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.
If you happen to’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 shall be creating all of the content material to assist encourage and information you in your journey to a working visa down underneath.
P.s. I’ve been including Australia Working Vacation movies to my YouTube too, right here’s the most recent episodes so that you can take a look at:
Whether or not you’re about to board the aircraft otherwise you’ve simply touched down in Australia on your working vacation visa, this information will stroll you thru the whole lot it’s good to 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 suggestions, helpful hyperlinks, and issues I want I knew earlier than I left.
Get your paper and pen on the prepared!
Earlier than You Land on your Australia Working Vacation Visa
1. Examine Your Australia Working Vacation Visa Eligibility
Earlier than you begin reserving flights on your Australia Working Vacation Visa, it’s good to be sure to’re eligible for a Working Vacation Visa (subclass 417). The foundations differ relying in your nationality however for many you possibly can 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 yr is not essential.
➡️ Examine Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see extra information.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Vacation Visa
When you affirm your eligibility, the subsequent step is to use on your visa.
I utilized on-line for my Australia Working Vacation Visa and it was tremendous fast—mine was authorised inside an hour. The present value on your first 12 month working vacation is 650AUD.
Notice: Visa processing instances 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 wish to apply on your visa ONLY when you might be undoubtedly coming into Australia. From the date of visa utility success, you’ve 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 wish to beginning researching and fascinated with the place you wish 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 possibly can actually design it nevertheless you wish to! Now’s your time to dream huge.
Discover journey blogs, vlogs, discuss to associates and get a really feel for what you need your expertise to seem like.
Notice: One of many restrictions to remember on an Australia Working Vacation Visa is you could solely work for one employer for as much as 6 months.
➡️ Get impressed for Australia right here on my weblog
Get lifetime entry to my countless hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering the perfect locations to eat, drink, calm down and discover within the space. You merely open the Google Map in your machine and all my pins are on the contact of your fingertips.
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 (fashionable choices are Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane) and to e book your flights!
5. Type out your first weeks lodging (at the very least)
It’s a good suggestion to determine the place you’ll keep if you first arrive on your Australia Working Vacation Visa. Have a take into consideration if you wish to hire immediately, e book a hostel, resort or Airbnb.
It gives you peace of thoughts to know that if you land – you’ve someplace to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a scorching minute earlier than your huge journey.
In Byron Bay, the place I made a decision to land, Fb housing teams had been invaluable find a spot to hire. Each of the teams beneath had been those I used and have each short-term and long-term leases obtainable. It’s a matter of getting within the group and holding a watch out!
➡️ Byron Bay Housing Teams
➡️ Byron Bay WhatsApp Housing Group
I’m fairly positive a google search will enable you to discover related ones for any location in Australia!
6. Arrange a journey card & Insurance coverage
Earlier than you permit, it’s a good suggestion to arrange a journey checking account that’s fee-free for worldwide use. Because of this in your layover and upon arrival you’ve a card that you need to use!
I take advantage of Revolut, which is a superb possibility for managing currencies and avoiding excessive trade charges.
➡️ Revolut Journey Financial institution + Card
Additionally, don’t neglect about journey insurance coverage. If you happen to’re planning to remain in Australia for an prolonged interval, SafetyWing is a superb firm and gives inexpensive insurance coverage tailor-made for long-term travellers and nomads.
➡️ Insurance coverage for Nomads
7. Watch These Associated YouTube Movies
For extra suggestions 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 must 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 advisable community supplier for good protection, however there are different suppliers like Optus and Vodafone. You possibly can simply choose 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 advisable by far. They’ve an ideal app so as to simply handle and navigate your funds.
Establishing your checking account on your Australia Working Vacation Visa is easy—you possibly can 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 must convey your passport with you to set it up. The primary yr of banking is at the moment free so it’s a no brainer!
➡️ Set Up Commonwealth Financial institution Account On-line
3. Purchase a Automobile (If Wanted)
If you happen to’re planning to remain outdoors the main cities like I’m in Byron Bay, getting a automotive is important. The general public transport choices right here aren’t nice, and having a automotive will enable you to with the whole lot from job interviews to assembly new associates to social commitments. I discovered my automotive by way of Fb Market – however after all, it’s good to watch out and there are a lot of issues to notice and verify that will help you discover a good buy.
➡️ Ideas for Shopping for a Automobile in Australia
➡️ Free Rego Examine
4. Register Your Automobile
Inside 14 days of buying a automotive, you have to register it. If you happen to 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 obligation.
If you happen to’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 data: ➡️ Registering Your Automobile
5. Switch Your Driver’s License
If you happen to’re staying longer than six months in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll must 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
If you happen to’re working whereas in your WHV, you’ll need to arrange a superannuation account. That is Australia’s retirement financial savings scheme and employers can pay 15% on high of your wage as a contribution to it.
As soon as you permit the nation, you possibly can declare your tremendous steadiness.
➡️ Information to Superannuation
8. Set Up Your myGov Account
Your myGov account is your gateway to a lot of important authorities providers, together with well being care, tax returns, and extra. I used myGov to arrange Medicare, Australia’s public medical insurance scheme.
9. Establishing Medicare
Medicare is Australias medical insurance scheme. it helps with the prices of seeing a physician, 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 value.
As a UK citizen, I’m eligible for Australia’s reciprocal healthcare settlement, which suggests I can entry Medicare at lowered charges. If you happen to’re from the UK or one other nation with a reciprocal settlement, make certain to use for Medicare when you arrive.
10. Byron Shire Resident Parking Move *bonus*
If you happen to’re establishing for some time and renting (like I’m in Byron Bay), you would possibly wish to verify if there’s a free residents parking move. This can enable you to 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 assets. It’s an effective way to economize and get some quiet time to learn or examine.
That’s the whole lot (I believe?!)
Getting your life arrange on your Australia Working Vacation Visa would possibly seem to be so much, 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 suggestions of your individual? Go away them within the feedback beneath, we’d love to listen to from you.
