You can now chat live with our visa team by clicking here. Our team are ready to provide you with answers on working visas, opening bank accounts before you leave, work and arrival packs and getting and Australian SIM card before you go so that you can use your mobile down under.

The Australian Working Holiday Maker Visa Programme has a number of conditions attached which should be taken into account before applying for an Australian working holiday visa. The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Programme aims to promote international understanding. It provides opportunities for resourceful, self-reliant and adaptable young people to holiday in Australia and to supplement their funds through incidental employment. VISA FIRST specialise in administering Australian working holiday visa applications for all eligible individuals in Ireland and the UK.

You are aged between 18 to 30 inclusive at the date of your visa application, you have no dependent children, you have not received an Australian working holiday visa before, you hold a passport from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR (the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom. If you have previously applied, or attempted to apply, for an Australian WHM Visa, you must inform VISA FIRST when submitting your application.

Visa holders can have a visa label placed in their passport after arriving in Australia to show employers their right to work. Visa holders will not be charged for the visa label and can get their label at the Sydney Airport between 6 am and 11 pm (7 days a week). Alternatively visa labels can also be printed at the nearest office of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) after arrival in Australia. See a list of addresses of DIAC Offices.

You cannot work for longer than 6 months in the same position, in the same location, doing the same work. The purpose of the WHM visa is to holiday, supplemented by incidental employment.

• You cannot engage, for more than 4 months, in any studies or training while in Australia.
• You are expected to bring sufficient funds to support yourself during your initial stay in Australia.
• You must ensure that your passport will be valid for the entire period of your stay in Australia.

Health requirements for Working Holiday Visa applicants are assessed at the time of lodging an application and will vary depending on the country of passport and travel/residence history. Applicants may be required to undergo a chest x-ray and/or a medical examination as part of their visa application under certain circumstances, as well as to declare their health status on the visa application form. The most frequent situations where a chest x-ray and/or medical examinations may be required are cases where:

• You have spent more than 3 consecutive months in the last 5 years in a country considered to be of a very high health risk in terms of tuberculosis;
• You have been in close contact with a person who has, or has had, active tuberculosis;
• You have had a Chest X-ray which showed an abnormality;
• You are likely to enter an Australian hospital or other health care facility for any purpose;
• You are likely to work in or attend an Australian preschool-aged child care centre (including preschools and creches);
• You are likely to require assistance with mobility and/or incur medical costs or require treatment or medical follow up for a particular disease while in Australia.

NB: If you fall into any of the above cases your visa application will take approximately 8-12 weeks to process from the date that your results are forwarded for assessment. Please do not undergo any health examinations in advance! Health examinations must be taken by doctors and radiologists approved by the Australian Immigration Authorities and details on those will be sent to you if necessary at a later stage.

You can now organize your visa over the phone with our team in just 8 minutes* A member of our multilingual team will guide you through the procedure in a matter of minutes, taking you one step closer to your working holiday in Australia.

*In this case it is recommended that you submit a copy of your passport by fax or email.

We not only organize Australian visa but also every other visa you need on your way i.e. China, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Mongolia, Long stay Thailand, New Zealand. Existing customers can take advantage of a fast and familiar service.

We organize everything you need from bank accounts and jobs to hostels, see below. As we aim to ease the transition for people travelling overseas we have a wide range of additional services to aid the newcomers.

We provide a jobs and accommodation orientation every day in our Sydney Office to get you jobs and find you an apartment/house to live in as soon as possible.

This is followed by a free drinks session which is typically attended by 50+ other backpackers like yourself. It’s a great way to meet fellow travellers

No. Since Visa First will lodge your visa application electronically there is no requirement to submit any additional documents to have your visa granted. However, applicants for an electronic working holiday visa are required to declare in their application sufficient funds for a return onward fare to their intended overseas destination on leaving Australia. Applicants are also required to declare sufficient funds for personal support for the purposes of a working holiday. This would normally be around AU$5000 (approx. €3,400 / £2,300 / CA$4,600) in addition to funds for return airfare. Please note that there is no need to purchase it in advance.

