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Work Australia

Working holidays in Australia

Visa + 4 or 8-day intro in Sydney or Melbourne

‘Bye friends’ waved Dorothy as she left for Oz on her JENZA working holiday – with visa processing, hostel nights, job support, new mates, and all the nerdy tax stuff included.

Formerly known as BUNAC Work Australia – same experience, new name

UK passport holder can now work in Australia for three years!

Have all the fun before starting work with surf lessons, road trips + more

(It’s a rhetorical question)

Why do a working holiday in Australia?

Australia is the unicorn of the working holiday world. Combining the ultimate travel destination with a backpacker-friendly work culture and high minimum wage, it puts both the ‘work’ and ‘holiday’ into working holiday. Home to iconic cities and some of the most diverse landscapes on the planet – from ancient rainforests to desert canyons and snow-covered peaks (yes, really) – it’s like 356 holidays in one year.

It would say on the tin...

What is Work Australia?

We'll process your working holiday visa for you before you go. When you arrive, our amazing Aussie sidekicks Welcome to Travel, take over with a 4-day or 8-day intro in either Sydney or Melbourne. From 12 months' job support and tax file number set-up to rooftop BBQs and surf lessons – it’s everything you need to get settled in and set up for your working holiday. Plus, meet your future best mate/housemate/life partner (maybe).

Is it for me?

From USD $1,049

18-30 or 35 (passport dependent)

1-3 years (passport dependent)

Do casual or career work

Visa included worth AUD $640

Start in Melbourne or Sydney

Great for solo travellers

Reasons to work in Australia

Legendary lifestyle

Home to barefoot beaches, boho surf towns and 2,800 annual hours of sunshine... Australia’s easy-going attitude and laid-back lifestyle is legendary. Making an Australian working holiday a rite of passage to fund your gap year or take a quarter-life crisis sabbatical.

Job flexibility

Working holiday Australia visas allow you to do casual or career work anywhere in Oz. Meaning you can skip between the beaches, islands and outback – picking up casual work to fund your adventures, or grow your career with jobs related to your profession or trade.

Visa extensions

Don’t just visit – live it. Many nationalities have the option to extend their 12-month visa for a second and even a third time. Making Australia a great option if you want to live and work overseas for longer than the traditional year – putting down roots as an honorary local.

Sunny side up

10 reasons to do a working holiday in Australia

Swap work suits for wetsuits, boardrooms for board shorts, and working lunches for working holidays with a move Down Under.

Visa + cost

Who can apply for an Australia working holiday visa?

An Australia working holiday visa allows 18-30 or 35 year olds to work in Australia for 12+ months. Like the footie game Aussie Rules (18 people on a pitch is seven too many in our eyes…), the visa rules can be confusing – with the age, duration and class of visa issued depending on your nationality. Which is why we process your visa for you.

Don’t see your flag below? Check out our visa FAQs for more eligible nationalities or call us

Am I eligible?

You must be aged 18-30 (35 for some nationalities)
You must hold a passport from one of these countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Uruguay or Vietnam
You must not have previously entered Australia on a previous working holiday visa
You must have $5,000 AUD in support funds

The 4-day One

Deposit

USD $115

Second payment

USD $450

Final payment

USD $484

Total

USD $1,049

What’s included

All the help before you go, including:

Working holiday visa (worth AUD $640)
Visa application processing
1-on-1 support from our Aussie experts
Discord group to meet other travellers

Plus, 4-day semi-guided orientation in Sydney or Melbourne, including:

Airport shuttle to hostel
3 nights’ dorm accommodation
City tour, group evening activity + more
Aboriginal heritage walk
Employment + travel info session
CV writing + interview advice
12 months’ access to job board
Weekly jobs email
Australia bank account set-up
Tax file number (TFN) set-up
Australia SIM card
Superannuation + Medicare set-up

