AUSTRALIA

Australia do not have an official Au Pair Programme, however, you can go to Australia as an Au Pair by obtaining a 12 month working holiday visa if you are between 18 – 30 years old and a national of one of the following countries:

United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, France, Belgium, Hong Kong, Cyprus, The Republic of Korea, Malta and Germany, Malta.

Where to apply

• The Working Holiday Visa cannot be granted in Australia. 
• All visa applications must be made overseas.
• Holders of the following passports are able to apply for a Working Holiday visa in any country (except Australia): the United Kingdom, Canada, The Netherlands, The Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Italy, France, and Belgium.
• Holders of the following passports must apply in their country of passport: Germany, Japan, Malta, The Republic of Cyprus, The Republic of Korea.
• Holders of passports issued by the authorities of Taiwan or the Hong Kong Special Administration Republic (HKSAR)  of the People’s republic of China must apply for their visas in Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively.

Is a Return Ticket necessary

• You are required to possess a return ticket, or sufficient funds/monies for the purchase of a return fare.
• You are also required to possess sufficient funds for the initial stages of your holiday.
• Be aware that you may be asked to provide evidence of your return airfare and funds on arrival in Australia.  Evidence of funds can take the form of Bank Statements of Savings Books.

Further information on funds required is available from nearest Australian Embassy/Consulate.

How long can I stay in Australia on a working holiday?

• A Working Holiday visa gives you 12 months to travel to Australia from the date the visa is granted, it allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you first enter Australia.
• You can leave and re-enter Australia within the 12 months from the date of initial entry to Australia, if you depart Australia during the 12 months stay, you are not able to recover in any way the period spent outside Australia.

What are the conditions of Work?

• Working Holiday makers are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature. However, if you intend to work in your occupation in Australia, you should be aware that registration or licensing is required.
• Work condition 8108, which is attached to the Working Holiday visa, states that “the holder must not be employed in Australia by any one employer for more than 3 months, without the prior permission in writing from the Secretary (of the Department)”.
• The main purpose of your visit should be to holiday and travel.
• Any work should be incidental to supporting funds; periods of work should be broken up by periods of holiday and travel.
• Working beyond the three months with the same employer  without the required permission may result in your visa being cancelled and you may be required to leave Australia.  You are not permitted to extend your employment beyond 3 months with any one employer through the use of business affiliates and/or sub-contracting arrangements, or by using different employment agencies (to remain in the same job).
• In practical terms, this means that you cannot work for longer than 3 months in the same position, in the same location, doing the same work.

Is it important I organise travel and health insurance?

• Medical treatment in Australia can be very expensive and it is advisable to have both travel and health insurance organised.
•  You are strongly advised to take out private health insurance to cover yourself while in Australia unless there is a reciprocal health insurance arrangement between Australia and your country of citizenship.
• Enquiries about the possible existence of such arrangements should be made when you apply.    

Further up-to-date information is available from any office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) in Australia, or Australian missions overseas, you can refer to the Procedures Advice Manual (PAM) which is available from the Commonwealth Government bookshops (telephone 008 020 049) in Australia.