Your Visa

Participants on the Work UK program enter the UK on the Working Holiday Maker Visa.

No visa is required for your training week in Germany as Germany allows Australians up to 3 months without a visa. You may even arrive early, if you like, and do some travel or sightseeing in advance.

Working Holidaymaker Scheme

Overview

The Working Holidaymaker Scheme is an arrangement where a person aged between 17 and 30 can come to the UK for an extended holiday of up to two years. You can work but only if this is not the main reason for your stay. The holiday should be the main reason for your stay.

How do I qualify as a working holidaymaker?

You must be able to show that you:

	are a Commonwealth citizen, a British Overseas Territories citizen, a British Overseas citizen or a British National (Overseas)
	are aged between 17 and 30
	want to come to the UK for an extended holiday, and intend to take employment as part of your holiday for no more than 12 months during your stay
	do not intend to set yourself up in or run a business, or work as a professional sportsperson during your stay
	are single, or that you are married to, or the civil partner of someone who also qualifies as a working holidaymaker and you plan to take the working holiday together
	do not have any dependent children aged five or over, or who will be five before your holiday ends
	can support yourself and live in the UK without needing any help from public funds
	have not spent time in the UK on a previous working holidaymaker visa, and
	intend to leave the UK at the end of your holiday

You will be asked to declare any criminal convictions you may have at the time you make your application. Certain convictions may prevent you from being issued with a visa. Please include with your application details of the conviction and evidence that any fines imposed have been paid in full.

How long can I stay?

You can stay in the UK for up to two years from the date you were first given permission to enter as a working holidaymaker. We will count any time you spend outside the UK during that period as part of the two years.

How much and what work can I do?

Work in the UK must not be the main reason for your holiday, so you must spend no more than 12 months working or in any event work for more than half your stay in the UK.
You can take most types of work, including voluntary work, but you cannot set yourself up in or run a business, or work as a professional sportsperson. You can choose when to work and when to take your holiday breaks, but you must not work for more than a total of 12 months or you will be breaking the conditions of your stay.

Do I need a visa as a working holidaymaker?

You must get a visa before you travel to the UK as a working holidaymaker.

How to apply?

Click here to view the information on 'How to Apply'.

How much money will I need to qualify as a working holidaymaker?

You must be able to:

	support yourself and live without needing help from public funds
	show that you have enough money to pay the cost of at least your journey to the UK, and
	show that you have enough money for your accommodation and living expenses for the first two months after you arrive, or for at least one month if you can show that you have arranged a job in advance, and that this job will pay you enough to cover your accommodation and living expenses

You can get information about living expenses in the area where you want to stay through UK websites such as www.i-uk.com or from the UK's regional tourist offices. This information will help you to find out how much money you will need:

i-uk
i-uk provides advice for overseas visitors to the UK and includes vital information on visas, tourism and education.
VisitBritain
VisitBritain provides information on where to stay and what to do during your trip to the UK. It also provides transport information, destination guides and route planners.

What are public funds?

Under the Immigration Rules, if you want to travel to the UK as a working holidaymaker you must be able to support yourself and live without claiming certain state benefits. Use this link to see a list of them: Public Funds

Extensions of stay in the UK

You cannot extend your stay as a working holidaymaker. However, you may be eligible to switch into work permit employment after 12 months in the UK if your occupation is on the list of 'shortage occupations'. Working holidaymakers can also apply to stay in the UK as "Innovators" and in the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). You can find more about these schemes and a list of shortage occupations on the Working in the UK website.
Important Note:
If you have a UK born parent or grandparent, you may be eligible to apply for other types of entry clearance.

Where do I send my application?

	Forward your completed application here
	Apply online

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