4-month program
The Work Australia ‘416’ visa allows participants to work for up to four months and is a perfect option for Gap Year students (between high school and university), or those who only have a short time to spend in Australia.
How the program works
The Australian sponsor is BUNAC’s subsidiary, International Exchange Programs (IEP). The program is administered in the USA by BUNAC on behalf of International Exchange of North America (IENA) which in turn sponsors Australian student exchanges to the USA. The special ‘416’ Visa gives you a great deal of flexibility. You can take any job anywhere in Australia; you can pre-arrange your job or look after arrival – it’s your choice.
At the end of the four months, you may want to apply to change your status to visitor. This allows you to stay for an additional three months to travel but you are not able to work. The cost of the three month visitor visa is currently A$215.
Programme Application
Click here to download an application for this program.
Work Australia includes:
- Free choice of arrival date to enter Australia
- Special flight deals available through co-operating travel companies. Call BUNAC for information
- Access to the exclusive IEP online member’s lounge where you can apply for a tax file number, set up an Australian bank account, request an Australian mobile number, search for jobs and accommodation, talk to other participants and much more
- Discounted, comprehensive worldwide travel insurance
- Free shuttle bus transfer from Sydney or Melbourne airport to your two nights accommodation, breakfast included
- NEW! Exciting selection of add-on arrival itineraries designed to combine practical job training with the best of Australia’s sights
- Sydney and Melbourne Resource Centers including advice and assistance from IEP staff on job and accommodation hunting, 24 hour emergency IEP assistance and discounted domestic travel options
- IEP Job Service including guaranteed job offer for casual work in the Sydney area
- Arrival Orientation including Welcome Pack with handbook, maps and discount coupons
- Online member’s lounge
- Phonecard with A$5 credit and SIM card
- Lonely Planet guidebook to Australia
- Sydney Arrivals - 1 year YHA membership.
Eligibility
The special 4-month ‘416’ visa is open to anyone who is a US citizen (holding a US passport) aged 18-30 inclusive. Applications from eligible applicants can be submitted from outside the USA, except from Australia.
The 416 visa is ideal if you can only go to Australia for a short period of time as you can only participate once on the 12 month Work and Holiday visa. You can then take advantage of the ‘416’ visa and ‘save’ the Work and Holiday visa for later when you have longer to spend in Australia.
Costs
The program fee for the ‘416’ four-month program is $655, plus mandatory travel insurance. This covers administration in both America and Australia, the A$250 (currently) Australian Government visa fee, courier fees, program handbook, Lonely Planet guidebook, two nights’ accommodation, orientation in Sydney or Melbourne and on-going support services from IEP for your entire time in Australia.
Arrival in Australia
You specify the date you wish to enter Australia and book your flight accordingly. On the ‘416’ visa the four-month program “clock” starts ticking on your specified entry date and expires exactly four months later. Please note that if, for example, you have to enter a week after the specified date, you will lose a week of your four month’s work authorization. For more information about travel in Australia click here.
Australia/New Zealand combo package
With this option ‘416’ participants can combine four months in Australia followed by up to twelve months working and traveling in New Zealand on BUNAC’s Work New Zealand program. For more information click here.