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.
When 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 shall be creating all of the content material to assist encourage and information you in your journey to a working visa down beneath.
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 in your working vacation visa, this information will stroll you thru all the pieces you could 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. Verify Your Australia Working Vacation Visa Eligibility
Earlier than you begin reserving flights in your Australia Working Vacation Visa, you could be sure you’re eligible for a Working Vacation Visa (subclass 417). The principles fluctuate 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 not vital.
➡️ Verify Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see extra data.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Vacation Visa
When you affirm 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 accredited inside an hour. The present value in 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 necessary to notice that you just need to apply in your visa ONLY when you understand you’re undoubtedly getting into Australia. From the date of visa utility success, you might have 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 need to beginning researching and fascinated with the place you need 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 need to! Now could be your time to dream huge.
Discover journey blogs, vlogs, discuss to buddies and get a really feel for what you need your expertise to seem like.
Observe: One of many restrictions to keep in mind on an Australia Working Vacation Visa is which you can 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 limitless 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 machine and all my pins are on the contact of your fingertips.
4. E book Your Flights
When you’ve acquired your visa and executed your analysis – it’s time to resolve the place you’d like to start out (widespread choices are Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane) and to ebook your flights!
5. Kind out your first weeks lodging (a minimum of)
It’s a good suggestion to determine the place you’ll keep once you first arrive in your Australia Working Vacation Visa. Have a take into consideration if you wish to hire instantly, ebook a hostel, resort or Airbnb.
It gives you peace of thoughts to know that once you land – you might have someplace to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a sizzling 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 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 positive a google search will enable you to 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. Because of this in your layover and upon arrival you might have a card that you should use!
I exploit Revolut, which is a superb choice for managing currencies and avoiding excessive trade charges.
➡️ Revolut Journey Financial institution + Card
Additionally, don’t neglect about journey insurance coverage. When you’re planning to remain in Australia for an prolonged interval, SafetyWing is a superb firm and provides reasonably priced 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 stuff you’ll have to do once you land in your Australia Working Vacation Visa is to get a neighborhood SIM card to keep up a correspondence 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’ll be able to 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 excellent app so that you could 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 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 deliver 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)
When you’re planning to remain outdoors the main cities like I’m in Byron Bay, getting a automotive is crucial. The general public transport choices right here aren’t nice, and having a automotive will enable you to with all the pieces from job interviews to assembly new buddies to social commitments. I discovered my automotive through Fb Market – however after all, you could watch out and there are various issues to notice and verify that will help you discover a good buy.
➡️ Suggestions for Shopping for a Automotive in Australia
➡️ Free Rego Verify
4. Register Your Automotive
Inside 14 days of buying a automotive, you could register it. When you don’t you’ll get a tremendous.
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 handle and a card to pay the switch charge + stamp responsibility.
When 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 Automotive
5. Switch Your Driver’s License
When 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 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
When 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 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 numerous 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. 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 companies at low or no value.
As a UK citizen, I’m eligible for Australia’s reciprocal healthcare settlement, which implies I can entry Medicare at decreased charges. When you’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 Move *bonus*
When you’re establishing for some time and renting (like I’m in Byron Bay), you may need to verify if there’s a free residents parking go. This may 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 sources. It’s an effective way to save cash and get some quiet time to learn or examine.
That’s all the pieces (I believe?!)
Getting your life arrange in your Australia Working Vacation Visa may appear to be rather a lot, however with somewhat 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 under, we’d love to listen to from you.