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Australia's Working Holiday Visa Scheme has been established to allow young people the opportunity to have an extended holiday in Australia and experience the Australian culture. The Working Holiday Visa is designed to allow holiday makers to supplement their travel funds by way of employment and operates with those countries that have similar arrangements with Australia to allow young Australians to work and holiday in those countries.
Only citizens holding passports from the following agreement countries
are eligible;
Canada, Ireland, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Cyprus, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden,
Norway, Denmark and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
All applications for an Australian Working Holiday visa must be lodged overseas and those citizens of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region must lodge their applications in their home country.
Obtaining a Working Holiday Visa would allow you to remain in Australia or to travel in and out of Australia within a 12 month period from the date of their first entry. There is no provision to extend their stay beyond the 12 months.
The Working Holiday Visa may also be used to allow the holder to train
in Australia or study any course provided the duration is no longer than
three months. It is ideal for those seeking to undertake a short English
language course in Australia.
Owners of a Working Holiday Visa must be paid according to Australian award rates and conditions and must not work for any one employer for a period longer than three months. Applicants should be cautious of companies, both in Australia and overseas, offering to find those on Working Holiday Visas, employment in Australia. Some of these companies will provide assistance by preparing the visa application free of charge and ensure you find employment on arrival in Australia. Most of these companies will obtain a commission from the employer for your placement to offset their costs. Whilst many companies are legitimate, some encourage Working Holiday Visa holders to breach their Visa conditions by working for an employer for more than three months. As a Working Holiday Visa holder, you are responsible for ensuring you comply with the Visa conditions or your Visa may be cancelled and you could be excluded from entry to Australia in the future.
During 1999-2000, over 74,000 Working Holiday Visas to Australia were
granted.
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