Check the Itinerary section for all the details

What’s not included

Support funds

You may be asked at immigration to show proof you have access to AUD $5,000

Travel insurance

We recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book

Flights

We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved

The 8-day One

Deposit

USD $115

Second payment

USD $450

Final payment

USD $1,004

Total

USD $1,569

What’s included

All the help before you go, including:

Working holiday visa (worth AUD $640)
Visa application processing
1-on-1 support from our Aussie experts
Discord group to meet other travellers

Plus, 8-day fully-guided tour in Sydney or Melbourne, including:

Airport shuttle to hostel
6 nights’ Sydney or Melbourne dorm accommodation
Plus, 2-day road trip with surf lessons + more
City tour + group evening activity
Aboriginal heritage walk
Employment + travel info session
CV writing + interview advice
12 months’ access to job board
Weekly jobs email
Australia bank account set-up
Tax file number (TFN) set-up
Australia SIM card
Superannuation + Medicare set-up
Melbourne: 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Sydney: 1 breakfast, 3 lunch, 3 dinners

Check the Itinerary section for all the details

What’s not included

Support funds

You may be asked at immigration to show proof you have access to AUD $5,000

Travel insurance

We recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book

Flights

We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved

Good to know

Balancing profit with purpose, JENZA only works for us if it works for others too. We donate 5% of profits to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund so that young people from under-served and lower-income backgrounds can experience working overseas. Find out more and apply for scholarship funding.

Field trip!

Fruit picking and farm work

Backpackers are the backbone of much of Australia’s harvest industry. Hard work but fun – it’s a great way to make friends, save money and work outdoors. Plus, do the three months of ‘specified work’ you need for your second visa (if applicable).

Jobs + locations

What types of jobs can I do?

Typical working holiday jobs include working in hospitality, tourism, labouring, sales, retail, customer service, admin, promotions and fruit picking. These jobs usually come with no expectation for how long you’ll stay, making them ideal for working on the move. You can expect to earn the minimum wage or above, currently AUD $24.10.

You can also work in industries related to your vocation, education or trade – such as nursing, beauty, marketing, construction, finance, recruitment and everything in between. Here your earning potential will be higher. Depending on your nationality, you may be required to change employers every six months during your visa. Jump to FAQs for more.

Australia in numbers

Years it would take if you visited one Aussie beach per day

75,000

Years Aboriginals have populated Australia

1,429

Length in miles of the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef

20,000

Times you’ll get called ‘mate’ on your WHV

How to find a job in Australia

When you land

Both our 4-day and 8-day options include the same in-country work inclusions. You’ll have an employment info session to go over what jobs are available, get advice on how to Aussie-fy your CV and prep for interviews, 12 months’ access to an online nationwide database with hundreds of casual and farm jobs that you can apply for, and a weekly jobs email.

Before you go

We love nothing more than playing fairy jobmother and helping you to pre-arrange a backpacker job. But due to the nature of seasonal work in Australia, it’s not always possible to do in advance. Jump to our FAQs for more. If you’re looking to get hired in a field related to your career or trade, we recommend signing up to agencies, applying via sites like Indeed, and networking on LinkedIn.

Where can I work in Australia?

The down low on cities Down Under

Guy stand in middle of road in Australia

Deciding where to go

City or surf

There’s a reason why travellers come in waves to Australia. And it’s not just for the beaches. The backpacker-friendly employers and high minimum wage mean you can work anywhere – not just the big cities. Most travellers tend to start with working holiday jobs in Melbourne or working holiday jobs in Sydney, which is where our teams are based to help you get set up. Those that leave the cities behind get a lifetime of memories doing seasonal or casual work in beach resorts, vineyards and outback towns. And those that stay, get to live like locals in two of the coolest in the world. It’s what we like to call in the travel world, a win win.

