Is It Hard To Get A Working Holiday Visa In Australia?

Gabby Boucher

February 9th, 2024

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6 minute read

A Working Holiday Visa offers travellers one of the best ways to experience Australia! You can visit this magnificent country and stay for a year or more. Because Australia is so massive, you'll need plenty of time to see all the highlights! To make your experience even better, you can get a job to make money and support yourself during your travels. 

A Working Holiday Visa allows you to dive deep into the Australian culture. You get to live, work, and travel, all while learning about Australian culture, history, slang, cuisine, wildlife, and more along the way!

This experience is such an amazing privilege, so you may be wondering, "Is it hard to get a Working Holiday Visa in Australia?". No! It's actually quite easy to obtain this incredible visa if you follow the instructions correctly. Let's explore the topic of Australian Working Holiday Visas to help boost your knowledge before you apply for the visa. 

Is It Hard To Get A Working Holiday Visa In Australia?

If you meet all the visa requirements and complete your application accurately, it is not hard to get a Working Holiday Visa in Australia! You just have to make sure you read the Australian Immigration website in-depth so you understand what is required of visa applicants. If you do meet the visa requirements and your application is complete, there is a really good chance you'll get approved.

There are also some financial commitments you have to make for a Working Holiday Visa, including the application fee, a minimum savings requirement, and then your flight costs to Australia. We'll break down all these different factors so you can fully grasp the visa requirements. But if you follow all of the visa instructions, it's very easy to get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia!

Australian Working Holiday Visa Requirements

The first step to getting your Working Holiday Visa for Australia approved is meeting the requirements. All visas have a list of criteria that applicants must meet, such as nationality, age, and travel documents. Note that there are two different types of Working Holiday Visas for Australia: the 417 and the 462. Your nationality will determine which visa you have to apply for, and you must have a valid passport from your country of residence. 

You also have to meet the age requirements to get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia. The standard age range is between 18 and 30 years old, though some nationalities have an age limit of 35. Make sure you research the Immigration website fully to see which category you fall under and what your valid age range is. 

Other visa requirements include a minimum of $5,000 AUD in savings, a clear criminal history, a clear Australian visa history, and you must not be accompanied by any dependent children. So if you do your research and you meet all the requirements, you should have no problem getting a Working Holiday Visa for Australia!

How much does a Working Holiday Visa for Australia cost?

Money is another important thing to consider when applying for an Australian Working Holiday Visa. The visa itself has a fee of $635 AUD which you must pay when you submit the application online. You also have to prove that you have at least $5,000 AUD in savings. This is to ensure you have financial security when you first arrive and can support yourself while searching for a job or in the event of an emergency. Then you'll also have to book your flights to Australia, which are often quite expensive since Australia is very far from the rest of the world!

If the costs of the visa seem daunting, just remember that you'll be able to work when you arrive in Australia! It's generally quite easy to find a job in Australia, and many jobs pay really well. You can also stay in hostels for cheap accommodation when you first arrive, and there are many ways to travel on a budget in Australia. So as long as you can pay for the application fee, have $5,000 in savings, and get yourself to Australia, there are ways to make money and live comfortably in Australia!

How Long Does It Take To Get A Working Holiday Visa In Australia?

If you meet the visa requirements, have your finances in order, and submit a complete application, your Working Holiday Visa should be approved between 1 and 44 days. Some visas are granted in a matter of hours! The 417 visa often takes less time to get approved, with 90% of visas being processed between 1 and 14 days. The average processing time for the 462 is between 3 and 44 days. 

Once your visa is approved, you have 12 months to enter Australia. During your 12 months, you can even complete 88 days of regional work to get a Second Year Working Holiday Visa, or even a third year! But that's something to consider later down the track. First things first, submit a complete application for your First Year Working Holiday Visa. If you do it correctly, it should be approved within 1 and 44 days!

So How Easy Is It To Get A Working Holiday Visa In Australia?

Given all the information we just covered, it is very easy to get a Working Holiday Visa in Australia! You just have to meet the requirements and be able to pay the application fee. It's very rare for a Working Holiday Visa to get denied, with the main reason for denial being that the application was incomplete and documents were missing. Just take your time and triple-check your application to make sure it's complete. If everything is in order, your visa will most likely be approved. Then you're free to book flights to Australia and begin the adventure of a lifetime!

Check out our Working Holiday article collection if you have more visa questions that need answers!

Or feel free to live chat with our travel experts and we'll help you plan the perfect adventure in Australia!

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