Work through each section at your own pace. Every step has a video and everything you need to know.
There's no shortage of information out there about moving to Australia on a working holiday. The problem is it's scattered across Facebook groups, TikTok comments, Reddit threads and random blog posts — and half of it contradicts the other half.
This guide pulls everything into one place, in the right order, so you're not piecing it together yourself. It's free, it's regularly updated, and if you're serious about making the move — this is genuinely all you need to get started.
Work through it from the beginning, or use the contents below to jump to wherever you're at.
This guide is still being built. Videos are being recorded, sections are being added, and some parts will improve over time. You're getting it early — which means you also get a say in what goes in it. If something's missing, unclear, or you want more on a topic, use the feedback form at the bottom of each section. This guide gets better because of that.
My name is Jay. In 2025 I quit my job, packed up my life, and moved to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. I've been here ever since.
The Australia Leap is the resource I wish I'd had. Everything here comes from lived experience — the honest picture, not the Instagram version. No sugarcoating.
If you're 18–30 (35 for some), no kids, no mortgage, no major commitments — you have something rare: almost nothing to lose.
That window doesn't stay open forever. Life adds complications. It doesn't often subtract them.
The argument for going isn't that Australia fixes everything. It's simpler:
The risk isn't going. The risk is staying put when you had every reason to go.
There are two working holiday visas. Which one you need depends on your passport.
Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, UK
USA, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam + others
| Nationality | Age limit |
|---|---|
| UK, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy | 18–35 |
| All other 417 countries | 18–30 |
| All 462 countries | 18–30 |
Always verify on the official Department of Home Affairs website before applying.
These budgets assume you're willing to work and travel wherever the opportunities are — not fixed on one city or lifestyle.
~$6,000 toward a van/SUV with roof tent. ~$2,000 for expenses while you find your feet. With a vehicle and free campsites everywhere, you can go wherever the work is.
Enough to cover first few weeks without panicking. Goes further with a partner, contacts in Australia, or an in-demand trade skill.
Doable but you'll feel the pressure. More manageable with a partner, contacts, or a job with accommodation early on.
Typically $75–150 AUD/week all in. Single biggest hack for keeping costs down early on.
Covers accommodation while you figure out your next move.
Accommodation and sometimes food in exchange for a few hours of work a day.
Minimum casual wage is $31.19 AUD/hr — the legal floor. Rates vary by industry.
What you see on TikTok and Instagram is content — optimised for views, not accuracy.
That's all part of it. There is plenty of work if you're willing to travel for it. Keep your options open and the picture looks very different.
Before you book flights, before you sort savings, before you figure out where you're going — apply for the visa.
Not when you feel ready. Now.
Once it's granted you have up to 12 months to actually enter Australia. The clock doesn't start until you land. So applying today, whatever your situation, isn't reckless — it's smart. Because what the visa actually does is make the whole thing real. And when it's real, everything changes.
I booked my flight before I even had the visa — four months out, barely any savings, no real plan. Not something I'd recommend doing in that order. But it was the one action that locked everything in. Suddenly I was trading nights out for nights in, takeaways for home cooked meals, lunch out for a packed lunch. And the weird thing? None of it felt like a sacrifice. It felt like an easy trade for something I actually wanted. Four months later I had £4,000 saved — while paying Brighton rent that was eating 40% of my wage. I didn't know I could do that until I had something real to work towards.
The visa is that thing.
You don't need to already be in a good saving position. You might just need to make some changes. Sacrifice the financed car. Move somewhere cheaper, or back in with family if that's an option. Cut the things that feel normal but aren't actually making you happy. Uncomfortable short term, completely worth it when you're on the other side. Six to twelve months of that, with a fixed date to aim for, and most people will surprise themselves with what they can put away.
Apply. Give yourself the window. Let the deadline do the work.
Whether you just applied or you're still on the fence — this is the right time to join.
Just got your visa? The questions are about to stack up. Where do I go first? How do I find work? What's the 88-day thing? The Australia Leap is where you get real answers from people going through the same thing — not a Facebook group full of noise.
Not quite ready to apply yet? That's fine too. Join, ask the questions that are keeping you stuck, and figure it out at your own pace. That's exactly what the community is there for.
