Australian Working Holiday and Work and Holiday Visas
| Working Holiday Visa | Work and Holiday Visa |
Subclass | Subclass 417 | Subclass 462 |
Overview | - This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian and Irish citizens up to 35 (inclusive) - have their first extended holiday (up to 12 months) in Australia and work here to help fund their trip.
| - This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) have an extended holiday (up to 12 months) in Australia and work here to help fund their trip.
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Base Criteria | - Must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian and Irish citizens up to 35 (inclusive)
- Must have a passport from an eligible country
- Must not be accompanied by dependent children
- You can apply for a second Work and Holiday visa if you meet certain eligibility criteria
- Have sufficient money: This is usually about AUD 5,000 for your initial stay, plus the fare to where you are going after leaving Australia.
| - Must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive)
- Must have a passport from an eligible country
- Must not be accompanied by dependent children
- You can apply for a second Work and Holiday visa if you meet certain eligibility criteria
- Have sufficient money: This is usually about AUD 5,000 for your initial stay, plus the fare to where you are going after leaving Australia.
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This visa allows you to | - do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday
- study for up to 4 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- do specified work to become eligible for a second Working Holiday visa
| - Do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday
- study for up to 4 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- do specified subclass 462 work to become eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa
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Application Details | Stay: up to 12 months Cost: AUD450 Processing Time: 75% of applications in 12 days 90% of applications in 34 days |
Specified work | Approved industries for specified workApproved industries for specified work include: - plant and animal cultivation
- fishing and pearling
- tree farming and felling
- mining
- construction
Specified work is any type of work described in the list below: - plant and animal cultivation
- the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops
- pruning and trimming vines and trees
Note: This must be the your primary employment task and directly associated with the cultivation and commercial sale of plant produce, such as fruit and nut crops (commercial horticultural activities). General garden maintenance is not eligible. - general maintenance crop work
- cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts
- immediate processing of plant products
- maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce, including natural increase
Note: Maintaining animals for tourism or recreational purposes is not eligible. - immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning
Note: Secondary processing of animal products, such as small goods processing and retail butchery is not eligible. - manufacturing dairy produce from raw material.
- fishing and pearling
- conducting operations relating directly to taking or catching fish and other aquatic species
- conducting operations relating directly to taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell
- tree farming and felling
- planting or tending trees in a plantation or forest that are intended to be felled
- felling trees in a plantation or forest
- transporting trees or parts of trees that were felled in a plantation or forest to the place where they are to be milled
- mining
- coal mining
- oil and gas extraction
- metal ore mining
- construction material mining
- non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying exploration
- mining support services
- construction
- residential building construction
- non-residential building construction
- heavy and civil engineering construction
- land development and site preparation services
- building structure services
- building installation services
- building completion services
- other construction services
Work undertaken in the areas of plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, and tree farming and felling must be described in the list above to meet the specified work requirement. The Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) provides further detail about eligible work in mining and construction. Work undertaken in the mining and construction sectors must appear in the ANZSIC division for these sectors to meet the specified work requirement. Supporting work, such as book-keeping, in any industry described in the list above does not meet the definition of specified work. Specified work: - must be an activity listed above
- must be the primary role, function or activity performed during the applicants employment.
Examples of eligible specified work: - picking fruits on an orchard
- feeding and herding cattle on a farm
- horse breeding and stud farming
- landscaping the grounds of a construction/house site
- painting the interior/exterior of new buildings
- conservation and environmental reforestation work
- zoo work involving plant or animal cultivation
- erecting fences on a construction site
- scaffolding
Examples of ineligible specified work: - ship/boat building
- performing specialised social science services (such as anthropological and archaeological assessments) for mining companies
- town planning or architecture
- working as a nanny on a farm
- working at a cellar door providing wine tastings
- manufacturing materials used on a construction site (such as concrete or steel)
- cooking/catering on a mine site
- cleaning the interior of mine complexes or buildings
Specified work in disaster affected areasConstruction work can be vital in helping regional disaster zones, such as those affected by flood or bushfire, to rebuild and recover from disaster. Working Holiday visa holders who conduct construction work in eligible regional areas of Australia following disasters can count the work as specified work. Examples of construction work that qualify as specified work include: - demolition of buildings, trench digging, land clearing and earth moving
- residential and non-residential construction or renovation/repair, including of roads, footpaths, bridges, parking lots, fencing, railways, dams, irrigation systems, sewage and storm water drainage systems.
