Planning to take the plunge and start your adventure in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV)? Eeek, you’ve arrived to the perfect place.
If you’re on the fence and you need some inspiration, I have over 100 Australia travel guides on this blog from over 10 years of travel here. Although, it really doesn’t take much convincing, this country is oozing with white sand beaches, surf breaks and once in a lifetime adventures.
After 10 years of visiting Australia, I have personally just made the move and so I will be creating all the content to help inspire and guide you on your journey to a working visa down under.
P.s. I’ve been adding Australia Working Holiday videos to my YouTube too, here’s the latest episodes for you to check out:
Whether you’re about to board the plane or you’ve just touched down in Australia for your working holiday visa, this guide will walk you through everything you need to do before and after landing to set yourself up for a stress free, efficient working holiday visa process.
I’ve compiled all my personal experiences, including helpful tips, useful links, and things I wish I knew before I left.
Get your paper and pen at the ready!
Before You Land for your Australia Working Holiday Visa
1. Check Your Australia Working Holiday Visa Eligibility
Before you start booking flights for your Australia Working Holiday Visa, you need to make sure you’re eligible for a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417). The rules vary depending on your nationality but for most you can apply up to the age of 30.
For UK citizens, as of July 2024, you can now apply for the Australia Working Holiday Visa up to the age of 35 (up from 30). Plus, the requirement to complete 88 days of farm work to secure a second and third year is no longer necessary.
➡️ Check Visa Eligibility for the WHV and see more info.
2. Apply for Your Australia Working Holiday Visa
Once you confirm your eligibility, the next step is to apply for your visa.
I applied online for my Australia Working Holiday Visa and it was super quick—mine was approved within an hour. The current cost for your first 12 month working holiday is 650AUD.
Note: Visa processing times can vary, and the government recommends allowing up to eight weeks before you fly, just in case of a slow approval or denial of your visa.
Also important to note that you want to apply for your visa ONLY when you know you are definitely entering Australia. From the date of visa application success, you have 12 months to enter the country before the visa becomes invalid.
3. Decide your destination and dream up your vision
Next, you’ll want to starting researching and thinking about where you want to start your Australia Working Holiday Visa and if you intend to stay put for a while or work and travel on the road. You can literally design it however you want to! Now is your time to dream big.
Explore travel blogs, vlogs, talk to friends and get a feel for what you want your experience to look like.
Note: One of the restrictions to bear in mind on an Australia Working Holiday Visa is that you can only work for one employer for up to 6 months.
➡️ Get inspired for Australia here on my blog
Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all my pins are at the touch of your fingertips.
4. Book Your Flights
Once you’ve got your visa and done your research – it’s time to decide where you’d like to start (popular options are Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane) and to book your flights!
5. Sort out your first weeks accommodation (at least)
It’s a good idea to figure out where you’ll stay when you first arrive for your Australia Working Holiday Visa. Have a think about if you want to rent right away, book a hostel, hotel or Airbnb.
It will give you peace of mind to know that when you land – you have somewhere to go and sleep off the jet lag / land for a hot minute before your big adventure.
In Byron Bay, where I decided to land, Facebook housing groups were invaluable in finding a place to rent. Both of the groups below were the ones I used and have both short-term and long-term rentals available. It’s a matter of getting in the group and keeping an eye out!
➡️ Byron Bay Housing Groups
➡️ Byron Bay WhatsApp Housing Group
I’m pretty sure a google search will help you find similar ones for any location in Australia!
6. Set up a travel card & Insurance
Before you leave, it’s a good idea to set up a travel bank account that’s fee-free for international use. This means that on your layover and upon arrival you have a card that you can use!
I use Revolut, which is a great option for managing currencies and avoiding high exchange rates.
Also, don’t forget about travel insurance. If you’re planning to stay in Australia for an extended period, SafetyWing is a great company and offers affordable insurance tailored for long-term travellers and nomads.
