Applying for a Visa
Vaccinations
A Work and Holiday visa is surprisingly easy to obtain, something that is well known in Europe but still relatively obscure in the U.S. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462 for Americans; see here for other nations) is designed for young people -- ages 18 to 30 -- who want to travel and work in Australia for up to a year, with the possibility of a second year if certain conditions are met. Under the subclass 462 visa, you are eligible for any type of work with the restriction that you can only stay with the same employer for a maximum of six months, unless otherwise cleared by Department of Home Affairs.
Although the application process is straightforward and entirely online, it does require the applicant to provide several supporting documents as follows:
A photocopy of your valid passport.
A photocopy of your driver’s license or birth certificate.
Evidence of sufficient funds (a bank statement) for personal support during your stay in Australia -- the rule of thumb is AUD $5000 or about USD $3900.
A high school or equivalent degree -- scan or screenshot your high school/college diploma.
Evidence of english proficiency -- you can use your high school/college diploma again or a screenshot of your university transcript.
Note that there is also a AUD $440 application fee. The Australian government says it completes 90% of its visa decisions within 41 days, but in our experience, the decision is almost instantaneous for American citizens. The application can be accessed here.
As mentioned above, there is also the opportunity to extend your stay in Australia for a second year. In order to do so, you must complete 88 days of work in one of the following four industries -- plant and animal cultivation; fishing and pearling; tree farming and felling; or tourism and hospitality -- in designated parts of Northern Australia, including the entire Northern Territory, and areas of Queensland and Western Australia that are north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
A quick note for those who are thinking about traveling through Southeast Asia before or after Australia: look up the recommended immunizations for these countries and get vaccinated before leaving the U.S. This will be good to get out of the way ahead of time and will probably cost less under any U.S. health insurance plan.
