Visas

Visas

There are a number of different types of visa available, depending on the nature of your trip and how long you plan to live and work abroad. You can get more information from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) website (http://www.immi.gov.au/).

If you are a UK citizen and under 30 years old, the Working Holiday Visa probably offers the easiest and most flexible way of obtaining temporary work in Australia. It allows you to stay for a maximum of 12 months in the country and permits you to obtain temporary employment in order to "supplement [your] holiday fund". You are not supposed to work for the entire 12 months (who would want to - there is some serious sight-seeing to do!) and you are only allowed to work for 3 months full time for any one employer.

DIMA have two useful fact sheets with more information on the Working Holiday Visa (Fact Sheet 55 `Working Holiday Maker Scheme' and Fact Sheet 53 `Temporary Residence in Australia'). These are both available at the DIMA website.

To obtain an application form and further information write to Australian Outlook, 3 Buckhurst Hill, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1 QF, enclosing an A4 stamped addressed envelope (55p stamp). You should send your completed form to the High Commission in London or the Australian Consulate in Manchester (the latter is apparently quicker!). It can take up to three months to process applications.

There is an annual quota system in operation and once the number of visas for that year has been allocated, no applications will be considered until the start of the next round. In view of this, probably the best time to apply is in the summer or autumn (July onwards). At time of writing, once your visa has been issued you have up to twelve months to travel out to Australia

The current fee for the Working Holiday Visa is £60 and is non-refundable whatever the outcome of your application.

Last modified 07/09/2004