Topic 1: Visa Options - part 1: working holiday visa

Hi there,

Here is some information on visas for Irish people emigrating to Melbourne. I've applied for four visas so far in my time here (1 working holiday visa and 3 sponsored visa through different employers). This is the advice I'd give you straight of the bat...

-> I wouldn't recommend going through an agent. Cut out the middle man! I applied for one visa through an agent and it took 4 months! It costs my company 2500 dollars. The agency were rude to me and quite unwilling to help when I was running out of time. It costs about 500 dollars for you and your employer to apply for a sponsored visa online and its much quicker!!

-> If you are running out of time on your working holiday visa 6 month work limitation and you have already applied for your sponsored visa, apply quickly for an extension from the immigration department.

-> Get your x rays done as soon as possible as this slows down the process. Remember that you cannot just get x rays done in an average hospital, they have to be done at the migration center.

-> If you are sponsored in a job you hate, then don't feel trapped. Look around and find other employers willing to sponsor you. I was made redundant from my first job, I got sponsored again in a few days. I hated my next job and I felt very trapped there when the recession hit, but after a few job interviews I found an employer who was willing to sponsor me!

-> Don't be afraid to look for sponsorship from a prospective employer, be pushy about it, explain that it costs less than 500 dollars, explain that Irish people have reciprocal health benefits in Australia, so they will not be responsible for potential hospital charges, remind them that it is an easy, straight forward process.


1. Working holiday visa
This is the easiest visa to get, by far. You can get a working holiday visa online with the minimum of documentation (see below). It takes about 24 hours for this visa to be approved.

Visa Basics:

You must apply for this visa from outside the country.

This visa lasts for 1 year.

People aged 18 to 30 are eligible for this visa.

You can only work for the same employer for up to 6 months (unless you are later sponsored by that employer).

You can also study for up to 4 months on this visa.

With this visa, you can leave and re-enter the country.

You can only get a second working holiday visa if you spend 3 months working in agriculture such as fruit picking.


When should I get this visa?
You can get this visa anytime up to one year before you plan to arrive in Australia. I recommend getting this before you book your flights, maybe a few months before you plan to arrive in Oz.


How much does it cost?
It costs 230 Aussie dollors (which is currently about 150 euros).

How do I get this visa?
You can apply directly online. This is the Australian immigration department's webpage on the working holiday visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/working-holiday.htm