Planning to make the leap and begin your journey in Australia on a Working Vacation Visa (WHV)? Eeek, you’ve arrived to the proper place.
For those who’re on the fence and also you want some inspiration, I’ve over 100 Australia journey guides on this weblog from over 10 years of journey right here. Though, it actually doesn’t take a lot convincing, this nation is oozing with white sand seashores, surf breaks and as soon as in a lifetime adventures.
After 10 years of visiting Australia, I’ve personally simply made the transfer and so I shall be creating all of the content material to assist encourage and information you in your journey to a working visa down below.
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 try:
Whether or not you’re about to board the airplane otherwise you’ve simply touched down in Australia on your working vacation visa, this information will stroll you thru every thing it’s essential 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 essential to be sure to’re eligible for a Working Vacation Visa (subclass 417). The principles fluctuate 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 now not needed.
➡️ Examine Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see extra data.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Vacation Visa
When you verify your eligibility, the subsequent step is to use 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 price on your first 12 month working vacation is 650AUD.
Observe: Visa processing instances can fluctuate, 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 getting into Australia. From the date of visa software success, you’ve gotten 12 months to enter the nation earlier than the visa turns into invalid.
3. Determine your vacation spot and dream up your imaginative and prescient
Subsequent, you’ll wish to beginning researching and occupied with the place you wish to begin your Australia Working Vacation Visa and when you intend to remain put for some time or work and journey on the highway. You may actually design it nevertheless you wish to! Now could be your time to dream massive.
Discover journey blogs, vlogs, speak to mates and get a really feel for what you need your expertise to seem like.
Observe: 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 infinite hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering the most effective locations to eat, drink, calm down and discover within the space. You merely open the Google Map in your system and all my pins are on the contact of your fingertips.
4. Guide Your Flights
When you’ve bought your visa and executed your analysis – it’s time to determine the place you’d like to begin (fashionable choices are Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane) and to ebook your flights!
5. Type out your first weeks lodging (no less than)
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, ebook a hostel, resort or Airbnb.
It provides you with peace of thoughts to know that if you land – you’ve gotten someplace to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a scorching minute earlier than your massive journey.
In Byron Bay, the place I made a decision to land, Fb housing teams had been invaluable to find a spot to hire. Each of the teams under 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 protecting a watch out!
➡️ Byron Bay Housing Teams
➡️ Byron Bay WhatsApp Housing Group
I’m fairly positive a google search will assist you discover comparable 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. Which means that in your layover and upon arrival you’ve gotten a card that you should utilize!
I take advantage of Revolut, which is a good possibility for managing currencies and avoiding excessive change charges.
➡️ Revolut Journey Financial institution + Card
Additionally, don’t neglect about journey insurance coverage. For those who’re planning to remain in Australia for an prolonged interval, SafetyWing is a good firm and affords reasonably priced 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 stuff you’ll have to do if you land in your Australia Working Vacation Visa is to get an area SIM card to be in contact and to navigate round. Telstra is a extremely really useful community supplier for good protection, however there are different suppliers like Optus and Vodafone. You may 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 really useful by far. They’ve an awesome app to be able to simply handle and navigate your funds.
Organising your checking account on your Australia Working Vacation Visa is straightforward—you possibly can fill out the shape on-line under earlier than you arrive, and when you’re in Australia, it solely takes about 10 minutes to activate your account at your native department.
You’ll have to carry your passport with you to set it up. The primary yr of banking is at present free so it’s a no brainer!
➡️ Set Up Commonwealth Financial institution Account On-line
3. Purchase a Automobile (If Wanted)
For those who’re planning to remain exterior the most important cities like I’m in Byron Bay, getting a automobile is crucial. The general public transport choices right here aren’t nice, and having a automobile will assist you with every thing from job interviews to assembly new mates to social commitments. I discovered my automobile by way of Fb Market – however after all, it’s essential to watch out and there are a lot of issues to notice and test that can assist 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 automobile, you should register it. For those who don’t you’ll get a high quality.
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 deal with and a card to pay the switch payment + stamp responsibility.
For those who’re transferring a automobile 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
For those who’re staying longer than six months in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll have to switch your overseas 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 when you’re planning to work in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll want one. It’s free and it takes 5 minutes to do on-line. You’ll want your passport to use.
7. Superannuation: Setting Up for Retirement
For those who’re working whereas in your WHV, you’ll should arrange a superannuation account. That is Australia’s retirement financial savings scheme and employers pays 15% on prime of your wage as a contribution to it.
As soon as you permit the nation, you possibly can declare your tremendous stability.
➡️ Information to Superannuation
8. Set Up Your myGov Account
Your myGov account is your gateway to quite a few important authorities companies, together with well being care, tax returns, and extra. I used myGov to arrange Medicare, Australia’s public medical health insurance scheme.
9. Organising Medicare
Medicare is Australias medical health 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 companies at low or no price.
As a UK citizen, I’m eligible for Australia’s reciprocal healthcare settlement, which suggests I can entry Medicare at decreased charges. For those who’re from the UK or one other nation with a reciprocal settlement, be sure that to use for Medicare when you arrive.
10. Byron Shire Resident Parking Cross *bonus*
For those who’re organising for some time and renting (like I’m in Byron Bay), you may wish to test if there’s a free residents parking move. It will assist you keep away from parking charges as you go about your life and ocean dips! I utilized for a free one right here in NSW and it was tremendous easy!
➡️ Free Shire Resident Parking Cross
11. Library Card *bonus*
Within the Northern Rivers area, a library card grants entry to quite a few libraries, free Wi-Fi, and different sources. It’s an effective way to economize and get some quiet time to learn or research.
That’s every thing (I feel?!)
Getting your life arrange on your Australia Working Vacation Visa may appear to be loads, however with somewhat prep, it’ll be a breeze!
From visa functions to organising financial institution accounts and securing lodging, I hope this information helps streamline your course of.
Have any questions or suggestions of your personal? Depart them within the feedback under, we’d love to listen to from you.
