When you think of taking a year out, or moving abroad, it can be pretty daunting and it's easy to think that it requires reams of paperwork and major excessive planning - well you'll be pleased to know that this isn't the case at all. We made the decision to move to Australia fairly quickly and within 6 weeks had booked our flights, sorted a visa and arranged temporary accommodation - i have friends who have done this in an as little as three weeks too so if you're after a quick turnaround and are ready to escape the miserable UK weather then read on...
Visa - This is the most important thing when moving to Australia, the country is renowned for having super strict border control, and although this is true there are lots of ways around it - don't worry it's not as hectic or intimidating as the Aussie border force TV programme makes out. There are many different visas available, but the easiest and most straight forward is the 'Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)' - this is for adults aged 18-30, without children, with a passport from an eligible country including the UK. The visa allows you to live and work in the country for one year, however you can only stay in one job for a maximum of 6 months - after the 6 months have passed you will need to find a new job or if the company you work for has multiple sister companies then you can still work there but get paid under a different company name (there are ways around this). To extend your Working Holiday Visa for another year you can complete 88 days of construction/farm/agricultural work within a remote location whilst doing your first year - it's important to keep all of your payslips and work details for this period of time as when applying for the second year visa. We heard some pretty scary horror stories about the Aussie farm work, but we also knew people who had an awesome experience doing it - if you take this route make sure you get copies and proof of all of the work you have done, payslips and any other extra documents as immigration are now super strict with examining all documents. Also check out the farm/company your going to work for before you agree to work for them, as it's common to be paid under the national minimum wage which you should never have to do!
How To Apply - It is mega easy to apply for the Visa as it's all done online, you just click the 'Apply Now' button on this link which takes you to the Australian Government Visa website. When we applied online, the whole process took less than 10 minutes, the form is really straightforward and hassle free, and after we clicked the final 'send' button, within 30 seconds we had an email with all of our visa documents and that was it! It says on the website it can take up to 44 days, so if you want to be prepared then get your application submitted asap. The requirements are very minimal - you will need a current passport, £275.00 to apply for the visa (current cost), and the equivalent of $5000 Australian Dollars to prove you have sufficient funds to support your travels in Australia. I've never heard of anyone having their bank details checked at border control to literally 'prove' they have this amount of money, and nearly everyone i met from the UK definitely did not have this amount of money when arriving in Australia - i think it's more of a guideline than an actual rule...When we arrived we strolled through border control where they didn't check any of our documents at all! All of the information on the Working Holiday Visa can be found, here.
Flights and accommodation - I always use Skyscanner to book my flights, it's so easy to use and ideal for comparing airlines and agents, i always play around with the dates and airports to make sure I'm getting the best deal. Nick and I arranged accommodation in a hotel for when we arrived in Australia prior to leaving the UK, as it's difficult and risky arranging permanent accommodation before actually seeing it in real life. Instead we used Flatmates.com.au to find apartments and arrange viewings for the day we arrived - we found a place on one of those viewings so it's pretty easy and stress free. If you do an apartment share the rent can be really cheap and it usually means your deposit will be low which is always a bonus, if you're looking to get your own place then prepare to pay a months deposit, plus 1-2 months rent in advance. Also definitely shop around to make sure your getting a good deal and not being ripped off! Other than the above, you'll just need to pack your swimming gear, sunglasses and sandals...so get to it!
Whether you want to live and work abroad for a year and have the opportunity to meet new people, be outside of your comfort zone and enjoy the relaxed Aussie lifestyle or take a year out to travel the enormous country, the Australian Working Holiday Visa is the easiest, cheapest way to do it...let me know if you've done the same or if you're thinking about it! I'm always happy to answer questions :).
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For full details on the Australian Working Holiday Visa, click here.
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