Other working holiday destinations for Australians
Here are some more unusual options open to Australians wanting to work overseas. With a little effort, research, luck and an open mind you can open doors all over the world.
If you don’t fancy the well trodden holiday working paths through the UK, Canada and the USA, never fear options are here. There are loads of places that the Australian government has snuggled up to and made reciprocal agreements with allowing Australians access to holiday working visas. This means if you are an Australian between 18 and 30 and you have a passport, the will to travel and a spare 12 months you could be off to one of these great places to work and holiday. These agreements can change quickly and the way you apply will not be quite as straight forward as the well used application process to work in the UK, but the opportunities are there for you to take advantage of.
For up to date information on these agreements and new ones that may pop up, check the Australian immigration department website: http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/australians-overseas/
Eligibility and the application process varies between the different countries, for example for working holidays in Chile, Thailand and Turkey are required to have the following:
- a letter of approval from the Australian Government supporting the application
- tertiary education (individual countries have specific requirements)
- Australians travelling to Chile require basic Spanish.
So whichever country you like the sound of, you will have to contact that country’s embassy or high commission in order to get the up to date and specific information on how you can arrange a working holiday in their country
Belgium
Websites:
Missions in Australia:
Royal Belgian Embassy
19 Arkana Street
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 2501
Fax: (02) 6273 3392
Email: canberra@diplobel.org
Consulate-General and Consulates
See: DFAT
Chile
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of the Republic of Chile
10 Culgoa Circuit
O’Malley ACT 2606
Telephone: (02) 6286 2430
Fax: (02) 6286 1289
Email: echileau@embachile-australia.com
Cyprus
Websites:
- Cyprus High Commission Canberra
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus
- Government of Cyprus
- Visit Cyprus
Mission in Australia:
High Commission of Cyprus
30 Beale Crescent
DEAKIN ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6281 0832
Fax: (02) 6281 0860
Email: info@cyprus.org.au
Denmark
Websites:
Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
Other
Missions in Australia:
There is no embassy in Australia – the closest is in Singapore.
Royal Danish Embassy
101 Thomson Road #13-01/2 United Square
Singapore 307591
Telephone: (65) 6355 5010
Fax: (65) 6253 3764
Email: sinamb@um.dk
Consulate-General and Consulates
See: DFAT
Estonia
Website:
Mission in Australia:
Consulate-General of the Republic of Estonia
86 Louisa Road
BIRCHGROVE NSW 2041
Telephone: (02) 9810 7468
Fax: (02) 9555 1676
Email: estconsyd@bigpond.com
Finland
Websites:
- Embassy of Finland in Canberra
- Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Visas)
- Finnish Directorate of Immigration
- Finnish Ministry of Labour
- Visit Finland
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of Finland
12 Darwin Avenue
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 3800
Fax: (02) 6273 3603
Email: sanomat.can@formin.fi
Consulates of Finland
See: DFAT
France
Websites:
French Embassy in Australia
Other
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of France
6 Perth Avenue
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6216 0100
Fax: (02) 6216 0127
Email: embassy@ambafrance-au.org
Consulates of France
See: DFAT
Germany
Websites:
German Embassy in Canberra
German Federal Foreign Offices
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
119 Empire Circuit
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6270 1911
Fax: (02) 6270 1951
Email: info1@germanembassy.org.au
Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany
See: DFAT
Hong Kong
Websites:
Hong Kong Immigration
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Australia
Other
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
15 Coronation Drive
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 4780
Fax: (02) 6273 4878
Email: chinaemb_au@mfa.gov.cn
Consulates of the People’s Republic of China
See: DFAT
Indonesia
Australia’s Work and Holiday visa arrangement with Indonesia came into effect on 1 July 2009. As it is new and possible something of more interest to Indonesians hoping to wokrin Australia, there is not a huge amount of information for Australians going the other way. But get in contact the consular for instructions of how to apply: http://www.kbri-canberra.org.au/consular.html
Visa-Consular Matters
8 Darwin Avenue
Yarralumla, ACT 2600
email (of the Section):
consular@kbri-canberra.org.au
Tel: +61-2-6250 8600