| The following industries and regions are approved for specified work:- plant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia
- fishing and pearling in northern Australia only
- tree farming and felling in northern Australia only
- tourism and hospitality in northern Australia only
Specified work is any type of work described in the list below which must be the primary role, function or activity performed during your employment: - plant and animal cultivation
- the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops
- pruning and trimming vines and trees
Note: This must be the your primary employment task and directly associated with the cultivation and commercial sale of plant produce, such as fruit and nut crops (commercial horticultural activities). General garden maintenance is not eligible. - general maintenance crop work
- cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts
- immediate processing of plant products
- maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce, including natural increase
Note: Maintaining animals for tourism or recreational purposes is not eligible. - immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning
Note: Secondary processing of animal products, such as small goods processing and retail butchery is not eligible. - manufacturing dairy produce from raw material
- fishing and pearling
- conducting operations relating directly to taking or catching fish and other aquatic species
- conducting operations relating directly to taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell
- tree farming and felling
- planting or tending trees in a plantation or forest that are intended to be felled
- felling trees in a plantation or forest
- transporting trees or parts of trees that were felled in a plantation or forest to the place where they are first to be milled or processed or from which they are to be transported to the place where they are to be milled or processed
- tourism and hospitality
- work in a range of positions where the primary purpose is to directly provide a service to tourists, including tourist guides and operators, outdoor adventure or activity instructors, tourist transport services
- gallery or museum managers, curators or guides
- hospitality workers, including a range of positions in hotels or other accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars and casinos
- conference and event organisers
Note:Work undertaken in the tourism and hospitality industry must appear in the list of tourism and hospitality occupations, which is based on Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) codes. See the section on Tourism and hospitality occupations for the complete list of eligible occupations. Examples of eligible specified subclass 462 work in plant and animal cultivation: - picking fruits on an orchard
- feeding and herding cattle on a farm
- horse breeding and stud farming
- conservation and environmental reforestation work
- zoo work involving plant or animal cultivation
Examples of ineligible specified subclass 462 work in plant and animal cultivation: - working as a nanny on a farm
- working at a cellar door providing wine tastings
Examples of eligible specified subclass 462 work in tourism or hospitality - a chef in a restaurant
- a dive instructor
- a tour bus driver
Examples of ineligible specified subclass 462 work in tourism or hospitality - cleaning work in a restaurant
- driving a school bus
- working as a sales assistant in a souvenir shop
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Eligible Countries | You must be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries:- Belgium
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| You must be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries:- Argentina
- Austria
- Chile
- China, People's Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Vietnam
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Resident Return Visas (RRVs)
The purpose of RRVs is to facilitate the re-entry into Australia of non-citizen permanent residents; and to ensure that only those people who have a genuine commitment to residing in Australia, or who are contributing to Australia's well-being, retain the right to return to Australia and remain permanently.
The applicant must be:
- a permanent resident holding a valid permanent visa
- a former permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, or
- a former Australian citizen who has lost or renounced his or her Australian citizenship.
For a five- year RRV, applicants must have spent two years out of the last five years in Australia as a permanent resident or have substantial and beneficial ties to Australia. Applicants who have been absent from Australia for more than five years must also have compelling reasons for their absence of more than five years.
A three-month RRV may be granted to persons who don't yet qualify for a five-year RRV but have strong reasons to go overseas, such as the severe illness of a family member. Applicants must have spent at least one day in Australia in the last five years as a permanent resident, and have compelling and compassionate reasons for departing Australia.
Spouses and family members of an RRV holder who are or have been permanent residents may be granted RRVs on the basis that their family head holds an RRV. An RRV granted on this basis will have the same validity period as the family head's, whether the family member applies for an RRV at the same time as the family head or later.
If the family member meets one of the other criteria for an RRV in their own right, they will be granted an RRV with the full five-year validity.
What is a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?
a Resident Return Visa (RRV) facilitates the re-entry into Australia of non-citizen permanent residents. The RRV ensures that only those people who have a genuine commitment to residing in Australia or who are contributing to Australia's well being, retain the right to return to Australia and remain permanently.
RRVs are usually issued with a validity of 5 years or 3 months. An RRV allows Australian permanent residents to travel from, and return to Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the visa, whilst maintaining their status as permanent residents.
Do I need a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?
Everybody, except Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens travelling on their New Zealand passport, must have a visa to travel to Australia. If you are a permanent resident of Australia and intend to travel away from Australia, you should ensure that you have a visa, which is valid for re-entry, on your return to Australia. This visa can be your original permanent resident visa, or a Resident Return Visa, as long as it authorises travel to Australia on the date you return. The visa can be in your current passport or in an expired passport that you also carry with you while you travel.