No. You do not need chest x-rays to apply. Please do not undergo any medial/chest x-ray until your application has been submitted to VISA FIRST. Should you require a medical or chest x-rays VISA FIRST will notify of this immediately. If a chest x-ray/medical are required, your application may take approximately 4 weeks to process from the date that your medical results are forwarded for assessment. Additional processing fees may apply.

After you submit this application, you will have 12 months to arrive in Australia. After you arrive in Australia, you will be allowed to stay in Australia for a maximum of 12 months.

UK and other countries: The total fee for the standard visa which is processed in 48 hours is £115. The 2 week visa is £105.
Ireland: The total fee for the standard visa which is processed in 48 hours is €160. The 2 week visa is €150.
Canada: The total fee for the standard visa which is processed in 48 hours is CA$235. The 2 week visa is CA$215.

Complete the Australian working holiday application form, taking your time to answer each question in full. If you are applying for your Australian working holiday visa in Ireland, post your application form, including payment of €160, to VISA FIRST, 12-14 College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. If you are applying for your visa in the UK, post your application form, including payment of £115 to VISA FIRST, First Floor, 277-281 Oxford Street, London, W1C 2DL, United Kingdom. You can pay by enclosing a postal order or bank draft made payable to Traveltowork Ltd* or by completing the credit card section of the application. Do not send cash or cheque.
*Visa First is a trading name for Traveltowork Ltd.

Once we receive your application, we will call or email you. When your Australian working holiday visa is approved, you will receive an Australian working holiday visa approval letter at your nominated email or postal address. Make sure you keep a copy of this letter. This letter will confirm your visa approval and detail the validity date of your visa and conditions.

Once you arrive in Australia, you must remember to collect your visa label at the nearest immigration office. You MUST remember to use the same passport as the one you used in this application.

You can contact the VISA FIRST Helpdesk in Ireland by calling:

• Ireland: +353 1 878 3329
• UK: +44 207 659 9180
• Australia: +61 2 8297 6107
• New Zealand: +64 9 366 0877
• Canada: +1 647 724 1785
• USA: +1 866 772 9245
• Netherlands: +31 2 0890 8144

We will be glad to answer questions or concerns about your application.
Alternatively you can chat live with our visa team by clicking here.

1. Complete the application form in full, taking care to answer all questions.
2. Post the application form to your local VISA FIRST office (either in Ireland or the UK) , including your payment of €155/£115/CA$235.
3. We will call or email you immediately to let you know we have received your application.
4. We will then ensure that your WHM visa is processed correctly and you will receive written notification upon approval.

Yes, Kickstart Australia is an 'all you need' arrivals pack designed for backpackers arriving in Australia. Click here to read more.

Yes, if you have family or friends that have worked abroad in Australia since 1999, they will have paid 29% of their wages in income tax. Their employer will also have paid 9% over and above their wages into a fund called a superannuation . Tell them to register today for a free quote on www.taxback.com and www.superannuation.ie and they should receive money back from Australia shortly.

You need to unblock your phone first and you will also need an Australian mobile sim card. We can provide a pack to you that will allow you to unblock your phone and use your current handset. This is a very popular service as it means you can provide your family and friends with your phone number before you even leave. Click here to see more details. Simply return this form to us and your sim pack will be in the post. If you have any questions you can talk to us live by clicking here.

Yes, you can talk live with our staff by simply clicking here.

Yes, but only in case you have worked as a seasonal worker* in regional Australia** for a minimum of three months*** on your first Working Holiday visa. To provide evidence of seasonal work, please click here and download "Employment Verification Form 1263" which must be completed by all employers you have done seasonal work with during your first 12 months stay in Australia.

*Seasonal work is the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops, pruning and trimming vines and trees, general maintenance crop work, plant cultivation, animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, and tree farming and felling.

**Regional Australia is any area outside of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the ACT.

***Three months is considered to be three calendar months. Time worked is taken from start date to end date e.g., if a person works for one employer for two weeks, weekends will not be deducted. Work must be full time. Full time work is taken to be the norm for that employer, that region and that industry. The work need not be paid work.