eligibility to be sponsored to work in Australia will depend on your background namely qualifications and prior work experience. Generally speaking, if you have an employment offer and a company willing to sponsor you, and you have sufficient work experience to apply for the role, and meet other visa application criteria, you may be sponsored to work in Australia.
As immigration rules and regulations are always changing, we recommend seeking professional legal advice on your visa options specific to your circumstances.
You can find an employer by applying for jobs in Australia and seeking sponsorship opportunities.
Any company that has an available position and is interested in offering you employment may sponsor you.
From a sponsorship perspective, the company needs to be lawfully operating, be financially stable and have a genuine position available to be filled in Australia.
You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence through your employer provided you meet the eligibility requirements for permanent visa sponsorship. You may also be eligible to apply for permanent residence through independent migration or state sponsored migration programs. Alternatively, if you have family members who are Australian, e.g. Australian partner, they may also sponsor you for permanent residence through family stream.
Processing fees for permanent residency migration vary depending on type of application.
You can get a job in Australia through WorkinAUS.
You can travel to Australia without a job offer provided you have a valid visa, however, it is recommended that you apply for jobs before you travel and after you secure your visa. Recruitment process and starting a job may take some time so it is recommended you at least start this process prior to your arrival to Australia.
As a working holiday visa holder, there are no restrictions on what type of work you can do in Australia. However, your eligibility for subsequent visas including permanent visa options, will depend on the type of work that you do and occupation you are working in.
Australia’s list of jobs in demand is constantly changing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, current list of critical industries and jobs in demand include those in agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, child care, tourism and hospitality.
This will largely depend on the length of your stay and the type of visa you hold. If you hold a Working Holiday visa, you will need to have at least AUD $5,000 in your bank account for the initial period of your stay in Australia.
All work visas come with guaranteed work rights (excluding visitor visas), however some visas may have work restrictions
For example, working holiday visa holders will have 6-month work limitation with each employer whilst temporary work visa holders (sponsored on a 482-visa) will be restricted to working with their nominating employer only.
Generally speaking, you can apply for a job in any sector whilst holding a working holiday visa.