Millions of young people around the world have seen their plans of traveling to Australia brought to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the apparition of several vaccines promises a swift end to the nightmare.

Traveling and exploring new parts of the world will once again be possible. If you have your eyes set on Australia, you should start preparing for the trip of a lifetime, and you should do it with plenty of time in advance as there are several bureaucratic hurdles to surpass.

Here’s all you need to know about traveling through Australia and earning your keep along the way.

What are Working Holidays in Australia?

If you’re young and looking for adventure you’re always welcome in Australia, especially if you’re willing to work a bit here and there. This is often the biggest problem young people are faced with. They’d love to see the world and discover new cultures, only they don’t have the money to do that.

The Australian government has a solution, and it’s called a Working Holiday. You can apply for a WH visa and travel around the country for up to two years, and you have the legal right to work while you’re at it.

There are basically two types of Working Holiday visas, known as Subclass 417 and Subclass 462. These are available to young people aged 18 to 30. For citizens of France, Ireland, and Canada, the upper age limit is 35. Some restrictions apply depending on your country of origin. To check that your country is on the list, check out the eligibility criteria.

What documents do you need for a Working Holiday Visa?

You can apply for a WH visa online and the first thing you’ll need is a valid passport. You’ll also have to pass a character test, as Australia goes to great lengths to keep its community protected.

This character test is also available online, and you’ll have to answer a lot of questions about yourself, such as education, health status, and, of course, your criminal record. Be careful how you answer this question, as you’ll later have to submit a background check from your country of origin, as well as any other country where you’ve lived for more than 12 months, including Australia.

This provision is aimed mainly at people who grew up in Australia and spent time in the country while their parents worked there. In any case, if you spent more than 12 months on Australian territory, you should order a background check on yourself through an online national police check agency like the following URL link - www.australiannationalcharactercheck.com.au where the process and application forms can be completed online. They charge minimal fees (around $50 AUD or so), and you’ll get your criminal history check in 2-3 days via email.

You can then take the document and submit it as part of your character assessment test.

If you have only a minor offence on your record you don’t need to worry. According to Australian law, a minor offence is something punishable with less than 12 months in prison.

Once you get your visa, you can truly start planning your trip. Make sure to have some $5,000 dollars in your account and a return plane ticket before you set foot in Australia.

That’s all you need to do. When you land in Australia, you’ll be free to do whatever you want, visit any part of the country, take odd jobs, and learn to live like the locals.