Sydney

The bougie one

Sydney is the Bermuda Triangle of Australian cities, with travellers flying in and never leaving – staying for the harbourfront glamour, surfy suburbs, and never-the-same-bar-twice social life. Sydney is a style and business icon, with every sector from fashion to finance residing here. One of the most liveable cities in the world, the work-life balance is next level – with Friday nights out in the gay-friendly pubs of Paddington or grungy bars of Redfern, Saturday afternoons spent sifting through the thrift stores and vintage record shops of Newtown, and Sunday mornings reserved for brunches and beach time in Coogee or Bondi.

Melbourne

The arty one

They say you’re either a Sydney or a Melbourne person, and there’s truth in the rivalry between Australia’s two largest cities. While Sydney may have the natural good looks and enviable beach hair, Melbourne is the cool and arty one. Culture, counter-culture and caffeine reign here – with colourful street art, quirky boutiques and live music bars that seemingly line every street in the hipster neighbourhoods of Brunswick, Fitzroy and Carlton. There’s also no shortage of natural beauty in Melbourne. Beach lifestyle rules in the surfy suburb of St. Kilda, and it’s just under an hour to the wildlife, wineries and white sand beaches of the Mornington Peninsula.

Cairns

The wild one

Cairns is wild inside and out of the city. The jumping off point for the kaleidoscopic waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the humming rainforests of the Daintree, Cairns is surrounded by UNESCO sites and untamed natural beauty. The first or last stop for backpackers travelling the world-famous East Coast, Cairns is a tourist town at heart – with travel kiosks, backpacker hostels and happy hours flanking the esplanade and purpose-built lagoon. As the adventure capital of Australia with everything from bungy jumps to skydives to throw yourself off or out of, it’s a great place to find fun or outdoor work – working in bars, hostels, and on dive boats.

Perth

The laidback one

If your Aussie daydreams are of easy-going locals, 265 days of sunshine, surfing before work and barbecuing after work – then Perth is the city for you. Out on Australia’s stunning West Coast, it’s one of the most isolated cities in the world. And perhaps because it’s not competing with its East Coast cousins, it sings to its own tune. While Perth may not have the professional opportunities, and cultural and creative mix of Sydney or Melbourne (yet) – it also doesn’t have the stress or the smog. Life runs at a slower pace, with a great food and arts scene, and quick access to the wildlife of Rottnest Island, reefs of Ningaloo, and wineries of Margaret River.

Start in Melbourne

Staying at the Village North Melbourne with up to 22 of your soon-to-be-closest friends, our 8-day Work Australia blatantly disregards the warning about never mixing business with pleasure. As well as job workshops and help getting your tax and bank account sorted, it includes all this awesomeness.

A welcome dinner, street food tour, Aboriginal heritage walk, pub crawl, St Kilda trip, rooftop BBQ, some meals and drinks, and a two-day road trip to the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island. Here you’ll learn to surf, go wine tasting, and probably cry tears of joy at the tiny penguins.

Start in Sydney

Exactly what the Melbourne one said, but staying in Sydney’s legendary Wake Up! Hostel. You’ll do the same job workshops and work admin to sort out the essentials such as your tax number and bank account when you arrive, plus all of this good stuff in and around Sydney.

A welcome dinner, city walking tour, Aboriginal tour, cocktail class, pub crawl, Bondi Beach trip, rooftop BBQ, some meals and drinks, and a two-day road trip. Here you’ll stay at an overnight surf camp, go dolphin spotting and get Australia’s cheapest exfoliating pedi at Jervis Bay – home to the finest and whitest sand in the world.

Upcoming events

Get hired or get the intel

Three girls laughing in the woods at summer camp

In-person camp hiring days | UK + Ireland

28 Jan Dublin | 01 Feb London

Meet Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (fingers crossed) get hired on the day. To register your interest, apply for Summer Camp USA over on our BUNAC camp page and let us know which city you'd like to attend. We can't wait to see your face, but don't worry if you can't make an in-person event - the quickest way to get hired is in our hiring pool.

