How much does an Australia working holiday cost? How to apply for an Australia working holiday visa? This article will explain the eligibility, fees, and application process for the Australia working visa, share precautions for working in Australia, and finally answer common questions about working in Australia, helping you easily handle your Australia visa application!

I. How to apply for an Australia working visa? Let's tell you about the eligibility, fees, and application process for an Australia working holiday!

Australia boasts a pleasant climate, diverse culture, minimal time difference from Hong Kong, coupled with an excellent quality of life and favorable salary conditions, making it a top choice for young people in Hong Kong for working holidays. If you wish to travel and work in Australia, you must apply for an Australia working holiday visa. What are the requirements for applying for an Australia working holiday visa? How much does it cost? Let's find out right away!

Eligibility for Australia Working Holiday Visa  

The eligibility for an Australia working holiday visa is subject to restrictions on age, region, financial capacity, character, and health conditions.

1. Age requirement: Must be at least 18 years old and under 31 years old.  
2. Region requirement: Must hold a valid passport of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 
3. Financial capacity restriction: Must provide proof of a deposit balance of 5,000 Australia dollars as financial proof, and hold a return ticket or sufficient funds to cover the cost of a return ticket. 
4. Character restriction: In specific circumstances (e.g., when requested by a visa officer), you may need to provide character documents, such as a certificate of no criminal record.
5. Health condition: Must be in good health and provide a medical examination certificate.

📢 Reminder: Holders of Hong Kong passports can apply for the Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa.（Working Holiday Visa，Subclass 417）， but are not eligible for the Subclass 462 visa（Work and Holiday visa，Subclass 462）。

Application Fee for Australia Working Holiday Visa  

According to the latest information published on the website of the Australia Department of Home Affairs, the current application fee for an Australia working holiday visa is 650 Australia dollars. Additional fees will also be incurred for medical examinations and for providing identification documents (when applying for or renewing a passport). The cost of a general medical examination is approximately between 800 and several thousand Hong Kong dollars.

Application Process for Australia Working Holiday Visa 

STEP 1: Confirm eligibility  

Those who wish to apply for an Australia working holiday visa must first confirm whether they meet the above basic eligibility criteria.

STEP 2: Submit an online application  

Australia working visas are mainly applied for online. You need to first register an ImmiAccount on the Australia Department of Home Affairs website, then log into the official system to fill out the online application form. The content of the application form includes current address, medical history, and criminal record checks, etc. During the filling process, you need to upload the following documents:

• A copy of your passport.  
• Proof of financial capacity.  
• Credit card (for online payment).  

📢 Reminder: Working holiday visas must be applied for outside of Australia. 

STEP 3: Pay the application fee and print the medical examination form 

After submitting the application form and completing the online payment, the website will guide you to enter the medical examination system to fill in more detailed health information, and a medical examination form will be automatically generated. Applicants must carry the medical examination form to a designated hospital to complete the health check within 28 days. It usually takes about 1 more month of working days for the visa to be officially issued.  

📢  Reminder: Once the working holiday visa is issued, you must enter Australia within 12 months.

II. 3 Key Insights into Australia Working Holiday: Work, Accommodation, and Language Study  

(1) How to Find a Job for an Australia Working Holiday? What is the Salary?  

1. Job Content for Australia Working Holiday  

Currently, the Australia government has no special restrictions on the types of work for foreigners. As long as the work complies with local regulations, any job is permitted. Common job types for Australia working holidays include farm helpers, food factory workers, restaurant waitstaff, retail store clerks, and hotel cleaning or front desk staff. The channels for finding jobs in Australia include the following 4 types: 

• Job websites（Seek、LinkedIn Australia、Indeed、Gumtree ）.
• Recruitment agencies.  
• On-site (or phone/email) inquiries.  
• Referrals from relatives and friends.  

It should also be noted that unless the following circumstances and job contents are met, you are not allowed to work at the same location for more than 6 months. If you want to keep the same job for more than 6 months, you must apply for permission from the Australia government. 

