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.
In the event 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 take a look at:
Whether or not you’re about to board the airplane otherwise you’ve simply touched down in Australia in your working vacation visa, this information will stroll you thru the whole lot it is advisable 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 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, it is advisable to ensure 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 yr is not obligatory.
➡️ Test Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see extra information.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Vacation Visa
When you verify your eligibility, the subsequent step is to use in your visa.
I utilized on-line for my Australia Working Vacation Visa and it was tremendous fast—mine was permitted inside an hour. The present value in your first 12 month working vacation is 650AUD.
Word: Visa processing occasions can range, and the federal government recommends permitting as much as eight weeks earlier than you fly, simply in case of a sluggish approval or denial of your visa.
Additionally essential to notice that you simply wish to apply in your visa ONLY when you’re undoubtedly 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 fascinated by 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’ll be able to actually design it nonetheless 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.
Word: One of many restrictions to keep in mind on an Australia Working Vacation Visa is that you may 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 one of the best locations to eat, drink, chill out 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. Ebook Your Flights
When you’ve acquired 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 guide your flights!
5. Kind out your first weeks lodging (a minimum of)
It’s a good suggestion to determine the place you’ll keep while you first arrive in your Australia Working Vacation Visa. Have a take into consideration if you wish to lease straight away, guide a hostel, lodge or Airbnb.
It will provide you with peace of thoughts to know that while you land – you could have someplace to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a sizzling minute earlier than your massive journey.
In Byron Bay, the place I made a decision to land, Fb housing teams had been invaluable find a spot to lease. Each of the teams under had been those I used and have each short-term and long-term leases accessible. It’s a matter of getting within the group and retaining an eye fixed out!
➡️ Byron Bay Housing Teams
➡️ Byron Bay WhatsApp Housing Group
I’m fairly certain a google search will assist 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. Which means that 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 alternate charges.
➡️ Revolut Journey Financial institution + Card
Additionally, don’t neglect about journey insurance coverage. In the event you’re planning to remain in Australia for an prolonged interval, SafetyWing is a good firm and affords 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 have to do while you land in your Australia Working Vacation Visa is to get a neighborhood SIM card to communicate and to navigate round. Telstra is a extremely really helpful community supplier for good protection, however there are different suppliers like Optus and Vodafone. You’ll be able to simply decide 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 helpful by far. They’ve an amazing app so that you could simply handle and navigate your funds.
Organising your checking account in your Australia Working Vacation Visa is easy—you may 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)
In the event you’re planning to remain exterior the key 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 assist you to with the whole lot from job interviews to assembly new mates to social commitments. I discovered my automotive through Fb Market – however in fact, it is advisable to watch out and there are various issues to notice and examine that can assist you discover a good buy.
➡️ Ideas for Shopping for a Automobile in Australia
➡️ Free Rego Test
4. Register Your Automobile
Inside 14 days of buying a automotive, it’s essential to register it. In the event you don’t you’ll get a high quality.
You are able to do this at a neighborhood 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 charge + stamp obligation.
In the event you’re transferring a automotive that’s registered in one other state, there could also be a charge for that too.
Check out the hyperlink for extra data: ➡️ Registering Your Automobile
5. Switch Your Driver’s License
In the event you’re staying longer than six months in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you’ll have to switch your international driver’s license to an Australian one.
It’s a easy course of with a small charge 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 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
In the event you’re working whereas in your WHV, you’ll must 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 may declare your tremendous steadiness.
➡️ Information to Superannuation
8. Set Up Your myGov Account
Your myGov account is your gateway to plenty of 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 value.
As a UK citizen, I’m eligible for Australia’s reciprocal healthcare settlement, which suggests I can entry Medicare at diminished charges. In the event 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*
In the event you’re establishing for some time and renting (like I’m in Byron Bay), you may wish to examine if there’s a free residents parking move. This can assist 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 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 research.
That’s the whole lot (I believe?!)
Getting your life arrange in your Australia Working Vacation Visa may look like quite a bit, 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 suggestions of your individual? Go away them within the feedback under, we’d love to listen to from you.