2 girls in red snow gear smile with blue sky in background

Work Canada | Everything you need to know

Virtual travel talk | 19 Nov @ 20:00 DST

Looking for a fresh start? The most liveable cities and the coolest ski resorts, Canada is the ultimate working holiday visa. Join our Canada Crew for all the intel on who can go, when you need to apply, and what types of jobs you can do. Plus, that age old question - summer or winter in Canada? (Both being the correct answer!).

View all events

We promise to wear pants

Book a video call

Your Australia ride or die, the JENZA Travel Group has being doing working holidays in Australia for 35+ years. Confused about where to go, what jobs you can do, and which city to choose? Call us for a yarn. We’ll help you figure out your trip and answer any questions. Such as: what’s a yarn? (Aussie for a chat), or why are thongs flip flops in Oz but underwear everywhere else? (No clue).

How it works

How and when to apply

When to apply

You can apply year-round. We process your visa for you – which is issued electronically and usually takes between 2-3 days. Occasionally, Australian immigration may request further information – which could take up to six weeks.

Departure dates

The 8-day One starts in Sydney or Melbourne every Sunday, plus every other Thursday between Sep-Jan. The 4-day One starts in Sydney or Melbourne every Tuesday.

Countdown to Australia

Apply + pay your deposit

Check your eligibility in the visa + cost section, choose either 4-day or 8-day, hit 'Book now' to create your online account and pay your deposit. You can then access your account to keep track of your trip at any time at the top of this page.

1 day

Pay second payment + visa processing

Once you've paid your second payment, you'll need to fill out a form in your online account, upload a photo of your passport (making sure you have enough duration left on your passport for the time you'll be away!) and upload proof of funds - this is in the form of a bank statement. We will then apply and process your working holiday visa for you. Visas are usually approved within 2-3 days, but can take up to six weeks if more info it required. Visa are electronic, so are tagged to your passport.

2-42 days

Confirm your arrival + book flights

Once your visa is approved, you'll then request the start date of your Sydney or Melbourne group orientation. Once we've confirmed there is space on that departure, we'll get your hostel nights and all the other good stuff booked in. It's then safe to book your flights.

2 days

Arrive into Australia

When you land, you'll have a shared transfer to your starting hostel in either Sydney or Melbourne where the fun begins with either your 4-day or 8-day adventure! Don't forget to tag us @jenzatravel

Get it for free (ish)

Earn back your adventures

We know the most authentic voices come from our community. Whether you want to come on board as an ambassador, roadtester or as a one-off collaborator for blogs, vlogs or images – earn some extra $$ on the road with a content side hustle.

You shaped travel

What our Aussie roadtester had to say

Before you’re even let loose on one of our JENZA experiences, it’s roadtested by our community. Because if it didn’t fly with them, it’s sure as heck not going to fly with you. Meet Adithi, one of our Youth Advisory Panellists and Aussie roadtester, who lived her wildest life working and travelling in Australia on her gap year.

Watch

As seen on social

Read

All the inspo and intel

Fun Stuff / Australia

How to understand an Aussie on your working holiday

Hannah Jeffery

Dec 29

And why it’s okay to order pot at the bar. (Don’t worry Officer, it’s merely a beer measure).

Travel Guides / Australia

A guide to Melbourne’s coolest neighbourhoods

Georgie Birch

Dec 1

We were just in the neighbourhood, so thought we’d drop by.

Travel Guides / Australia

A guide to Sydney's coolest neighbourhoods

Victoria Whitehouse

Jan 16

Beachy vibes to offbeat cool, find your ideal hangout in Sydney with a little help from Victoria.

Travel Guides / Australia

Where to live in Australia (that isn’t Sydney or Melbourne)

Georgie Birch

Dec 16

Australian dream life loading…

Jenza Talk / Australia

My Melbourne working holiday: travelling as trans

Dane DiCaprio

Dec 18

On finding a job, hormones and a community. We love it when a WHV works out.

