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.
Should you’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 might 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 try:
Whether or not you’re about to board the aircraft otherwise you’ve simply touched down in Australia in your working vacation visa, this information will stroll you thru all the pieces you’ll want 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 ideas, helpful hyperlinks, and issues I want I knew earlier than I left.
Get your paper and pen on the prepared!
Earlier than You Land in your Australia Working Vacation Visa
1. Test Your Australia Working Vacation Visa Eligibility
Earlier than you begin reserving flights in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll want to be sure you’re eligible for a Working Vacation Visa (subclass 417). The foundations range relying in your nationality however for many you may 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 12 months is now not mandatory.
➡️ Test Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see extra data.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Vacation Visa
When you affirm your eligibility, the following step is to use in your visa.
I utilized on-line for my Australia Working Vacation Visa and it was tremendous fast—mine was accepted inside an hour. The present value in your first 12 month working vacation is 650AUD.
Observe: Visa processing instances can range, 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 necessary to notice that you simply wish to apply in your visa ONLY when you understand you’re positively getting into Australia. From the date of visa utility success, you could have 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 eager about the place you wish to begin your Australia Working Vacation Visa and in the event you intend to remain put for some time or work and journey on the highway. You may actually design it nonetheless you wish to! Now could be your time to dream large.
Discover journey blogs, vlogs, speak to associates and get a really feel for what you need your expertise to appear to be.
Observe: One of many restrictions to keep in mind on an Australia Working Vacation Visa is which 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 perfect locations to eat, drink, loosen up 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. E-book Your Flights
When you’ve bought your visa and achieved your analysis – it’s time to resolve the place you’d like to start out (fashionable choices are Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane) and to ebook your flights!
5. Type out your first weeks lodging (not less than)
It’s a good suggestion to determine the place you’ll keep if you first arrive in your Australia Working Vacation Visa. Have a take into consideration if you wish to hire straight away, ebook a hostel, lodge or Airbnb.
It gives you peace of thoughts to know that if you land – you could have someplace to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a scorching minute earlier than your large journey.
In Byron Bay, the place I made a decision to land, Fb housing teams have been invaluable to find a spot to hire. Each of the teams beneath have been those I used and have each short-term and long-term leases out there. It’s a matter of getting within the group and preserving an eye fixed out!
➡️ Byron Bay Housing Teams
➡️ Byron Bay WhatsApp Housing Group
I’m fairly certain a google search will show you how to discover comparable ones for any location in Australia!
6. Arrange a journey card & Insurance coverage
Earlier than you allow, it’s a good suggestion to arrange a journey checking account that’s fee-free for worldwide use. Which means in your layover and upon arrival you could have a card that you should utilize!
I exploit Revolut, which is a good choice for managing currencies and avoiding excessive trade charges.
➡️ Revolut Journey Financial institution + Card
Additionally, don’t overlook about journey insurance coverage. Should you’re planning to remain in Australia for an prolonged interval, SafetyWing is a good firm and provides inexpensive insurance coverage tailor-made for long-term travellers and nomads.
➡️ Insurance coverage for Nomads
7. Watch These Associated YouTube Movies
For extra ideas 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 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 probably the most really useful by far. They’ve an incredible app in an effort to simply handle and navigate your funds.
Establishing your checking account in your Australia Working Vacation Visa is easy—you may 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 have to convey your passport with you to set it up. The primary 12 months of banking is at the moment free so it’s a no brainer!
➡️ Set Up Commonwealth Financial institution Account On-line
3. Purchase a Automotive (If Wanted)
Should you’re planning to remain outdoors the main cities like I’m in Byron Bay, getting a automobile is important. The general public transport choices right here aren’t nice, and having a automobile will show you how to with all the pieces from job interviews to assembly new associates to social commitments. I discovered my automobile through Fb Market – however in fact, you’ll want to watch out and there are lots of issues to notice and test that will help you discover a good buy.
➡️ Suggestions for Shopping for a Automotive in Australia
➡️ Free Rego Test
4. Register Your Automotive
Inside 14 days of buying a automobile, you could register it. Should you don’t you’ll get a advantageous.
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 price + stamp responsibility.
Should you’re transferring a automobile that’s registered in one other state, there could also be a price for that too.
Check out the hyperlink for extra data: ➡️ Registering Your Automotive
5. Switch Your Driver’s License
Should you’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 price 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 techniques. So in the event 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
Should you’re working whereas in your WHV, you’ll need to 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 allow the nation, you may declare your tremendous stability.
➡️ 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 health insurance scheme.
9. Establishing Medicare
Medicare is Australias medical health insurance scheme. it helps with the prices of seeing a health care provider, 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 diminished charges. Should you’re from the UK or one other nation with a reciprocal settlement, ensure that to use for Medicare when you arrive.
10. Byron Shire Resident Parking Cross *bonus*
Should you’re establishing for some time and renting (like I’m in Byron Bay), you would possibly wish to test if there’s a free residents parking move. This may show you how 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 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 assets. It’s a good way to save cash and get some quiet time to learn or examine.
That’s all the pieces (I feel?!)
Getting your life arrange in your Australia Working Vacation Visa would possibly appear to be loads, however with slightly 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 ideas of your personal? Go away them within the feedback beneath, we’d love to listen to from you.