The most important thing about booking your flight isn't when you book it, or where you land, or what time of year you arrive. It's that you book it at all.
You can research this forever. Read every forum, watch every TikTok, map out every state. None of it gives you what one week on the ground actually gives you. If you land in Melbourne and decide Victoria isn't for you — you have an entire year to go somewhere else. That flexibility is the whole point.
Make a decision, book the flight, and commit. The rest figures itself out.
Tends to hit the sweet spot for pricing. Last minute to Australia rarely pays off.
Midweek flights (Tue/Wed) are consistently cheaper. Shifting by even a day can make a real difference.
Use Google Flights or Skyscanner. Set an alert for your travel window and let the deal come to you.
A return locks you into a date you don't know yet. Cheap one-way flights home exist when you eventually need one.
July/August and Christmas departures from the UK and Europe are always more expensive.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are your main options. Perth is geographically closer from the UK so flights can be cheaper, but it's also the most remote of the four — far more isolated from the rest of Australia than the east coast cities. Always compare all four before booking.
Biggest city, easiest to orientate yourself. Expensive to live in but work is plentiful. Solid base if you're finding your feet.
Strong culture and food scene, great hospitality industry. Winters are the coldest of any mainland city — think UK autumn.
Warmer climate, more relaxed pace. Great gateway to the Gold Coast and regional work up the coast.
Beautiful city with around 300 days of sunshine. Isolated though — flying or driving anywhere else takes real commitment.
If you have a target region in mind — especially somewhere seasonal like Far North QLD, the Whitsundays, or regional Victoria — try to arrive 3 to 4 weeks before high season kicks in. Employers hire before the rush, not during it. Arrive early and you're job hunting while employers are actively looking, not after the team is already built.
Check the State Guide for a full breakdown of seasons, temperatures and what to expect in each part of Australia. Worth a read before you book — and handy to come back to as you plan where to head next.
→ See Section 5: State Guide for the full breakdown.
Full transparency — this is not something I did before I left. But it's worth doing, and if I was doing it again I would.
Before you leave, book in anything you've been putting off — dentist, GP, optician, any prescriptions you rely on. Healthcare in Australia isn't cheap, and a routine dental check-up will cost you out of pocket regardless of your situation. Get it done at home before you go.
If you wear glasses or contacts, get your prescription updated before you leave. Specsavers operates across Australia so you won't struggle to find a store, but having a current prescription means you can walk in and get sorted without starting from scratch.
If you're on any regular medication, your GP can usually prescribe a longer supply if you explain you're going travelling — worth asking before you leave.
On Medicare — I'll be honest, this is something I still haven't sorted to this day (not recommended, don't be like me). It can only be done once you've landed, so we'll cover it properly in the After Landing section. If you're from the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia or Sweden, you may be eligible — more on that later.
If you're leaving part way through the tax year, there's a good chance you've overpaid tax. Your employer has been deducting based on you working the full year — leave early enough and you're owed money back.
I did this myself before I left and got £60 back. That sounds underwhelming, but I left one month into the tax year. If you're leaving in October or November, you could be looking at several hundred pounds or more. It's free money sitting there — worth five minutes of your time.
For UK people, you claim it directly through HMRC. I'll walk through exactly how I did it in the video.
If you're not from the UK, the same principle applies — most countries have a process for reclaiming overpaid tax when you leave. The specifics will depend on where you're from, so it's worth a quick Google for your country's equivalent. I can only speak to the UK process personally.
I've never had travel insurance in my life. Never. I'm currently uninsured in Australia and I've been here long enough that statistically something probably should have gone wrong by now. So far so good. 🤞
I'm not recommending you do the same.
Travel insurance is one of those things that feels like a waste of money right up until the moment it isn't — and when it isn't, it really isn't. A hospital visit in Australia without coverage can cost thousands. An emergency flight home? Tens of thousands.
Here are a few worth looking at:
SafetyWing — monthly subscription model, cover from around $40 a month, works across 175+ countries. Popular with working holidaymakers and long-term travellers because you're not locked into a fixed policy length. Best suited if you're planning to travel beyond Australia during your trip — SE Asia, Japan, NZ and so on. If you're staying in Australia the whole time, a standard backpacker policy might give you better value.