• Animal/plant breeding/cultivation work.  
• Natural disaster recovery work.  
• Specific jobs in northern Australia (fisheries, pearl farming, tree planting and felling, construction, mining, etc.). 
• Tourism and hotel industry work.
• Work in medical institutions and nursing-related jobs. 
• Childcare work.  
• Agriculture-related work.  
• Working for the same employer but at different work locations.  

2. Forms of Work for Australia Working Holiday  

In Australia, work forms can be mainly divided into the following 3 types:  

1. Full-time: Working an average of 38 hours per week, with reasonable overtime hours. Entitled to the most complete employment benefits and job security, such as paid sick leave.
2. Part-time: Working an average of less than 38 hours per week, with fixed working hours. Entitled to job security such as annual leave, sick leave, and carer's leave.
3. Casual: No fixed number of working hours per week, not entitled to paid annual leave or sick leave, and employers can terminate the employment relationship without prior notice. 

📢 Supplement: For more detailed information on each form of work, you can refer to the information from the Fair Work Ombudsman of Australia. 

3. Salary Conditions for Australia Working Holiday  

Salaries for Australia working holidays are paid on a weekly basis. Currently, the minimum legal wage is AUD 24.10 per hour, or AUD 915.90 per week (for a maximum of 38 hours). For casual workers who are not entitled to paid leave benefits, the minimum wage is AUD 30.13 per hour.

(2) Where to Stay During an Australia Working Holiday?  

1. Homestay  

Homestay refers to a form of accommodation where you live with a local family. Most homestays offer an all-English environment. The local family provides a single room and basic meals (which may not always be included). Living rules can vary from family to family, as each has its own set of habits and regulations.

2. Share House  

A share house, simply put, is a house rented with others. When working and renting in Australia, it usually takes the form of a private room, where you share public spaces and facilities with roommates, including the toilet, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and balcony.  

Share housing is the most common accommodation choice for those on a working holiday in Australia. It allows for splitting rent and living costs, making it the most economical option. However, since you need to share and maintain the space with roommates, effective communication and coordination with them are crucial.  。

3. Hostel/Backpacker  

If you haven’t finalized your accommodation upon arriving in Australia, or only need short-term lodging, you can consider daily-rate youth hostels or backpacker hostels. 

A common feature of this type of accommodation is that multiple people share a room and bathroom facilities, mostly with bunk beds. Most hostels and backpacker lodgings provide simple meals (usually breakfast) and Wi-Fi.  

4. Student Accommodation  

For working holidaymakers who want to balance work and study, student accommodation is a good choice.  

As long as you have enrolled in a short-term course at an Australia school, you can apply for student accommodation even with a working holiday visa. Student accommodation typically offers 1-2 person rooms, is located near the campus, and provides access to public spaces and student cafeterias, offering a convenient and safe living environment.  

(3) Are There Restrictions on Attending Language Schools During an Australia Working Holiday?  

To familiarize themselves with the local environment and practice English, many working holidaymakers choose to attend language schools. It is also a great way to meet local friends and expand international networks. However, there is a limit on the length of courses for those holding an Australia working holiday visa when applying to attend language schools—you can take short-term courses for a maximum of 17 weeks (4 months).  

If you want to experience life in Australia in advance, take a short trip, or explore the country before starting your working holiday, you may consider applying for an Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, Subclass 601). Nexus Travel can help you easily complete the ETA application process, allowing you to embark on an impromptu trip to Australia!

III. How long can you stay on an Australia working holiday? How much living expenses are needed? All you need to know about working in Australia!  

