Australian Time Out #2: Can I Come in, Please?

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2: Can I Come in, Please?
Well, the departure date is nearly upon us; only a few more weeks to go. I haven't allowed myself to think about leaving properly, as I'm spending every waking moment working, socialising and trying to get organised! We've sent out invitations to a 'house-wrecking' party (all six of us are moving out at the same time, much to our landlord's chagrin), which will be a great send off!

When we decided on the date we were leaving, getting a working visa was the next step. The Australian Visa Authorities request that you don't book your flight before you've received the stamp, because only a limited amount of visas are available each year, and there may be administrative problems with your application. So even if you spot a cheap deal - hang on.

We've never had to apply for a visa in our lives so we were a little apprehensive to say the least. Filling out forms and trying to track down information can be a real pain. I was worried about sending my passport by post (the UK applications authority only accept postal applications) and if I had the correct funds for my trip. Thankfully it was a complete breeze.

That Dreaded Red Tape
A tip that worked for me: cut out the middleman!!! Feel free to apply for your visa through a third party if you can spare the extra cash, but if you like your money, please read on for a guide to applying straight to the visa authorities!

• The Australian Working Holiday visa allows you to perform work of a temporary nature, supposedly only to earn enough to fund any travelling while you're there. You can only work with one employer no longer than three months. This should not be a career move.

• You must be between 18 and 30 years old to apply.

• The visa is open to the citizens of the following countries: UK; Republic of Ireland; Canada; Cyprus; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Germany; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Sweden; Denmark and Finland.

• Citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) are able to apply for a Working Holiday visa in any country (except Australia).

• Applicants who hold a valid passport from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or a British National Overseas passport, must apply in the foreign country which issues the passport.

• The form can be downloaded from the Australian visa website.

• You will need to send in your passport with the form. Make sure that your passport is up-to-date; it should be valid for at least six months after your return date.

• The visa authorities request proof of sufficient funds for your trip. Currently the required amount is �2000, plus evidence of a return fare. I applied with �2500, which was fine. A photocopy of a bank statement or savings book is sufficient.

• You will need to supply a chest x-ray if you are planning to work in a hospital or with children.

• A Working Holiday visa gives you 12 months to travel to Australia from the date on the visa, and allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you first enter Australia. It is a multiple entry visa; you can leave Australia as many times as you like, but you cannot make up the time you spent outside Australia.

I found the following websites very helpful:
Australian High Commission
Offical working holiday maker FAQ's (if you are applying from the UK)
Australian Embassy in Germany (if you are a citizen of Germany)

If you are applying in the UK it is a good idea to include a registered stamped addressed envelope with your postal application, otherwise your passport could get lost in the post.

We ended up getting our visas back three days after we applied, which is proof of the UK Australian Embassy's great efficiency. Everyone I've spoken to has had different experiences however.

So now we finally have our visas. The trip has become real now, not just vague plans dreamt up on a boring Sunday. Friends are amazed - some cannot imagine travelling somewhere without having a job or a house to go to. Others are over the moon as it means free accommodation! We are certainly not the first people to take a career break for Australia, and we are sure to meet many others on the way.

Please don't hesitate to email if you have any queries or comments, or if you're doing the same soon!


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