Travel Guides / Australia

Ask the roadtesters: Is the Red Centre and Uluru worth it?

Adithi Kumar

Nov 15

“The closest I would get to Mars”. And other out-of-this-world moments visiting Australia’s most sacred site.

Girl with sunglasses standing in amphitheatre

Friends = benefits

Unlock 10% off Contiki when you book with JENZA

Looking for a little pre or post trip action? We've teamed up with Contiki to bring you the ultimate work and travel dream team. Check your online account to access your 10% off code.

Got questions?

We’ve got answers

Not found what you're looking for? Hit 'Ask a question' below and one of our JENZA Support Squad will come back to you - pen pal style.

Girl smiles on lodge looking out over mountains.

Talk to us

Aussie experts

Call us for all the inside intel and info on where to go and what jobs you can do.

How can I work in Australia?

For passport holders who are part of Australia’s working holiday visa scheme, you can apply for a working holiday visa that allows you to work in Australia for up to 12 months – with the option to extend to a second and even a third visa for some nationalities. (See later FAQ).

Australia working holiday visas are broken down into two subclasses of visa – subclass 417 and subclass 462. Both allow you to work and travel in Australia. The visa we process for you will depend on your nationality.

What’s the age limit to apply for an Australia working holiday visa?

For most nationalities, you must be aged 18-30 (inclusive) to apply for an Australia working holiday visa – which means you must apply before your 31st birthday. Unless you’re from the UK, Canada, France, Ireland, Denmark or Italy, in which case it’s 18-35 (inclusive) – which means you must apply before your 36th birthday.

You can call us or check the eligibility and age limit for your nationality here or here – depending on which subclass of working holiday visa your nationality is eligible for.

How long is a working holiday and how do I apply for a second visa?

Once your visa is approved, you have 12 months to enter the country. Your visa is then valid to stay for one year – with extensions available for some passport holders.

From 1 July 2024, the regional work requirement was removed for UK passport holders - who can now apply for a second and third 12-month extension to their working holiday visa without having to show proof that they have completed specified or regional work. Find out more about the changes here.

For other passport holders, you may need to complete three months of 'specified work' in regional Australia to apply for a second or third visa. You can find out more about the extension requirements for your nationality here.

What counts as ‘specified work’ to get a second or third visa?

What classes as ‘specified work’ is extensive – and can include hospitality jobs in rural areas, agricultural work, construction, farming, bushfire recovery and some essential industries such as nursing. Find out what counts here. Aside from getting you a second visa, it’s also a great way to get out of the cities and experience authentic parts of Australia and traditional industries.

What kind of jobs can I do on an Australia working holiday visa?

The working holiday visa for Australia is flexible, and allows you to do either casual work or pursue career work that's related to your profession, trade, vocation or training. Popular casual or backpacker jobs in Australia include farm work, fruit picking, waitressing, bartending, labouring, shop work, hostel work, hotel work, housekeeping, sales, promotions, tourism and more. You aren't required on this visa to have a job lined up before you go.

How much can I earn working in Australia?

Most backpacker, casual or entry level jobs will pay at least Australia's minimum wage. This can be more depending on the job and the location. For more skilled work related to your profession, trade or training – your salary will be higher and is uncapped on this visa.

Do I need to be in my home country to apply for my working holiday visa?

No, you don't need to be in your home country. However, you cannot be in Australia when you apply for your visa.

How long does it take to process my visa?

Our team are usually able to process your visa within 2-3 days. However, as the Australian Government make the final decision, it can take longer – up to six weeks if they require further information. We don’t recommend booking your flights until your visa is approved.

When should I book to go to Australia?

Planning a year abroad, working holiday or gap year can take 6+ months to save up for and organise. However, as Australia visas can be issued faster than working holiday visas for other countries – you can also book Work Australia last minute. Some our Sydney and Melbourne departure dates can sell out months in advance – so if you have your heart set on a certain date, we'd recommend booking ASAP.

