How Long Does It Take To Get An Australian Working Holiday Visa?

Alison Condon

March 21st, 2024

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5 minute read

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve finally decided to bite the bullet and apply for your first Australian Working Holiday Visa. Congratulations! You’re in for the trip of a lifetime.

Once you’ve collected all of your documents and submitted your application to Australian Immigration, it’s only a matter of time before your Aussie adventure begins! But it’s important to remember that you’re not the only one who has had the bright idea to move Down Under and soak up the sun on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. As a result, there can sometimes be a short wait time while your visa application is being processed.

If you have submitted your Working Holiday Visa application and are still waiting on your golden ticket to Australia, don’t panic yet. I can tell you from my own experience that that is totally normal.

For context, I'm an Irish backpacker who is currently living it up in Australia on my first Working Holiday Visa, and I'm in the process of applying for a second year.

Before I applied for my Working Holiday Visa last year, friends reassured me that it would be sorted in seconds. ‘It’s simple,’ they told me. ‘As soon as you send off your application, you’ll find an email in your inbox with your approved visa.’ It sounded too easy! 

But, when I finally decided I wanted to make the big move and got around to applying, I had a rather different experience. After submitting my application, I went straight to my emails - only to find my inbox was bare. 

I figured I’d wait a few more minutes and very kindly grant Australian Immigration a little more time to get my visa together. But when a few minutes turned into a few hours, I grew a little concerned. And when a few hours turned into a few days, that concern escalated to a full-blown panic. I was refreshing my emails constantly, checking the spam folder, and overthinking every detail of my application - convinced I had done something wrong. So many people had told me that their visas came through right away, so why hadn’t mine?

Eventually, of course, everything worked out and my visa came through a few weeks behind schedule. It was a relief, to say the least! In the time it had taken for my visa to be granted, I had managed to convince myself that my Australian Working Holiday dream was dead and that I’d have to stay home while my friends enjoyed the East Coast without me.

It was only after I had secured my Working Holiday Visa that I learned it can often take a little longer to process applications. It makes sense; thousands and thousands of people from all over the world go for the Australian Working Holiday Visa every year. That’s a lot of applications for one team to process! So, if my story sounds familiar and you’ve found yourself in a similar panic, rest assured your visa is likely on the way.

How long does it take to get a Working Holiday Visa approved?

On average, it takes less than one day for Working Holiday Visa applications, but according to Australian Home Affairs, it can sometimes take up to 19 days.

There can be a number of reasons for your visa taking a little longer than normal, including:

• Whether you’re missing some supporting documents in your application.

• How long it takes you to respond to Immigration’s requests for more information.

• How many people have applied for their visa at the same time as you - there could be a little backlog.

You can get the most accurate information on your wait time by going to the Home Affairs visa processing times guide. Simply fill in the details of your visa application and their online calculator will give you a better idea of when you can expect to hear back about your visa.

How long is the Australia Working Holiday Visa valid for?

Once you have your visa approved, you have 12 months to enter Australia. As soon as your foot touches Australian ground, your Working Holiday Visa begins and lasts for exactly one year.

If you decide you’d like a little more time Down Under - which many Working Holiday Visa holders do - you can extend your visa for a second, or even a third, year.

Take a look through our full guide on how to get a second Working Holiday Visa.

Once your visa comes through, it’ll be time to start planning out your incredible Australian adventure. Make the most of it by taking a look through our epic travel itineraries!

Or get in touch with one of our friendly travel experts and we’ll help you organise your perfect trip.

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