• Working holiday visa applicants need to be aged between 18 and 30, single or married without children. They need to show that:

• their main reason for coming to Australia is for a holiday, and that any work they do is to support themselves while they are on holiday;
• they have a good chance of finding temporary work to supplement their holiday funds;
• they have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return fare and the first part of their stay; and they intend to leave Australia at the end of their authorised stay
• Working holiday makers are permitted a stay of 12 months from date of initial entry to Australia regardless of whether or not they spend the whole period in Australia (IE they are not able to "top up" their stay by obtaining a further working holiday visa onshore).
• Working Holiday visa holders who applied for their visas on or after 1 July 2000 are permitted to study or train for up to three months
• Only citizens from the following countries may currently apply for the WHV: Canada, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.

In addition to the above general requirements, there are further, more specific requirements needed when completing the application form. These include:

• Medical certificate proving you are fit to travel and work
• Proof of available funds at the time of application to cover your costs - your local embassy will be able to tell you how much funds you must have
• A letter from your employer stating that you have a secure job to return to after your trip, or from your university stating you have a place in a course
• No previous criminal record
• Applicants over 26 must explain why they have not previously availed of the working holiday visa

The statistics for successful applicants for the visa during 1999-2000 were: United Kingdom (38 696), Ireland (13 155) Japan (8442) Canada (5433) Netherlands (4818) and Korea (1198).

Apply at your nearest Australian embassy for a WHV application form, which will outline all the procedures and requirements. Expect anything between 2-8 weeks before your application will be approved, so don't book your flights beforehand!

For further information on the web, visit the official Australian immigration site at: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/temp-whm.htm 

• Try to plan your overall route before you go, and avail of cheaper flights for round-the-world travel
• Refer to our 'what to pack' guide. Make sure you bring clothes suitable for travelling as well as working
• Bring enough money to last at least one month - you may not be paid for a few weeks, and your flat / house will require at least 4 weeks rent in advance
• Bring several employment references with you - both on paper and disk; also bring contact information as Australian employers will want to contact them
• Be aware that you can legally work no more than 3 months with any employer. If you go over this you risk being deported. It's a risk you can take, but people have been deported before
• Have some accommodation arranged with relatives / friends before you arrive in Australia, and spend some time looking for suitable accommodation - the best places to search are Sydney Morning Herald and in the Travellers' Contact Points.
• When you get there, visit the tax office and get a Tax File number. That way, you won't be charged emergency tax when you work
• Registering with one or more employment agencies is the easiest way to find work