Réponse courte : plan on at least 3,16 € in the bank when you apply, plus your flight out of Australia. That’s the figure Home Affairs gives as the usual evidence of funds for a first Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), and the visa costs 539 € (Home Affairs, checked 27 October 2026). In practice, 3,16 € covers about your first month in a city while you look for work, with room to spare. If you want to travel before you work, budget the trip on top: two weeks from Brisbane to Cairns costs roughly 1 549 € to 1 869 € (full breakdown). Wanderlust Travel & Adventure is an Australian backpacker travel agency in Byron Bay. We sell arrival packages and East Coast trips, not visas. Check your own visa terms with Home Affairs.
Visa figures are from the Home Affairs website on 27 October 2026 and can change. Our tour prices are per person in AUD and update from our live listings. Beds and food figures are rough estimates, not our prices.
What the visa rules ask for
| Item | Montant | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First Working Holiday visa (417) | 539 € | Home Affairs, 27 Oct 2026 |
| Evidence of funds | usually 3,16 € | Home Affairs, 27 Oct 2026 |
| Onward or return fare | a ticket, or the money for one | Home Affairs, 27 Oct 2026 |
| Âge | 18 to 30 (35 for some countries) | Home Affairs, 27 Oct 2026 |
Home Affairs says the average processing time is around three months and tells applicants not to book flights until the visa is granted. Some passports apply for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) instead, with its own rules. Check which one yours needs.
Your first month before payday
Most people land in Sydney or Melbourne, set up and look for work. Plan for about four weeks without income: finding a job takes time, and the first pay comes after you’ve worked a week or two.
| Poste | Rough cost, 4 weeks |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm, 28 nights | roughly 639 € to 1 079 € (about 29 € to 39 € a night; Sydney sits at the top) |
| Food, cooking most of it | roughly 539 € to 889 € (19 € to 39 € a day) |
| Phone SIM, transport card, city transport | roughly 99 € to 159 € |
| Total | roughly 1 269 € to 2 119 € |
Setting up costs little or nothing. A tax file number comes from the ATO and is free to apply for. Opening a bank account is usually free too. Some jobs need a certificate first, such as an RSA for bar work or a white card for building sites. Budget for these only if you’re aiming at those jobs.
First week sorted: arrival packages
An arrival package costs more than the bed alone. It saves most of the first week’s setup and puts you in a group. The Sydney Arrival Week, 5-Day Guided Tour est 469 € (509 € on the operator’s site). It includes:
- airport pick-up
- 5 nights in a central hostel dorm
- 4 dinners
- The Rocks, an Aboriginal cultural tour, the Coogee to Bondi walk and the Manly ferry
- a Working Holiday starter pack, an optional one-on-one jobs and admin meeting, a job board and mail holding
Lunches, flights, visas and insurance are extra. The Melbourne Arrival Week est 469 €. All options: working holiday arrival packages.
Travel on top
Most working holiday makers travel in blocks between jobs. The big East Coast costs:
- Two weeks, Brisbane to Cairns: roughly 1 549 € to 1 869 € DIY, or the 14-day semi-guided trip dès 1 649 €. Breakdown: 2 weeks on the East Coast: cost.
- Four weeks, Sydney to Cairns: 4 weeks on the East Coast: cost.
- Bus pass only: le Greyhound East Coast Pass dès 209 € for 7 days.
To total your own trip from live prices, use the budget calculator.
If you want a second year
A second Working Holiday visa needs 3 months (88 days) of specified work, such as farm work in eligible postcodes. Regional jobs often come with cheap or included accommodation, but the first weeks can be slow while you wait for a start. Keep a buffer for that. Jobs and postcodes: jobs pour les 88 jours, plus the 88 day counter to track your days.
Questions: money for a working holiday in Australia
How much money do I need for a working holiday visa in Australia?
Home Affairs says the usual evidence of funds is 3,16 €, plus enough for a fare out of Australia, and the first visa costs 539 € (27 October 2026). Check the current figures on the Home Affairs website before you apply.
Is 3,16 € enough to start a working holiday?
For a first month in a city while you job hunt, usually yes: roughly 1 269 € to 2 119 € for a dorm, food and transport. It isn’t enough to travel the coast first and then look for work without a job lined up.
How long does it take to find a job?
It varies by city, season and the work you want. Plan for about four weeks without pay to be safe.
Do I need to show the money when I arrive?
Home Affairs lists evidence of funds as a requirement of the visa. Keep a recent bank statement to hand in case you’re asked for it.
Is it cheaper to start in Sydney or Melbourne?
Dorm beds in Sydney tend to cost more. Both have the most jobs and arrival packages. Our Sydney et Melbourne arrival weeks start from 469 €.
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