Permanent Residents should obtain their RRVs before leaving Australia, to avoid travel delays and the need to obtain an RRV through an Australian diplomatic office overseas.
What are the visa requirements for a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?
To apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) you must be:
- a permanent resident holding a valid permanent visa,
- a former permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, or
- a former Australian citizen who has lost or renounced their Australian citizenship.
For a five-year RRV:
- you must be lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years in the 5 years immediately before lodging the application for the visa;
- you must have substantial and beneficial business, cultural, employment or personal ties to Australia; and
- if you have been absent from Australia for more than five years, you must also have compelling reasons for your absence.
If you do not meet these criteria, but have to leave Australia for compassionate and compelling reasons, you can apply for a 3 month RRV.
If you are unable to meet the RRV requirements in your own right, but you are a member of the family unit of a person who holds an RRV, you may be granted an RRV with the same validity period as the family head's.
Can I continue to use my permanent residence visa when my passport expires?
When your passport with a valid Australia permanent residence visa expires, the visa does not become invalid. You may choose to have your existing visa reprinted into your new passport (processing fee applies), or you may merely carry your old passport (with valid visa) and your new passport together, whenever travelling in or out of Australia.
What do I do once I migrate to Australia and the re-entry component of my permanent residence visa expires?
Once in Australia, permanent residents only need to obtain a subsequent resident return visa if and when they wish to leave Australia. Permanent resident visas provide for an indefinite stay in Australia
My passport will expire before my visa is due to expire?
This is not a problem you may travel with both your new passport and your old passport with the visa attached. Alternatively you may approach any DIBP office in the world and get your visa re-evidenced in your new passport. There may be a charge for this.
Emergencies overseas
A permanent resident overseas who is unable to prove their status, eg if his or her passport has been stolen and they have obtained a new one, may apply for a temporary RRV if they have an urgent and compelling reason to return.
People who return to Australia on temporary RRVs must apply at a DoHA office to regain their permanent status within three months of their arrival. People who do not will become unlawful non-citizens, subject to detention and removal from Australia.
Applying for RRVs
Any DoHAoffice will accept an application for an RRV. In Australia, RRV applicants do not need to fill in a form if they:
- attend an office in person, present a valid passport and pay the application charge, or
- mail a request for an RRV with their passport and payment of the application charge.
Such applications are usually decided within 24 hours, and applicants then make a brief visit to a DoHA office to have the visa label placed in their passports.
If more than one person is travelling on the same passport, only one application and one charge is needed. Family members with separate passports must apply and pay separately.
Australian Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 124 & 858)
The Distinguished Talent Visa (subclass 124 or 858) is a permanent visa for people with a history of excellence in an eligible field.
- To apply, you must have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement (and still be prominent) in a profession, a sport, the arts or academia and research
- be nominated by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian organisation with a national reputation in relation to your area of talent
This is a Permanent Residence visa and holders can:
- work and study
- stay in Australia permanently
- sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence in Australia
- if eligible, become an Australian citizen
- enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
Where can you apply ?
- SC 124 visa: You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa, but you must be outside Australia when we decide on your application.
- SC 858 visa: If you will be inside Australia when we decide on your visa application, you could apply for the Distinguished Talent visa
Requirements:
Be internationally recognised with a record of achievement
You must be internationally recognised with a record of achievement in:
- a profession
- a sport
- the arts, or
- academia and research
Your achievements must be exceptional and outstanding. This means you:
- are currently prominent in your field
- have superior abilities to others in your field
- are acclaimed as exceptional in any country where your field is practised
- have a record of sustained achievement that is unlikely to diminish in the future
You must also participate in a field that:
- is recognised and accepted in Australia
- has international standing
- You must have been prominent in this field in the past 2 years.
You must be of benefit to the Australian Community:
- economic
- social
- cultural, or
- to raise Australia's academic, artistic or sports standing internationally
- You must contribute to the nation as a whole.
You must be nominated
- You must be nominated to apply for this visa. Your nominator must also meet our criteria.
- Your nominator must be an Australian citizen, Permanent resident, Eligible New Zealand citizen or an Australian organisation with a national reputation in the same field as you. Where appropriate, the nomination should come from the peak Australian body.
Age:
- If you are under 18 years old or you are aged 55 years or older when you apply, you must be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community.
Other: