Getting an Australian Visa

I went onto the Australian Immigration website to scope out the details. Here's all the info you need, so you don't have to go scouring for yourself!
www.immi.gov.au

I'm looking to spend a year abroad and I intend to get work there in order to make a living.
Here are all the documents I found on the Holiday Working Visa (most common Visa for those 18-30 looking to spend a year in Australia, working visas require that you have a placement with a company and that they sponsor you).

Processing time

The following information is our service standards for processing Working Holiday visa applications.

Visa	Service standard
First Working Holiday visa	6 Days *
Second Working Holiday visa	21 Days *

About the Visa
This visa is for people aged 18 to 30 years of age, who are interested in a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia.

You must pay a non-refundable visa application charge of $230AUD when you lodge your visa application.

If you are granted this visa you can:

• enter Australia within 12 months of grant
• stay up to 12 months
• leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid
• work in Australia for up to 6 months with each employer
• study for up to 4 months.

How the Visa Works

Applicants must be outside Australia when they apply and when the visa is granted.

Online first Working Holiday visa applications can be lodged from anywhere outside Australia.

Paper first Working Holiday visa applications (on form 1150) must also be lodged outside Australia.

If you applied for your Working Holiday visa outside Australia, your 12 month stay period starts when you enter Australia. When you have started the stay period on your Working Holiday visa, it cannot be delayed or deferred.

You can do any kind of work in Australia. However, you can only work with the same employer for up to six months.

You must depart Australia when your visa ends, unless you apply for another type of visa to extend your stay.

Eligibility

You must:

• be outside Australia when you apply and, when your visa is granted.
• not have entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa before.
• be aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) at the time of applying.
• be applying no more than 12 months before you intend to travel to Australia.

Medical Examinations
The short answer to whether you need a medical examination or not is: If you don't have Tuberculosis and you're staying a year or less, you aren't required to provide medical examination documentation ONLY IF special significance applies (they will notify you if this is the case).

Health Insurance
It is recommended that you take out health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. You can obtain health insurance through a health insurance provider or travel agent in your country of residence.

Character Requirements
To be granted this visa you must meet character requirements.

If you are applying outside Australia, you do not have to provide this information when you apply. You will be advised when it is required.

Financial Requirements
You must have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. Generally, AUD$5000 may be regarded as sufficient, but the amount may vary depending on your length of stay and the extent of your travel. You should also have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia.

You may be asked to provide evidence. Evidence may include a certified copy of a bank statement and an air ticket out of Australia.

Extending Your Stay
To be eligible for a second Working Holiday visa, you must have completed three months specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa.

Australian Values Statement
You must declare that you will respect Australian values and obey the laws of Australia. For this visa, the values statement is included in the general declaration section of the application form. When you sign the application form it means you will also be signing the values statement.

Obligations

Conditions
You must comply with all your visa conditions while in Australia on a Working Holiday visa. In addition to the work and study limitations, additional visa conditions may be imposed on your first or second Working Holiday visa. A breach of any of these conditions may result in your visa being cancelled and you may have to leave Australia.

Working
You can do any kind of work in Australia and may work with the same employer for up to six months.

The six month work limitation applies to full-time, part-time, casual and shift work.

Workplace-based training is considered to be work. You are able to undertake workplace-based training with each employer for up to six months.

Working for longer than six months with the same organisation, regardless of whether the duties or location of the employee change, is generally not allowed. A Working Holiday visa holder may, work for independently owned franchises located in different areas for up to six months at each, as long as the franchisees are different employers with different Australian Business Numbers.

Applying for the Visa

You can apply online, by post or by courier.
APPLY ONLINE HERE!!
Paper Applications

After you Lodge your Application

Interview requirements
After you have lodged your application, the department may contact you to request further information.

The department will contact you if you are required to attend an interview. You may be requested to bring your passport and other supporting documentation to the interview.

Checking Outstanding Requirements for Online Applications
If you lodge an online application, you will be provided with a Transaction Reference Number (TRN), which will is a unique number assigned to each online application. It is important you record this number as it will allow you to check the status of your application after it has been lodged.

If you lodge a paper application, you need to contact the department to check on your application's status.

If your Visa is Granted
If your visa is granted, you will receive a Notification of Grant letter via your nominated postal or email address. Please keep this letter as it contains:

• your visa grant number
• the validity date of your visa
• the visa conditions.

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