Is There An Australian Working
Holiday Visa For People Over 30?
So you'd like an Australian working holiday visa (WHV), but you are over thirty years old?
While I can totally understand and relate to your wish, this is not as easy as people seem to think...
I know the demand is there because I do get that question very regularly.
Here are some examples:
- "You say the Australian working holiday visa is only for people to 30. I am over 30, so where do I apply?"
- "We are a bit older but we are still very fit. We can work hard and would like to do seasonal work and fruit picking. How can we get a holiday work visa?"
- "I am planning on visiting Australia. I am over 30 years old so I do not qualify for the Australian holiday work visa. Can I apply for a WHV once I am there?"
The respective answers are: nowhere, you can't, and nope.
To apply for a working holiday visa for Australia (both the "Australian working holiday visa" or the slightly different "Australian work and holiday visa") you have to be 30 years or younger.
I am sorry, but if you are older than thirty then it's too late for a holiday working visa. This has nothing to do with your fitness level or willingness to work or anything. The working holiday visa is not a normal work visa.
The Australian WHV is meant for gap year students and similar. It gives young people a chance to experience something different, to open their minds and broaden their horizons.
Visa holders are restricted in what kind of work they can do and for how long. Basically the Australian WHV is for short term odd jobs, not for long term careers or to make big money.
Yes, that might suit you even if you're older, but that just doesn't matter.
The whole WHV thing is based on exchange agreements that Australia has with many other countries in the world. Young people can come to Australia to work for a year, young Australians can work overseas for a year.
You have to be no older than 30 when you apply for the Australian working holiday visa. End of story. It doesn't matter how young you are at heart. There is no Australian working holiday visa for people over thirty.
However, there is a wide range of other Australian working visas. Some are temporary, some are permanent. They are nowhere near as easy to get as the Australian WHV, but that does not mean it's impossible.
It might take a while to get the right documentation together, but generally, where there's a will there's a way. It depends how badly you want to work in Australia!
