Working Holiday Visas – What you Need To Know

 

 

Are you looking to travel and explore Australia? With a Working Holiday Visa, you can experience all the culture this amazing country has to offer. You’ll have one year of work-travel opportunities with an incredible chance for a second if your opt in for some “specified” regional work!

Get ready to embark on your next great adventure – here is some handy advice!

 

Know the Requirements

The first thing you need to know about applying for a Working Holiday Visa is that there are certain requirements that vary from country-to-country. Generally speaking, if you are a citizen of one of the countries listed on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website, then you are eligible for the visa. There are two types of Working Holiday Maker Visa, the Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa, and the Subclass 462, Work and Holiday Visa. Eligibility depends upon  which country you come from.

Each country has its own set of requirements for eligibility, so be sure to check before you apply. You must also be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive), for most countries and up to 35 years of age if you come from Ireland, France, Italy, Denmark and Canada.

 

Understand Regional Areas

Applying for a Working Holiday Maker Visa also requires an understanding of regional areas in Australia. Generally speaking, there are two types of areas: metropolitan areas (which include major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne) and regional areas (which include rural towns and small cities).

Each type of area has different requirements when it comes to obtaining a Working Holiday Maker Visa—for example, if you want to stay longer than 12 months in Australia then you must work in regional areas for at least three months during your first year on the visa.

Understanding these differences is key when it comes time to apply for your visa.

 

Know What Type Of Work To Do

It is important to understand what type of work will fulfil the requirements necessary for obtaining another Working Holiday Visa after your initial visa expires. Generally speaking, eligible work includes fruit picking, construction work, hospitality jobs (such as bartending or waitressing), and more.

Make sure that whatever job you take meets all criteria required by the Department of Home Affairs; otherwise, your application may be denied!

Subclass 417 visa holders must meet different requirements to Subclass 462 visa holders. Here’s how it works:

 

Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa holders:
If you hold a Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa, here’s a link which explains the type of “specified work” that counts towards the prescribed number of days you need to be eligible to apply for another Subclass 417 visa.

 

Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa holders:
Similarly, if you hold a Subclass 462, Work and Holiday Visa, the Department of Home Affairs has published information relevant to your work here.

 

Here are a couple of job links to get you started on your Job searches:

 

Harvest Jobs

Workforce Australia has a handy website page for those looking for harvest jobs. You’ll find it here.

 

Other Jobs

Here is another handy Working Holiday job website with many different jobs listed.

 

A Few More Tips

 

Know Your Work rights

The Fairwork Ombudsman here in Australia (he’s here to protect the rights of workers) has released a short video – which is aimed at educating you about your workplace rights with the aim of stopping you from being ripped off by unscrupulous employers.

They have also published a handy “Help for Working Holiday Makers” page which you’ll find here.

 

Know Your Australian Income Tax obligations

If you work in Australia as a working holiday maker (WHM), your employer will withhold tax from your pay and you may need to lodge a tax return each year. You’ll find out more about your Australian Tax obligations here.

 

Take Care And Look After Yourself!

 

Be Careful

Avoid work arrangements with people who meet you at regional airports or bus depot. Also, avoid jobs requiring upfront fees as it’s illegal for an employer to ask you for money to receive a job offer or to ask you for money to keep a job, or “free” accommodation. Other warning signs include: ads not listing much business information, jobs guaranteeing a quick visa or sponsored employment, and jobs picking the wrong seasonal fruits or vegetables.

 

Research Employers Before Taking a Job

As a backpacker, you have the opportunity to take on many different kinds of jobs and explore Australia. However, before you jump into the first job opportunity that comes your way, it’s important to do some research on the employer and the location of the job. Knowing who you’re working for and where you’ll be working can help ensure that your work experience is a positive one.

 

Doing Your Homework

Researching an employer before signing on with them can help you decide if they’re worth your time and energy. Read through their website and look for reviews from past employees or customers. If there are any red flags, take those into consideration when deciding whether or not to pursue the job further. Also, find out what type of employee benefits they offer, if any so that you know what to expect from them as an employer.

 

Location Matters Too

Where will you be working? Is it in a city, a rural area? Is there public transportation available? How accessible are groceries and other necessary amenities? Knowing these things ahead of time can help make sure that your living situation is comfortable while you’re working in Australia. Additionally, research the local culture so you can understand more about where you’ll be living and interacting with people while at work.

 

Know How Much You Should Be Paid

If you’re an adult casual worker picking fruit or vegetables you should be paid a minimum hourly rate. From 1 July 2022, the national minimum wage is $21.38 per hour or $812.60 per 38 hour week (before tax). Casual employees covered by the national minimum wage also get at least a 25% casual loading .

If you’re on a piecework agreement, your pay rate has to allow you to earn at least 15% more per hour than the minimum hourly rate. For more information about piecework rates, click here.

 

Find a Suitable Place to Stay

Sometimes employers will offer accommodation with a job. However, you have the right to choose where you live and can choose to find your own accommodation, like a share house, motel, caravan park or a backpacker’s hostel. An employer cannot force you to stay in their accommodation. If you do stay in the employer’s accommodation, be careful that the employer doesn’t overcharge you for rent.

An employer also cannot “pay you” in accommodation or other benefits such as food, instead of money

 

Keep Your Own Records

Record who you’re working for, where and the type of work you’re doing, the hours and days worked from payslips etc so that you can back up any doubt immigration may have that you have actually done the work.

 

Finally…

Working Holiday visas can be a great step towards other visas if you’d like to stay in Australia after you have used up all your visa “extensions”.

But, applying for a visa )and knowing which one is right for you) can be difficult and time-consuming.

That’s where AHWC Immigration Law comes in – we’re experts at getting visas approved. We’ll take care of everything for you, from the application to the paperwork. You’ll be ready to go with no stress or hassle.

Imagine knowing that you have the best chance of having your visa granted because you used AHWC Immigration Law. We’ve helped thousands of people get their visas, and we can help you too.

Contact us today and book your consultation! Or scan the QR code below.