Information correct as of February 2025
The Australian Working Holiday Visa gives you the chance to live, work, and travel across Australia.
If you’re in turf management or groundskeeping, this is an opportunity for you to gain international experience and explore new techniques in a different climate, all while enjoying everything Australia has to offer.
Note: In this article, we’re primarily going to be discussing the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417). There’s also the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa, which is available for a different set of eligible countries and has different application requirements (proof of functional English proficiency and meeting certain educational requirements, which typically involve holding a tertiary qualification or completing at least two years of undergraduate study).
The information in this article is accurate to February 2025. If you’re reading this in the future, some visa requirements, costs, and eligibility factors may have changed.
Table of Contents
What Is the Australian Working Holiday Visa?
The Working Holiday Visa lets people aged 18 to 30 (or up to 35 for certain nationalities) stay in Australia for up to a year, with the freedom to take on short-term work and study for up to four months.
You can leave and re-enter the country as many times as you want during your stay. It’s a great way to experience Australia without the pressure of securing a long-term job before arriving.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa in Australia, you need to hold a passport from an approved country and be within the age limit when you apply. You’ll also need to show that you have enough money—about AUD 5,000—to support yourself when you arrive, plus enough for a flight home.
The approved countries for this visa subclass are:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
You might be required to complete a health check or provide character documents, depending on your nationality. If you’ve previously had a Working Holiday Visa (417 or 462), you won’t be able to apply for another first-year visa, but you may qualify for an extension if you’ve done specified work.
How to Apply
To apply for the Working Holiday Visa, you’ll need to have all the necessary documents, including your passport, proof of funds, and any medical or character assessments required.
You can submit your application online through the Australian Department of Home Affairs website and pay the fee, which is currently (as of February 2025) AUD $650. Processing times vary, but most people will get a decision within a few weeks. Once your visa has been approved, you have a year to enter Australia.
How to Extend Your Stay
If you’re keen to stay in Australia beyond the first year, you can apply for a second-year Working Holiday Visa by completing three months of specified work during your first year. You can also apply for a third-year visa if you complete six months of specified work during your second year.
You take advantage of this by working on turf farms, which count towards the requirement, before returning to your usual job. We have good connections with turf farms in Perth, so reach out to us if you’d like us to put you in contact with a farm during your time in Australia.
Finding Work in Turf Management
You’ll need to do some advance planning to find a job in turf management while on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia. Jobs in sports turf and golf course maintenance aren’t always advertised in the same way as traditional hospitality or retail roles, so you’ll need to be proactive. A lot of positions are filled through word of mouth rather than job postings, and you can also reach out to golf courses, stadiums, and local councils directly to find out if they have any work available.
If you’re heading to a major city, Melbourne and Sydney both have high demand for skilled groundskeepers due to their busy sporting calendars. Golf courses in Queensland and Western Australia are often looking for extra staff during peak seasons. If you’re happy to go regional, you might also find opportunities in smaller towns with racetracks, stadiums, and large public parks. Wherever you end up, Australian employers value hands-on experience, so if you already have turf management skills, you’ll be in a strong position.
At International Greenkeepers for Hire, one of our key roles is to help people from all over the world connect with turf management jobs in Australia and beyond. You can use our Turf Passport system to get your CV in front of clubs and organisations seeking skilled workers, and browse our Facebook group and LinkedIn for job opportunities. Joining our network gives you access to an international community of greenkeepers, helping you find the right role before you even arrive.
Important Visa Update: No More Mandatory Regional Work for UK Citizens
One of the biggest recent changes to the Working Holiday Visa is that UK citizens no longer have to complete 88 days of specified regional work to apply for a second-year visa. This update was introduced in July 2024 and makes it easier for anyone who holds a UK passport to extend their stay without having to take on farm work or construction jobs.
If you’re not from the UK, the 88-day regional work requirement still applies if you want to stay for a second year. Turf farms fall under this category, making them an option if you’re looking to extend your visa and continue working in a field that fits with your skills and experience.
Getting Ready for Your Trip
Before you land in Australia, you’ll want to have at least something in place for your accommodation—it’s common to book a hostel or short-term rental for the first few weeks before you secure something longer-term. Keep in mind that major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane can be expensive to live in, so you might need to look into house shares or employer-provided accommodation if you’re on a budget.
You’ll also need health insurance, as medical care in Australia can be expensive if you don’t have coverage. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia, but it’s still a good idea to have travel insurance that covers medical expenses, as you never know when you might need it.
Financially, you’ll find it easier to settle in if you have access to funds. AUD $5,000 is the minimum amount required, but if it’s possible to save more, do it. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve got extra money that’ll help you cover unexpected expenses.
You’ll also need to set up an Australian bank account as soon as you arrive so you can receive your wages, and you’ll also need a Tax File Number (TFN) to work legally. Applying for a TFN online is quick and should be one of the first things you do when you get to Australia.
Making the Most of Your Time in Australia
Beyond work, the Working Holiday Visa gives you the freedom to travel and experience everything Australia has to offer. If you’re based in a city, it’s well worth taking weekend trips to the coast or national parks. You can also consider securing regional work placements to give you a chance to explore areas off the usual tourist trail.
The great thing about the visa is that it gives you flexible employment options, with no restrictions on how many different jobs you can take, so you can mix work with travel in a way that suits you.
The Working Holiday Visa is a fantastic way to experience Australia from the perspective of somebody living there. Career-wise, you’ll also be able to develop new skills and learn to work in an environment that’s probably completely different from your home turf.
If this article has inspired you to apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Australia, here are some steps you can take to get the ball rolling:
- Join our Facebook group to find job opportunities for overseas workers in Australia
- Submit your profile on Turf Passport and share your availability to get your name in front of clubs and organizations seeking qualified turf management professionals.
- Apply for the Working Holiday Visa here.