Work and travel in Australia: International Experience Canada

Community transmission of COVID-19 continues in many countries

If you’re fully vaccinated, check travel advisories and requirements before you leave Canada. Follow all additional local public health measures while travelling.

If you’re unvaccinated, you should continue avoiding non-essential travel to all destinations.

Stay informed when you return to Canada.

The beautiful Sydney Opera House in Australia

Watch out for kangaroos on the roads in Australia

Try longboard surfing on the beautiful beaches of Australia

Fun facts about Australia

A kangaroo is only one centimetre long when it is born.
More than 80 percent of Australians live within 100 kilometres of the coast.
In 1902, Australia became the second country in the world to give women the right to vote.

What Australia offers

Australia is the world’s smallest continent but the sixth largest country in the world. It is located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. Australia’s geography is diverse, with snow-capped mountains, large deserts, tropical and temperate forests. It has 23,859 km of coastlines including the popular Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Australia is home to a total of 19 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage-listed sites, which include some of the oldest rainforests on earth and around one-third of the world's protected marine areas. There are many different places to explore in Australia, ranging from the urban nightlife of Sydney and Melbourne to the outdoor paradise of Kangaroo Island and the Great Barrier Reef.

The economy of Australia is well developed and among the largest in the world focussing on IT, finance and tourism. Australia also has strong mining, manufacturing, and agriculture industries.

Although English is the most commonly used language in Australia, you will also find over 200 different languages and dialects being spoken including 45 Indigenous languages. The most common non-English spoken languages in Australia are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese.

How long can I stay and work?

You can participate in Australia’s Working Holiday program up to 3 times (for a total of 36 months).

For the first 12-month participation: You can work for up to 12 months (typically 6 months maximum per employer) and study for up to 4 months. The total participation is 12 months.

For the second 12-month participation: You can work for up to 12 months and study for up to 4 months. The total participation is 12 months.

You can only participate if you completed at least 3 months of “Specified work” during your first Working Holiday visa.

For the third 12-month participation: You can work for up to 12 months and study for up to 4 months. The total participation is 12 months.

You can only participate if you completed at least 6 months of “Specified work” during your second Working Holiday visa.

Plan your trip

The best way to make sure your trip is the experience of a lifetime is to plan. Review our travel checklist to find out what you should know or do before travelling to and working in a foreign country.

Need help planning? One of IEC’s recognized organizations (ROs) might be able to help you find a job, transportation, and provide travel advice.

Most ROs charge a fee for their services.

More resources

Need more help planning? Contact a recognized organization.

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