Fax: +61-2-6273 6017
Ireland
Websites:
- Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (Working Holiday information)
- Discover Ireland
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of Ireland
20 Arkana Street
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 3022, 6273 3201
Fax: (02) 6273 3741
Email: irishemb@cyberone.com.au
Consulate-General of Ireland
See: DFAT
Italy
Websites:
Italian Embassy in Canberra
Other
Missions in Australia
Embassy of Italy
12 Grey Street
DEAKIN ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 3333
Fax: (02) 6273 4223
Email: ambasciata.canberra@esteri.it
Consulates of Italy
See: DFAT
Japan
Websites:
- Embassy of Japan in Australia (Working Holiday information)
- Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of Japan
112 Empire Circuit
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 3244
Fax: (02) 6273 1848
Consulate-General and Consulates of Japan
See: DFAT
Korea
Websites:
- Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Working Holiday information)
- Korean Working Holiday organisation
- Korean Tourism
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
113 Empire Circuit
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6270 4100
Fax: (02) 6273 4839
Email: embassy-au@mofat.go.kr
Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea
See: DFAT
Malaysia
Websites:
Missions in Australia:
High Commission of Malaysia
7 Perth Avenue
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 1543
Fax: (02) 6273 4340
Email: immimhc@netspeed.com.au
Consulate General of Malaysia, Perth
See: Ministery of Foreign Affairs Wisma Putra
Malta
Websites:
- Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Malta Tourism Authority
- Visit Malta
- Malta Government
- About Malta
Missions in Australia:
High Commission for Malta
38 Culgoa Circuit
O’MALLEY ACT 2606
Telephone: (02) 6290 1724 (General and Consular)
Fax: (02) 6290 2453
Email: maltahighcommission.canberra@gov.mt
Consulate-General of Malta
See: DFAT
Netherlands
Websites:
Netherlands Consulate in Australia
- Homepage (with holiday working information)
- Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions
Mission in Australia:
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
120 Empire Circuit
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6220 9400
Fax: (02) 6273 3206
Email: can@minbuza.nl
Norway
Website:
- Norway in Australia
- Norway in Australia (Working Holiday information)
- Visit Norway
Mission in Australia:
Royal Norwegian Embassy
17 Hunter Street
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 3444
Fax: (02) 6273 3669
Email: emb.canberra@mfa.no
Royal Norwegian Consulates and Consulate-General
See: DFAT
Sweden
Websites:
Swedish Migration Board
- Homepage
- Working Holiday information
Embassy of Sweden in Canberra
Other
Missions in Australia:
Embassy of Sweden
5 Turrana Street
YARRALUMLA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6270 2700
Fax: (02) 6270 2755
Email: sweden@iimetro.com.au
Consulates-General of Sweden
See: DFAT
Taiwan
Websites:
- Working Holiday Taiwan (National Youth Commission)
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia
Other
Mission in Australia:
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Australia
Ground Floor
53 Blackall Street
BARTON ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6120 1011
Fax: (02) 6273 3995
Email: teco@teco.org.au
State Offices:
See: TECO
Thailand
Website:
Mission in Australia:
Royal Thai Embassy
111 Empire Circuit
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6273 1149
Fax: (02) 6273 1518
Email: thaican@mfa.go.th
Turkey
Website:
Mission in Australia:
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
6 Moonah Place
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6234 0000
Fax: (02) 6273 4402
Email: turkembs@bigpond.net.au
**Bangladesh
A Holiday working agreement has been signed with Bangladesh, but it is not yet in effect. If this sounds attractive to you keep an eye on Australian government announcements http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/bangladesh/
Israel
Israel does not offer a working holiday program to other countries however, most who wish to spend time in Israel volunteer on a Kibbutz or Moshav.
A Kibbutz is a collective of farms where all aspects of production is owned and shared by the community.
A moshav is different to a kibbutz in that the holding is owned by a family.
The minimum stay is three (3) months to which you will be provided with accommodation, meals and a small allowance all in return for your work.
Most who volunteer to work on a kibbutz or moshav are aged 18 to 35 years however, volunteers up to 70 years of age can be offered a place. If you are over 30, this is a great opportunity to see our people live in Israel.
If this has been helpful and you are planning an interesting year – we would love ot hear about it, so get in contact.
or head back to working overseas.