7. Watch These Related YouTube Videos
For more tips on your Australia Working Holiday Visa, I’ve created a couple of detailed YouTube guides:
➡️ Guide to WHV
➡️ Farm Work Guide
After You Land in Australia
1. Set Up Your Australian SIM Card
One of the first things you’ll need to do when you land on your Australia Working Holiday Visa is to get a local SIM card to keep in touch and to navigate around. Telstra is a highly recommended network provider for good coverage, but there are other providers like Optus and Vodafone. You can easily pick up a SIM at the airport or at any major supermarket.
2. Open a Bank Account
I went with Commonwealth Bank, as it’s the most recommended by far. They have a great app so that you can easily manage and navigate your finances.
Setting up your bank account for your Australia Working Holiday Visa is simple—you can fill out the form online below before you arrive, and once you’re in Australia, it only takes about 10 minutes to activate your account at your local branch.
You’ll need to bring your passport with you to set it up. The first year of banking is currently free so it’s a no brainer!
➡️ Set Up Commonwealth Bank Account Online
3. Buy a Car (If Needed)
If you’re planning to stay outside the major cities like I am in Byron Bay, getting a car is essential. The public transport options here aren’t great, and having a car will help you with everything from job interviews to meeting new friends to social commitments. I found my car via Facebook Marketplace – but of course, you need to be careful and there are many things to note and check to help you find a good purchase.
➡️ Tips for Buying a Car in Australia
➡️ Free Rego Check
4. Register Your Car
Within 14 days of purchasing a car, you must register it. If you don’t you’ll get a fine.
You can do this at a local service centre, it takes around 20 minutes and you’ll just need your proofs of identification, proof of address and a card to pay the transfer fee + stamp duty.
If you’re transferring a car that’s registered in another state, there may be a fee for that too.
Take a look at the link for more information: ➡️ Registering Your Car
5. Transfer Your Driver’s License
If you’re staying longer than six months on your Australia Working Holiday Visa, you’ll need to transfer your foreign driver’s license to an Australian one.
It’s a simple process with a small fee and you can apply at your local service centre.
➡️ Transferring Your Driver’s License
6. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)
You’ll need a TFN to work legally in Australia. This is your personal reference number in the tax and superannuation systems. So if you’re planning to work on your Australia Working Holiday Visa, you’ll need one. It’s free and it takes 5 minutes to do online. You’ll need your passport to apply.
7. Superannuation: Setting Up for Retirement
If you’re working while on your WHV, you’ll have to set up a superannuation account. This is Australia’s retirement savings scheme and employers will pay 15% on top of your wage as a contribution to it.
Once you leave the country, you can claim your super balance.
8. Set Up Your myGov Account
Your myGov account is your gateway to a number of essential government services, including health care, tax returns, and more. I used myGov to set up Medicare, Australia’s public health insurance scheme.
9. Setting up Medicare
Medicare is Australias health insurance scheme. it helps with the costs of seeing a doctor, getting medicines and accessing mental health care. It guarantees all Australians (and some overseas visitors) access to a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost.
As a UK citizen, I’m eligible for Australia’s reciprocal healthcare agreement, which means I can access Medicare at reduced rates. If you’re from the UK or another country with a reciprocal agreement, make sure to apply for Medicare once you arrive.
10. Byron Shire Resident Parking Pass *bonus*
If you’re setting up for a while and renting (like I am in Byron Bay), you might want to check if there’s a free residents parking pass. This will help you avoid parking fees as you go about your life and ocean dips! I applied for a free one here in NSW and it was super simple!
➡️ Free Shire Resident Parking Pass
11. Library Card *bonus*
In the Northern Rivers region, a library card grants access to numerous libraries, free Wi-Fi, and other resources. It’s a great way to save money and get some quiet time to read or study.
That’s everything (I think?!)
Getting your life set up for your Australia Working Holiday Visa might seem like a lot, but with a little prep, it’ll be a breeze!
From visa applications to setting up bank accounts and securing accommodation, I hope this guide helps streamline your process.
Have any questions or tips of your own? Leave them in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.