Depending on what kind of holiday you have planned, you’ll need to sort out your visas. Australia is so big, and so far from many countries, that many travellers choose to spend a large chunk of time here to experience it fully. Find out how if you are eligible to apply for a year-long Working Holiday Visa, and how you can extend your stay by working in regional areas. Plus learn about volunteering and studying in Australia - both great ways to immerse yourself into Australian life and enrich your adventure.
If you’re visiting Australia for less than three months and don’t intend to work while you’re here, then you simply need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). Your travel agent will issue your ETA along with your airline ticket or if you’re an EU citizen, you can apply online for free. An ETA allows you to holiday in Australia for up to three months. Learn more
If you’re aged between 18 and 30 and planning a long-haul Australian adventure, you may be eligible to apply for a Working Holiday Visa so you can work along the way. It’s a straightforward, online application process that must be done before you arrive. Under the visa you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months and work during that time. You can work a maximum of six months with any one employer. The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship ( DIAC) issues Working Holiday Visas to passport holders from most European countries, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Canada who are between 18 and 30 years of age. Tertiary-educated travellers 18 to 30 years old from Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey or USA may also be eligible for a Work and Holiday Visa. Learn more
Wish you had more than a year to work and travel in Australia? Working Holiday Makers who do at least three months of seasonal work in regional Australia are eligible to apply for a Second Working Holiday Visa of 12 months. So your stint plucking grapes or picking cotton could mean another year in the country! The Harvest Trail links travellers with harvest jobs across the country. You could end up pruning grape vines in the Margaret River, gathering apples in the Adelaide Hills or collecting mangoes in Mareeba. The seasons differ in each region, making it easy to work your way around the country at your own pace. You’ll get off the beaten tourist tracks and meet some real Australian characters. Learn more
Marine Science research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD
Volunteering is a great chance to get involved with a local community and deepen your Australian experience. WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) places travellers on organic farms, where farmers provide flexible jobs in exchange for accommodation and meals. Expect to work half a day for a full day’s board. This model applies to a huge variety of other volunteer roles, from rescuing turtles in Cape York to organising arts festivals in Arnhem Land. You could also sign up as a Conservation Volunteer and work as part of a team to help preserve precious Australian eco-systems. Your meals, accommodation and travel to and from the project are provided. There are also lots of global organisations offering volunteer research expeditions and volunteer holidays in Australia. Learn more
Like the idea of studying in Australia? The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will grant you a student visa if your course is registered, or part of a registered course, on a full-time basis. For courses of less than three months, you can enrol on a Working Holiday Visa. Under a student visa, you’ll have access to Australia’s subsidised student health cover and can apply for permission to work part-time. Australia offers a whole host of courses and has an international reputation for academic excellence. Learn more