World Nomads — well established, covers adventure activities, good for more active trips.
Cover-More — Australian-based, worth a look if you want something locally underwritten.
My recommendation — use SafetyWing. Am I recommending it because it's the best and I can vouch for their customer service? No, obviously not. I recommend it because if you use my affiliate link I receive a 10% commission. Support ya boy ✌️
The good news — you also get 10% off your policy when you sign up through my link. So it's a win for both of us.
By all means do your research and figure out what's best for your needs, but from what I've looked into, SafetyWing is a solid shout for both you and my pockets.
Get SafetyWingOnce you've set up your Australian bank account after landing, you'll need to transfer money from your home bank. This is where fees actually matter — most banks will charge you a percentage on top of a marked-up exchange rate when sending large amounts internationally, and on a transfer of a few thousand that adds up fast.
Wise converts at the real mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. On a big transfer it can save you a meaningful amount compared to going bank to bank.
I used my NatWest card for day-to-day spending while I was getting set up, which was fine for smaller purchases. But for moving the bulk of my money across once my Australian account was open, Wise is the smarter move.
Set it up before you leave so it's ready to go when you need it.
If you sign up through my link you'll get a free transfer to try it out — I get $30, again, support ya boy ✌️
Get WiseTwo things to check before you leave: make sure your phone is unlocked, and make sure it supports eSIM if you want the most flexibility on arrival.
If your phone is locked to a network, get it unlocked before you go. Most carriers will do it for free if you've completed your contract — just call and ask.
We cover getting an Australian SIM properly in the After Landing section, but if you land and need data before you've had a chance to sort one, a Nomad eSIM is a solid stopgap. Plans start from $4, it runs on the Optus network, and you can have it set up before you even board the plane. It's data-only — no calls or texts — but it'll keep you connected at the airport and in those first few hours.
Where Nomad really comes into its own is if you're planning to travel beyond Australia during your trip. Their regional plans cover 54+ countries across Asia-Pacific and beyond, so if you're heading to Japan, SE Asia, NZ or anywhere else, you won't be hunting for a new SIM every time you cross a border.
Use my referral code QQVRLMHALKWA and you'll get $5 off — likewise, I get $5 too.
Get Nomad eSIMYour resume probably just needs a few tweaks to find work in Australia, but if you've been in an office or a more formal role back home it'll likely need more of an overhaul to work for casual and hospitality work.
Get it sorted now so when you land, the only thing you need to add is your Australian number and it's ready to go.
Your first few weeks in Australia are hectic. You're getting a SIM card, opening a bank account, finding somewhere to stay, figuring out which way is north. The last thing you want is rewriting your resume on your phone in a noisy hostel because a job came up and you're not ready.
Everything you need to know is inside Land Your First Aussie Job — my free guide inside The Australia Leap community.
Join hereWhat you need to pack depends a lot on where you're landing and what time of year you're arriving. Once you've got your flight sorted and you know where you're heading first, the State Guide is worth a look — it'll give you a clear picture of what the weather's actually like and when.
→ See Section 5: State Guide for a full breakdown of weather and what to expect.
The general advice is to pack lighter than you think you need to. I brought a pair of jeans with me and I think I've worn them once. Anything dressy has barely come out of the bag. That's partly down to the lifestyle — if you're planning to backpack and do regional work, smart clothes are at the bottom of your priority list.
What I will say is I underestimated how cold Australian winters can get, depending on where you are. I wished I'd packed warmer clothes. But don't threat — op shops (charity shops) are a lifesaver out here and nothing like the overpriced ones back in the UK. You can find great seasonal gear for next to nothing as the seasons change, so don't feel like you need to pack for every scenario before you leave.
One thing I did miss was having decent in-between layers. It was either one thick winter hoodie or summer clothes — and there were plenty of times a thin quarter zip or light jumper would have been exactly what I needed. Worth throwing one or two in before you go.
Pack for where you're landing and the first month or two. You'll figure out the rest once you're here.
A few things worth bringing:
A raincoat is one I'd actually recommend even though I didn't bother. There were plenty of times — setting up camp, moving between places — where my clothes ended up damp and stayed that way. In summer everything dries in about three minutes so it's less of an issue, but in winter and in wetter regions you'll feel it. In hindsight, worth the bag space.
