Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 452)

Can I study?

While in Australia as the holder of a Work and Holiday visa you may study or train for up to four months. If you want to study for longer than four months, you should apply for a student visa from outside Australia.

Is there a visa validity period?

If granted a Work and Holiday visa, you have 12 months from the grant date to enter Australia. The visa is valid for 12 months from the date you first enter Australia.
Note: If you leave Australia during your 12 month stay, you cannot recover the period of time spent outside Australia.

Can I come with my family?

You cannot include family members in your application for this visa. If your partner wishes to accompany you to Australia, they may do so, but will need to apply for their own visa.

It is not possible for you to travel to Australia on a Work and Holiday visa with children. If you want to travel to Australia with children, you should apply for a different kind of visa.

Is there an annual visa limit?

The annual limit on the number of Work and Holiday visas granted to applicants from Chile is 1500, for the others nationalities click here. The annual limit is based on the Australian financial year (1 July to 30 June). The annual limit has not yet been reached for 2009-10.

Can I extend my stay in Australia?

The Work and Holiday visa allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months. You can only extend your stay in Australia if your Work and Holiday visa is not granted with a 'No Further Stay' condition. If your visa is granted with a 'No Further Stay' condition you will be advised of this in your visa grant letter.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for this visa if you:

• are aged 18 to 30 years (inclusive) on the date you apply
• hold a Chilean passport or (an Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Turkish or USA passport)
• meet educational requirements
• have functional English
• have a letter of support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• do not have dependent children
• have not previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (417) or Work and Holiday (462) visa
• meet character, health and evidence of funds requirements.

Education requirements

You must hold tertiary qualifications or have completed or have been approved to undertake a third year of undergraduate university study.

Functional English requirements

You must have functional English and provide documentary evidence of your English level when you lodge your visa application. Otherwise, you may be refused the visa.

You must provide evidence that you have done one of the following:

• Achieved an IELTS average band score of at least 4.5 based on the four test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening in a test conducted no more than two years before lodging the visa application. For visa purposes you only need to sit the General Training Module.
• Achieved a TOEFL score of 133 on a computer based test, or 450 on a paper based test or 45-46 on an internet-based test, no more than two years before lodging the visa application.
• Passed the Occupational English Test no more than two years before lodging the visa application.
• Completed all years of primary education and at least three years of secondary education at an educational institution in which all instruction was in English.
• Completed at least five years of secondary education (high school) at an educational institution in which all instruction was in English.
• Completed a post-secondary qualification that required at least two years of full-time study or training, in which all tuition was in English.
• Successfully completed, in Australia, at least 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study towards a degree, higher degree, diploma or associate diploma at an institution or institutions where all the instruction was in English.

Government support

You must include a letter of support from your home government with your application.

This letter is issued by example by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile

Note: The letter of support does not guarantee a place in the Work and Holiday program.

Evidence of funds

You must have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. Generally, AUD5000 may be regarded as sufficient, but the amount may vary depending on your length of stay and the extent of your travel. You should also have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia.

Health requirements

Health requirements will vary depending on your personal circumstances.

You may need to have a medical examination depending on:

• your length of stay in Australia
• other health risks in your home country or countries you have visited for more than three months within the last five years
• the activities you will be undertaking
• any existing health condition.

See: Form 1163i - Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia

Health insurance

Medical treatment in Australia can be very expensive. It is recommended that you take out health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. You can obtain health insurance through a health insurance provider or travel agent in your country of residence.

How to apply?