There are two types of work/holiday visas in Australia. “Working Holiday (subclass 417)” and “Work and Holiday (subclass 462)”. This post relates to the latter.
To qualify for the visa:
- You must be between the age of 18 and 31
- You are not permitted to bring any dependents with you
- You must have at least $5,000 AUD in your bank account (I was not asked to show proof of this)
This visa will allow you to work in Australia for up to one year. You will be permitted to work anywhere for 6 months at each establishment. You will also be allowed to leave and re-enter Australia during the one year as many times as you want.
Visa Application
If you Google “Work and Holiday Visa Australia”, several companies will pop up. You may feel overwhelmed and pressured to use one of those companies to avoid visa complications.
Take a deep breath and scroll down further to the official Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection website (click here). I applied for my visa by myself using this website and had no issues. If you are American, your visa application can be done online electronically so you don’t have to mail your passport or anything! It’s too easy to not do on your own.
The application is done online (here) and it takes about 20 minutes. Be prepared to answer some detailed and frank questions like the state of your mental health and whether or not you have HIV. There are some questions about whether or not you carry international health insurance. You are NOT required to carry international health insurance to qualify for this visa and you may be asked to show proof of coverage post application if you claim to be covered so don’t lie on this question. It will not affect your application results.
Visa Cost
According to the website (here), the fees change from time to time and there is a 1% – 3% surcharge for using a credit or debit card. At the time of my application, the fee was $440 AUD + credit card surcharge. You will be charged in AUD so you may incur foreign exchange fees from your bank as well.
At the end of your application you’ll be prompted to pay the one time, non-refundable fee. Your application will not be processed until you pay.
Post Application
You may be required to have a medical check-up. A few days after submitting my application I received an email informing me that I needed to have a medical check-up done along with all the specific instructions.
The medical check-up must be done at one of the approved clinics (listed here). I was required to do a chest x-ray and blood tests for HIV etc. I don’t believe drug testing is part of the standard procedure, but it’s probably not wise to get the check-up done right after a bender.
The medical check-up results will not be sent to you directly, they will be filed online at E-Medical where the Immigration Office will be able to access them. It took the clinic I went to TWO WEEKS to file my medical check-up results on E-Medical so plan ahead if you are in a hurry to get to Australia.
You may be contacted for other documents after you submit your application, but I was only required to do the medical check-up.
Wait Time
The standard wait time for visa processing is 6 days for web applications and 14 days for paper applications according to the website.
Once the Immigration Office received my medical check-up results on E-Medical, my visa was approved within 1 day.
Notification of Visa Grant
You will receive your Visa Grant Letter via email. You will have a Visa Grant number which you should save as some job applications require this information.
Finding a Job
Companies:
As always, there are companies out there ready to assist with finding a job. There are always fees for those services so you have to weigh your options.
Websites:
The above websites are all great resources for job applications. Indeed and Seek allow you to create a profile and upload your cover letter and resume so it’s easy to apply for multiple jobs at once.
The old fashioned way:
If you know what area you want to live in, you could contact companies directly to see if they are hiring. Smaller businesses may not advertise online for openings and you might get lucky this way!
Will work for housing:
Guest houses/hostels oftentimes offer a free room in exchange for work. These jobs are sometimes posted on seek or indeed, but it’s best to contact them directly. Some might even throw in a few meals or drinks.
Challenges
I have not been actively looking for a job, but have submitted 10 – 15 applications in the past month with no success. However, the jobs I have been applying for have been with large companies and in managerial roles.
I have learned that large companies probably will not hire you for a manager position because you are only allowed to work at each company for 6 months at a time. You might get lucky with a seasonal gig, but otherwise F&B, guest house/hostel, promotions, telemarketing sales are your main options.
Note: RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certifications are required for most wait staff/bar tenders. RSA certifications can be done online through various companies so plan ahead if you plan on waiting tables or bar tending.
Finding Accommodation in Australia
Plan on staying in a hotel/guest house/hostel/airbnb for 1 – 2 weeks upon your arrival in Australia.
It was nearly impossible to find a place to rent long term from overseas. Real estate agents wouldn’t even talk with me over the phone until I was on Australian soil. Most options will be listed on real estate websites and they oftentimes require you to do an inspection. That’s right, you have to go look at the property before your application can be approved. I tried buying my way out of this one and it was a no-go.
You might get lucky finding a place to live on Gumtree or Craigslist especially if you are seeking roommates.
Application:
Sometimes a fee is required with your application to weed out those who aren’t serious. Don’t worry, you’ll get the fee back if your application is rejected. If you are approved, the fee will be used towards rent.
Large real estate companies may have the option for electronic applications through http://www.form1.com. After you create an account and detailed profile, it’s pretty easy to apply for multiple properties. Be prepared to attach various documents such as a scan of your passport, previous pay stubs and previous leases. Other agencies may have their own application that you fill out, sign and scan back.
Some applications require proof of income or a bank statement. Be prepared to show you have some savings if you don’t have an income yet.
Deposit:
The standard deposit is usually 2 weeks rent. Sometimes you will be required to pay a bond as well which is the same as a security deposit.
Rent is paid by the week which is oh-so annoying, but the standard for Australia.
Tax File Number (TFN)
Your TFN is a unique identification number assigned to you by the Australian Taxation Office. It’s comparable to a Social Security number. You will only have one TFN no matter how many times you change jobs. This number is uniquely yours forever! It’s important that you get a TFN so that you pay the correct taxes. If you open a savings account in Australia, you will benefit from having a TFN. Without a TFN, the Australian government basically takes half of whatever interest you earn on your savings account. TFNs are also used for your Superannuation (more about this in the next section).
Application:
Again, there are a lot of companies out there waiting to help you obtain a TFN. The application literally takes 5 minutes, it’s super easy and it’s FREE! Fill out the application here!
Wait time:
I received my TFN via post 1 week after my application. The website guarantees you will have your TFN within one month.
Superannuation
In a nutshell, employers are required by law to pay a percentage of each employee’s salary into a savings fund. Currently the requirement is 9.5%. That’s right, your employer is required to pay an ADDITIONAL 9.5% of your total salary into a special savings fund just for you! Employees do not pay into the superannuation fund, only employers. Once you complete your 1 year in Australia, you will be entitled to receive your Superannuation. Full details can be found on the website (here).
Legal Stuff
Minimum wage:
The national minimum wage average is currently $17.29 AUD per hour, but may differ depending on what state and industry you are in.
Taxes:
Taxes are pretty high in Australia. The current and previous tax brackets can be found (here).
You will pay 19% tax for income over $18,200 AUD up to $37,000 AUD. After that ax brackets increase incrementally up to over 45%.
Recommendations
Get a travel credit card and or debit card! You have no idea when your first paycheck will come and you probably don’t want to carry around a bunch of cash.
I have used my Bank of America Travel Rewards card a lot since moving to Australia. There are no foreign transaction fees and I earn points for travel related purchases.
You should look into getting a debit card that will not incur international ATM fees. All ATMS in Australia charge $2 – $5 AUD per transaction for foreign cards and you want to be sure you aren’t getting charged from your bank as well.
Banking in Australia
You can open a bank account by showing your passport. You don’t need to show your visa or proof that you are working. Be aware that most banks have a monthly maintenance fee that is waived so long as a certain amount is deposited each month.
Once you start working, you will probably be paid via bank deposit.
Angela Killian 
Leave a reply to Xochitl Cancel reply