The Working Holiday Visa Program – Tips on How to Get That Second Year Visa!

Australia has a Working Holiday visa (WHV) program that allows young people from overseas to come to Australia to have a holiday in Australia and/or work. The visa lasts for 12 months and some people are lucky enough to be able to get a second WHV. It’s really important to understand the processes involved in applying for the first and second WHV. A WHV offers a fantastic opportunity to experience Australia.

Introduction to a Working Holiday Visa Program

The first WHV must be applied for whilst you are overseas and it can only be granted whilst you are overseas. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want on this visa and you can even study for up to four months whilst you are here!  The second WHV can be applied for whilst you are in Australia or overseas.

Eligibility

You could be eligible for this visa if you’re aged between 18 and 30 and hold a passport for a country or region that participates in Australia’s Working Holiday program. You need to be able to meet all visa requirements, which could include demonstrating that you have at least AUD $5000.00 available to cover your first few months in Australia or have an onwards flight booked for the end of your stay.

Health and character are important too! One or two minor skirmishes with the law won’t necessarily stop you getting a WHV but it is critical that you are upfront with the Department of Immigration when you make your application. Concealing a conviction can come back to bite you in a very serious way, especially if you later decide to apply for a permanent residence visa. Concealing convictions often results in permanent residence visa applications being refused. Honesty is the best policy!

Knowing the Working Holiday Subclass Options

The Working Holiday program has two different types of visas. The first is the subclass 417 visa, known as the Working Holiday Visa. The second is the subclass 462 visa, which is called the Work and Holiday Visa. These two visas are very similar. Your country of passport determines which of the two visas you can apply for. The countries involved are currently: 

Subclass 462

  • Argentina
  • Bangladesh
  • People’s Republic of China
  • Chile
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Malaysia
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovak Republic
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Turkey
  • Thailand
  • Uruguay
  • USA

Subclass 417

  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Republic of Korea
  • Sweden
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom

Extending your Stay and Getting a Second Year Visa

In order to secure a second 12 month WHV you need to be able to meet certain requirements, which include:

  • You must still be between 18 and 30 and have a valid passport.
  • You need to have completed 3 months or 88 days of specified work in regional Australia AND be able to prove this with verifiable documentation covering the time period of your regional work such as bank statements, accommodation and other receipts in your name, pay slips, employer references etc.

It’s important to check that the regional employer isn’t dodgy or devious – many are! Many WHV holders are heartbroken when they discover that the regional employers won’t provide the necessary pay slips or work references, for example. If you are going to spend three months of your life picking spuds or cabbages, check that the employer is going to do the right thing by you! Try to get paid by EFT and not in cash.

‘Specified Work’

There are jobs you can do within a number of industry sectors that that can count as ‘specified work’, such as:

  • Plant and animal cultivation
  • Felling trees in a plantation or forest
  • Fishing
  • Pearling
  • Mining
  • Construction

EasiVisa will assist you in discussing your options and applying for a Working Holiday Visa or Second Working Holiday visa. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can make the visa process easier for you!

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