Working holiday visa

To be eligible for the first working holiday visa in Australia, the following general requirements must be met. The applicant must be outside Australia when the application is made and when the visa is granted. The person must not have been in Australia on a working holiday visa prior to this application. At the time of application, the age must be between 18 and 30. The application must be done not more than 12 months before the start to travel to Australia. The person must not have dependent children. The applicant must have a passport of the country which participates with Australia in the Working holiday maker program.

All the applicants may be subjected to a medical examination that includes Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HIV and a chest X-ray. The health examinations have to be done before any decision is taken on the visa application. The cost of such a health examination is not included in the visa application fee. In Australia, the medical treatment is very exorbitant. Working holidaymakers are not covered by Australia’s national health scheme, unless there is some agreement between Australia and the country of the applicant. So, it is suggested that the holidaymaker takes a health insurance for the duration of the stay in Australia. This can be obtained through a health insurance provider or travel agent in the applicant’s country of residence.

Anybody who wishes to enter Australia has to meet some character requirements. The Australian government demands police certificates from the country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the previous ten years since turning sixteen. The instructions for obtaining character related information are included in the health and character section of the booklets present on the website. One can also have a printed copy from a migration office in Australia or overseas for a small cost.

There are certain financial requirements that must be fulfilled. The applicant must have enough funds to support during the starting stage of the holiday. These funds change as per the length of the stay and extent of travel. Currently, this amount is AUD$500. Also, the holidaymaker must have a return or onward ticket or funds to purchase one to move out of Australia. For such financial requirements, proof is necessary. This proof is in the form of a certified copy of a bank statement or an air ticket out of Australia.

Only those who have finished three months seasonal work in Australia during the first Working holiday visa are eligible for a second working holiday visa.

For a working holiday visa, there is a values statement in the general declaration section of the application form. Those who sign the application form also have to sign the values statement. By this, it is declared that the holidaymakers would respect Australian values and adhere to the laws of Australia. A book titled “Life in Australia” is advised to be read by the holidaymakers. After reading this book, the holidaymaker is encouraged to have an understanding of Australia, its people and their method of life before applying for a visa.