Beyond that — good walking shoes, a light layer for cooler nights, and a decent daypack will take you further than anything else.
Before anything else, get connected. You'll need an Australian number for your bank account, TFN, and job applications.
Telstra has the best coverage in Australia — especially important for regional work. Plans from ~$70/month including generous data and unlimited calls.
Telstra — best overall, essential for regional. Optus — solid in cities. Vodafone — city only.
Without a TFN your employer must withhold tax at nearly 47%. It's free and quick to apply but gets posted to you — do this early.
Can be a hostel, Airbnb, or a friend's address — doesn't need to be permanent.
It is 100% free through the ATO only. Any site charging you is a scam.
CommBank is the recommendation — easiest for WHV holders to set up, branches everywhere, excellent app.
You don't need your TFN to open the account — but add it once it arrives to ensure correct tax on interest.
Legal requirement for any bar, pub, restaurant or licensed venue. Done online, ~6 hours self-paced, certificate same day you pass.
Get the RSA for the state you're currently in. If moving states later, a short free bridging course covers local laws. If moving around a lot, QLD RSA (~$25) is accepted across QLD, WA, SA, NT, ACT and TAS.
Every employer is legally required to pay 11.5% on top of your wages into a super fund — a quiet bonus building in the background. Don't stress about this on day one, just good to understand.
Yes — when you permanently leave you can apply to have it paid out. As a WHV holder you're taxed around 65% on the way out. Still a nice bit of cash at the end.
Australia is enormous. The difference between Darwin in February and Melbourne in July is basically the difference between the Amazon and a grey Tuesday in Manchester. Use this as a reference when deciding where to land or where to head next.
Mild and temperate most of the year. One of the easiest climates to land in at any time. Summers are warm with occasional heatwaves hitting 35°C+. Winters are cool but completely manageable — nothing like a UK winter. Sydney is the most common entry point for good reason.
Four seasons in one day is genuinely not a joke. Coldest winters of any mainland city — grey and rainy June through August. The closest climate to the UK you'll find on the mainland, so pack accordingly. Summers are warm with occasional heatwaves past 40°C.
Hot, dry summers and cool wet winters. Heatwaves in summer can push to 45°C — not humid, just relentlessly dry heat, which catches people off guard. Adelaide is a brilliant city and massively underrated on the backpacker trail. Worth more time than most people give it.
Around 300 days of sunshine a year. Summers are hot and dry with an afternoon sea breeze (the Fremantle Doctor) taking the edge off most days. Winters are mild by Australian standards but wetter and windier than people expect. Not the year-round paradise it's sometimes sold as, though still one of the better climates going. Key thing: Perth is isolated. Factor that into your wider plans.
Wet season (November–April) is intense — monsoonal storms daily, extreme humidity, roads flood, some areas cut off entirely. Dry season (May–October) is spectacular. Timing is everything here.
Desert climate. Extreme heat in summer and surprisingly cold overnight in winter. Stunning landscape but unforgiving — know what you're heading into.
Timing matters more here than anywhere else. Wet season (November–April) means monsoonal rain, extreme humidity, flooding and some roads closing entirely. Dry season (May–October) is when everything opens up. If you're heading here for work, plan around the dry season — and arrive a few weeks before it kicks off.
Probably the most consistently liveable climate on the east coast. Winters are pleasant — dry, clear days with cool evenings. Summers get hot and humid with afternoon storms, but most people handle it fine. Great gateway to regional work up the coast.
The coldest part of Australia — closer to UK weather than anywhere else in the country. Winters drop to 3–5°C regularly and it rains a lot. Take that however you like.
I spent two weeks in Tasmania and it was probably my favourite part of Australia. Scenery unlike anywhere else on the continent — wild, dramatic, completely unspoiled. The pace is slower, the vibe is its own thing entirely, and the people are some of the friendliest I came across. It almost feels like a separate country.
I don't have deep experience with the work scene there so I won't pretend otherwise — but the entire state qualifies for your 88-day regional work requirement, which means you could do your second year eligibility entirely in Tassie. If I did it again, spending a full year there is something I'd seriously consider. Visit at minimum.
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