Introduction

Planning your first working holiday adventure to Australia from the UK? It's an exciting journey filled with opportunities for exploration and personal growth. This guide aims to simplify the process of securing your first Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417), making it easy for young travellers like you to embark on this unforgettable experience.

Understanding the Working Holiday Visa

The Working Holiday Visa is a golden ticket for eligible individuals aged 18 to 30, and 18 to 35 from select countries, including the UK, allowing them to live, work, and travel in Australia for up to 12 months. It's the perfect way to dive into Aussie culture while funding your travels through short-term employment.

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, ensure you meet these essential criteria:

• Age: 18 to 35 years old.

• Nationality: Hold a valid UK passport.

• Financial Stability: Demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself. I arrived in Australia with £4,000.

• Health and Character: Meet the necessary health and character requirements. You may be asked to carry out medical checks, most will not however. 

• Previous Visa: Have not held a Working Holiday Visa in Australia before. This blog is for your 1st working holiday. 

Application Process

Price: $635 AUD / £330.44

Online Application: Head to the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs website to start your application.

Required Documents: Gather essential documents like your passport, proof of funds (I used a screenshot from my UK bank account showing the balance), alternatively can use banking statements, health insurance, and character clearance if required..

Application Fee: Pay the visa application fee online using a valid payment method. $635 AUD or £330.44

Wait for Processing: Track your application progress through your ImmiAccount. My visa was granted within literally minutes of hitting confirm. It may take up to 4 weeks for a response. I applied not long after covid and so think they may have been quick onto letting people back into Aus. 

Visa Grant: Once approved, you'll receive your Working Holiday Visa electronically. I created a google drive for all my important documents in which my visa lived, to ensure even if i lost my phone I still had access to it. Also printed out a physical copy to have on me during my travels. 

 

What changes were made to the Subclass 417 visa in July 2023?

• Age range increased to 18 - 35 for the UK

What changes were made to the Subclass 417 visa as of July 2024?

• As of 1st July 2024, UK passport holders will no longer need to meet the requirements for 'specified work' in specific sectors and areas (farm work, construction, etc) due to commonwealth benefits. 

• After a granted visa you have one year from the grant date to enter the country. Your visa will then begin on the landing date in Australia. 

What are the exemptions from working for the same employer for more than 6 months?

From 1 January 2024 you can work for the same employer in Australia for more than 6 months without asking permission if you work in any of the following:

• different locations for the same employer, as long as work in any one location does not exceed 6 months

• plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia

• natural disaster recovery work anywhere in Australia

• critical sectors, including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare, tourism and hospitality, anywhere in Australia

• certain industries, including, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, in northern Australia only (see Work in certain industries in northern Australia only​ below).

Preparing for Departure:

Flights: Book your flights to Australia, considering budget and preferred airlines. A lot of people like to break up such a long flight with stays over in Dubai, Doha, China, Asia. Consider if you want to do it in one hit like myself, or if you want to add a couple days to explore your transfer destination. Alternatively you could travel Asia first and then head to Australia after. I will be doing Asia after my Australia travels. 

Accommodation:

Arrange accommodation for your initial stay, whether it's a hotel, hostel, Airbnb, or shared rental. Consider you maybe jet lagged for a few days, having a hotel or a private room for a few days until you recover maybe a nice little luxury to help you settle in to life on the other side, before you get in the mixer and start making new connections. 

Job Hunt:

Research job opportunities in your desired Australian destination. My tip here would be use facebook groups to your advantage.

Australia can be a tricky place to find work and often times this is glossed over and thought to be easy to get casual work. I spent a week straight up applying for jobs across Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and some smaller locations trying to find work to enable me to stay. Traditional methods to find work and gain interviews used in the UK, seek, indeed and other agencies do not seem to get much attraction or attention here. At least in my experience, I had applied for 20-30 jobs only to hear back from 3/4 of them a few weeks later. 

After living with locals around Airlie I was advised the best way is to walk in with your CV, show your face and positive attitude. Failing that joining local facebook groups and pages and putting together a post to advertise yourself. This is how I found ZigZag, my degree in marine biology and certificates of advanced first aid and CPR, O2 provider and shipboard safety helped in this particular niche. A blog may come about how to gain boating work on the East coast later. 

I have met countless travellers that planned their east coast trip with meticulous detail however when it comes to an end, they arrive at Cairns, Sydney or Melbourne low on funds and no plan of how to go about attaining a job, or with the false hope of the ease to get a job from other travellers. Do not be this person. 

 

 

Insurance:

Obtain travel insurance for peace of mind. Do not leave family and parents stressing, I didn't myself buttttt do as I say, not as I do ahah. 

Cultural Prep:

Familiarise yourself with Australian customs and laws. The airports are not as bad as made out on Australian boarder force, promise. 

 

Arriving in Australia

Immigration:

Clear customs and immigration procedures upon arrival. Know how to get from the airport to your travel group, hotel or hostel. Grabbing a sim card in the airport is a quick and easy way to be able to use maps and data to cut about the city in no time. 

Banking:

Set up a local bank account and obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

You can apply for your bank card, at least with Commonwealth bank a head of time meaning the card can be sent to the local branch ready for you to pick up at your first hostel. Again, wish I knew before hand. I was on the East coast and I had to send my bank card to Perth (west coast) to the only person I knew with a fixed address while I was moving around. 

I got around this small problem by using an international bank called Wise (Highly recommend), back home (UK) I was an avid Monzo user they work great too here. Revolut many use for their Airport perks travelling over. Take a look at all three and decide which is best for you. 

Conclusion:

Your first working holiday in Australia is within reach! Follow this guide to secure your Working Holiday Visa and begin your adventure filled with new experiences and unforgettable memories.