If like me the long English winters and freezing weather is starting to get just a bit too much for you, chances are that your next holiday to even a semi-warm destination, is something that you are eagerly looking forward to.
- Take a working holiday?Adam Foster | Codefor / Animals Photos / CC BY-NC-ND
It’s not hard to get excited about warm weather when you are constantly faced with freezing temperatures, but if you are planning on taking an extended trip to a warmer climate then you may have already started looking around at sustainable ways to give yourself the break that you need and the full opportunity to really soak up that sunshine.
When you think of sunshine and holidays one of the first places that comes into many people’s minds is Australia. With seemingly endless beaches and sunshine (Sydney has around 300 days of sunshine a year!) it’s not hard to see why it’s proving to be a very popular option for many people, but with spiralling costs and a strong Australian dollar, extended holidays Down Under are an unrealistic idea for many people.
Enter the Working Holiday Visa
Designed to give you the opportunity to travel around Australia while working there to support yourself at the same time, this visa can be the perfect option for anyone who is looking to take an extended holiday, and not break the bank at the same time.
Working Holiday Visas are very accessible to people who come from any of the major countries that have a reciprocal agreement with Australia and as long as you are aged 18-30, don’t hold any criminal convictions and are able to fund your tickets there and back, a simple application process is all you need to have a visa firmly fixed into your passport.
Once on the working holiday visa you are free to travel and work within Australia up to a year with the potential for a second year after that if you complete three month’s work in a regional area, this gives you the option to extend your stay and really make the most out of your trip to the other side of the world.
Are there any restrictions on what I can do on a working holiday visa?
Although the working holiday visas give you a good amount of flexibility, there are certain rules and restrictions around them which you need to be aware of. There are limitations on the work that you can undertake and you are only allowed to work for each employer for up to six months.
In addition if you choose to undertake study you can only do this for a period of four months during your initial visa period. If you wish to work for longer than this then you can always apply for a Student Visa and complete the appropriate application form.
Once you have completed your Working Holiday Visa you may decide that you want to remain in Australia and if this is the case you may look towards the Skilled Migration Visas to see which options are available to you for a permanent stay within the country.
I had no idea this opportunity even existed. You had me sold at 300 days of sunshine, though! I’m not sure I could handle going to Australia (or anywhere, for that matter) for such a long period of time. Even a month sounds like “too long” of a vacation, even if I were actually working… not that I wouldn’t want a never-ending vacation, though! It sounds great, but I think I’d get homesick. As much as I love exploring, I’d get restless after a few weeks. It’s so interesting to know there are opportunities like this, though, in case my mind changes!
Wow Australia sounds pretty good right now. I had no idea about any of this. Thanks!