Australia Working Holiday Note 1: Visa Duration 

Holders of an Australia working holiday visa can stay in Australia for a maximum of 1 year. If you wish to extend your working holiday period, you must apply for a second visa (which allows extending work to the 2nd year) or a third visa (which allows extending work to the 3rd year). The basic application requirements for the second and third visas are the same as those for the first-year visa, but there are some restrictions:  

• You can only apply for the second visa if you have already applied for the first Australia working holiday visa (and so on; you can only apply for the third visa if you have applied for the second visa).
• You can only apply for the second or third visa if you hold a substantive visa, or if your last substantive visa expired no more than 28 days ago.
• You need to provide proof of Australia work experience. Applicants for the second visa must complete 3 months of specified work under Subclass 417 during the validity period of the first visa; applicants for the third visa must complete 6 months of specified work under Subclass 417 during the validity period of the second visa.  

📢 Reminder: The first visa can only be applied for once in a lifetime and cannot be reapplied, but you can extend your working holiday years through the second and third visas.  

Australia Working Holiday Note 2: Livable Cities  

In fact, all major cities in Australia are very suitable for working holidays. However, when comprehensively considering the living environment and living resources, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the most recommended choices. Nevertheless, the prices and living expenses in these three major cities may be slightly higher than those in second-tier cities.  

Sydney is Australia's economic hub with well-developed living facilities; Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital with a strong artistic and cultural atmosphere; Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. These three cities are home to many well-known universities and language schools, making them ideal places for study tours and working holidays.

Want to travel to Australia now? For short-term travel (with no permission to work) staying in Australia for up to 90 days, you don't need to apply for a working holiday visa. You only need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, Subclass 601). Nexus Travel can help you easily complete all ETA application procedures through its application website and agency services!

Australia Working Holiday Note 3: Living Expenses  

How much money should one prepare per month for a working holiday in Australia? Taking Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane as examples, according to data from the global database Numbeo, the monthly living expenses (excluding rent and accommodation costs) for a single person in these three major cities range from approximately 1,580 to 1,755 Australia dollars. If you are worried about unexpected expenses, it is recommended to set aside 2,000 to 3,000 Australia dollars in your account each month.  

Australia Working Holiday Note 4: Insurance  

Overseas insurance in Australia can be divided into two types: "Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)" and "Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)". Those on a working holiday are applicable to the former. Although holders of the Australia Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) are not required by the Australia government to take out insurance compulsorily, it is usually recommended to purchase it voluntarily to reduce the burden of medical expenses and provide more comprehensive life protection. 

The premium of OVHC varies depending on the medical coverage included in the insurance plan. Budget Visitor Cover has the lowest cost but does not cover general clinics; Basic Visitor Cover has a moderate cost and covers hospitals and clinics; Core Extras has the most comprehensive coverage, including medical expenses for ambulance services, ophthalmology, dentistry, etc.  

IV. Easily Handle Your Australia Visa! Australia Visa Agency Helps You Get It Done in One Step

What other visas do you need to apply for to enter Australia? In addition to the Australia Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 407) and Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500), if you only need to visit Australia for short-term tourism, business visits, or to see relatives and friends, you can directly apply for the Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, Subclass 601), which allows a maximum stay of 90 days.  

Now, you can easily complete all procedures by opening the application website: https://www.etavisa.com.hk/，No need to worry about complicated application processes!   

• Convenient application: No restrictions on time or location, enabling easy and quick application.
• Information security: The website protects your personal data, so you don’t have to worry about information leakage.
• Simple operation: The interface is intuitively designed, making it easy to use even for those without computer experience. 
• Instant notification: Application results will be notified immediately, allowing you to keep track of the progress at any time.  

Although applying for ETA by yourself is convenient, if you have doubts about the application process or want to ensure everything goes smoothly, Nexus Travel also provides professional agency services to help you obtain ETA quickly.  

• Experienced and professional: We have rich experience in Australia visa applications, ensuring that every visa application is accurate and error-free.
• One-on-one customized service: We provide personalized visa solutions for each customer to meet your specific needs.  
• High success rate and trustworthy: Over the years, we have successfully helped countless customers obtain Australia visa, accumulating rich practical experience. 
• Officially recognized: Our electronic visa system has been approved by Australia consulates, enabling us to provide you with professional and reliable visa agency services.