Does Work Australia include accommodation?

Our 4-day option includes three nights’ hostel accommodation at the WakeUp! for Sydney departures, and The Village North Melbourne for Melbourne departures.
Our 8-day option includes six nights’ hostel accommodation at the WakeUp! for Sydney departures, plus one night at a surf camp on the South Coast. Or six nights at The Village North Melbourne, plus one night at The Island YHA on Phillip Island for Melbourne departures.

Accommodation is in multi-share dorms – if you wish to upgrade to a twin (where available) get in touch. If you’re arriving early, you can book a maximum of three pre-nights and three post-nights – just let our team know.

What’s the difference between the 4-day or 8-day option?

The 4-day option starts on a Tuesday, is semi-guided, has a group size of 1-10, and is designed to set you up with the job support, travel advice, city tours and work essentials (such as your bank account and tax number set up) you need to kickstart your working holiday. Jump to the full inclusions and itinerary for more. The 8-day option starts every Sunday (plus every other Thursday between Sep-Jan), is fully guided, has a group size of up to 22 new friends, and includes all the work and city elements of the 4-day one. Plus, a 2-day group road trip, surf lessons, beach hangs, group barbeque dinners, and heaps more. Jump to the full inclusions and itinerary for more.

Please note that the 8-day one is not an extension of the 4-day one – it has different starts dates and a different group.

Do many people travel on their own?

Yes! Everyone arrives in the same boat, so our arrival packages are perfect for meeting people – and probably your future travel buddies and housemates too. The 8-day one is full-guided and has a larger group size, so is a great option to guarantee a ready-made group of friends.

How much money do I need to work in Australia?

Australian Immigration requires you to have at least AUD $5,000 when you enter the country. Australia does have a high cost of living and this may be higher than in your home country. The more money you can save before you go, the more flexibility you'll have to travel before starting work and the less pressure you'll be under to find a job.

Is doing a working holiday in Australia worth it?

Obtaining a working holiday visa for Australia allows you to work and travel at the same time. Which is a great way to see Australia as it is a huge and diverse country – with each state offering something different to the next. Working in Australia will also allow you to have a more authentic experience and build more lasting connections - living like a local, contributing to the economy, and making lifelong friends.

Does JENZA arrange a job for me before I go?

At JENZA, we love the security of arriving with a job lined up. However, unlike some of our other work abroad destinations like Canada, Japan and the USA that have defined summer or ski seasons where our employers are looking to secure seasonal staff months in advance – it’s a little different in Oz.

It’s a year-round destination. Therefore, it’s tricky for our hospitality employers (such as bars, restaurants and hotels) to know what positions they’ll have available a month or more in advance. Since the pandemic, they are preferring to hire staff who are in-country and ready to start immediately. This also works well for our travellers, as trust us, as soon as you get to Australia and meet a bunch of new people – guaranteed your plans will change! (There’s a reason why they call Sydney and Melbourne blackholes – travellers go in and never come out again).

If any of our Australia employers are looking to hire for positions in advance, they’ll be on our Job Hub – which you’ll have access to before you go. When you arrive in Sydney or Melbourne, you’ll have an employment session, CV support and 12 months’ access to a nationwide database to search and apply for jobs. Most people manage to secure a backpacker job within their first three weeks.

What’s the difference between BUNAC and JENZA?

Nothing! We’ve always been the same team running identical programs, just with different brand names in different countries. As you can imagine, this got crazy confusing. So in 2024, JENZA became the new name for all our working holiday and intern programs, and BUNAC went back to its 1972 Americana roots, and became our summer camp brand.

Ask a question

Didn't see your question? Ask our team here.

More ways to work the world

Did someone say 'gap decade'?

JENZA Travel International Ltd, trading as JENZA, is a company registered in Dublin, Ireland with Registered Company No. 707281 and registered address at 29-31 South William St, Dublin, Ireland, D02 EY96.