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Working Holiday Visa Australia the first step to an amazing gap year

Many young people consider taking a working gap year and travelling overseas after finishing high school or graduating from university. A Working Holiday Visa Australia is one of the most popular choices, as Australia shares a common language and heritage with the United Kingdom while also offering the chance to experience a way of life that is quite different.

The Working Holiday Visa Australia is also an excellent way to test out different industries, gain valuable work experience and international knowledge that can further employability, as well as allowing travel.

The United Kingdom is the most popular source country for a Working Holiday Visa Australia; some 40,182 young Britons took up this visa in the year ending June 2009. 

Other major source countries for the Working Holiday Visa Australia are Korea (39,505), Germany (20,319), Ireland (22,785), France (16,252), and Canada (8,738).

To be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa Australia applicants must hold a passport from one of the following eligible countries: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.

The Working Holiday Visa Australia, also known as the WHM Visa, gives young people between the ages of 18 and 30 the opportunity to enjoy an extended stay in Australia for up to 24 months.

The scheme gives Working Holiday Visa Australia holders casual work rights in order to supplement their travels. Work undertaken must be incidental to the main purpose of holidaying, employment for more than six months with any one employer is not allowed. The application for a first Working Holiday Visa Australia must be made offshore.

Many use an Australian Working Holiday as a chance to improve their CV and earn money while travelling as they wait for a position in the following year’s university intake or before they enter the professional workforce.

Young people can gain valuable experience in any number of industries, for example, administration, hospitality and management, horticulture, or to expand on university training.

The basic requirements for Working Holiday Visa Australia are that you must be between 18 and 30 years old, you must have a valid passport with at least one year until renewal and that you must have sufficient funds to support yourself when you arrive in Australia.

A sufficient amount of funds is generally regarded as being a minimum of AUD$ 5,000 (£2,200), although the amount may vary depending on your length of stay and how much travelling you intend to do. You should also have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia if travelling on a one-way ticket.

Evidence may include showing a certified copy of a bank statement and an air ticket out of Australia to an Australian Immigration officer.

Health and Character Requirements for the Working Holiday Visa Australia include that you must not have any substantial criminal convictions or any substantial medical issues and in certain circumstances you will be required to undergo formal health examinations.

A chest X-ray will be required for your Working Holiday Visa Australia if you:

·         Are a resident of a country considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis (the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, France and Belgium are NOT considered high risk);

·         Have spent more than three consecutive months in the last five years in a country or countries considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis;

·         Are likely to enter an Australian hospital or health care area; OR

·         Are likely to be engaged in an Australian child care centre as either an employee or trainee.

The Government will allow Working Holiday Visa Australia holders the opportunity to apply for a second Working Holiday Visa provided they have worked as a specified worker in regional Australia for three months.

By working in at least one of several primary industries, including plant / animal cultivation, fishing, tree farming, mining and construction in a rural areas, holders of a Working Holiday Visa Australia will be defined as 'specified workers' and be eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa, thus extending their trip from 12 months to 24. Applications for a second Australia Working Holiday Visa can be made both offshore and onshore in Australia.

It is easy to apply for an initial Working Holiday Visa Australia, just follow the Visa Bureau visa application checklist:

1. Complete the online Working Holiday Visa Australia application.
   The Working Holiday Visa Australia online application only takes a few minutes to complete and will help you confirm that you are eligible for the visa. 
2. Confirm your details with an Australian Visa Bureau consultant.
   Within 48 hours, you’ll receive a callback from an Australian Visa Bureau consultant who will confirm all your details and take you through the final stages of the application.
3. Receive your Working Holiday Visa grant!
   Approximately two weeks after your application has been lodged, you'll receive your visa grant and be ready to enter Australia and begin your working holiday! 

Applicants will also receive the exclusive Australian Working Holiday Guide in the post and be able to take advantage of the many discounts and freebies we offer through the Platinum Card program.

If you wish to travel to Australia but do not yet already have a Working Holiday Visa Australia it's advisable to apply as soon as possible to ensure that nothing hinders your trip.