Are you thinking of travelling to Australia as a digital nomad? Well, you’re now one step closer to realising your dream of living and working on an island paradise!
The country has plenty of work and coworking spaces designed for digital nomads like you. And that’s not all! It also boasts incredible beaches and a high quality of life, allowing you to really strike the ideal work-life balance.
Australia does not yet offer a specific visa for digital nomads, but don’t worry! There is an equally viable alternative. It’s the Working and Holiday Visa, and today I’ll tell you everything you need to know about it.
Before we start, here’s a summary of the most important aspects:
- The application process is 100% online and very easy.
- You can live and work in the country for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal!
- You cannot bring a partner or children with you.
- There is a limit of visas to be granted per year.
- It is advisable to take out travel insurance for your entire stay in the country.
- The visa has been launched by the Australian Government and its Department of Immigration.
How to apply for an Australia digital nomad visa
Applying for the Working and Holiday visa, or Australia digital nomad visa, is very easy, and will allow you to live and work in the country for up to 12 months. In fact, all you need to do is follow 3 simple steps on the official Australian Government Immigration website – take note!
- Gather all the required documents and make sure you meet all the requirements for the digital nomad visa for Australia, I’ll go into more detail about each of them later!
- Go to the visa section and create a profile on their application platform ImmiAccount.
- Fill in your details, attach your documents, and pay the corresponding fees.
And that’s it! After that, all you have to do is wait for your application to be processed. In the following section, I will explain how this process works.
Visa delivery time
The delivery time of the digital nomad visa for Australia can take anywhere from 80 days to 3 months, due to the high volume of people who apply to live in Australia. It is therefore important to be as patient as possible!
But what happens if you are approved? Well, you will receive a letter specifying the date from which the visa comes into effect.
From that moment, you will have 12 months to travel to Australia and, once in the country, you will have another 12 months to work and live there, with the possibility of renewal!
How the Australia digital nomad visa works
The digital nomad visa for Australia, as I mentioned above, does not exist as such, but the Australian Working and Holiday Visa is perfectly adapted to the needs and desires of nomads, especially because it offers the possibility of renewal!
This visa was created by the Australian Government, specifically by its Department of Home Affairs.
It has a duration of 12 months, extendable to 24 months if you have worked in a job specifically highlighted by the Australian government for at least 3 months. You can click on this link to find out what these jobs are.
Its operation is very similar to other types of visas around the world, and it is necessary to comply with a series of formalities that I will tell you about later.
It is also highly advisable to take out travel insurance to cover you for any incident during your stay in the country so that you can live and work in the country with peace of mind!
✅ Pros of the digital nomad visa for Australia
- It is renewable.
- The application process is very simple and 100% online.
- Australia offers strong infrastructure for working remotely.
- You can live and work for 12 months in the country.
❌ Cons of the Digital Nomad Visa for Australia
- The waiting time can be very long.
- You cannot bring a partner or children with you.
- There is a limit on the number of visas to be granted per year.
- It is a relatively expensive visa to apply for.
Requirements for applying for the Australia digital nomad visa
All the following requirements to apply for the Australia digital nomad visa, or Working and Holiday visa, must be met to proceed with the visa process. Here is a summary of all of them:
- Submit a photocopy of your passport or ID card clearly showing your personal details, expiration date, and face.
- You must meet a series of minimum educational requirements and present documents accrediting your academic experience. In particular, you must be a university graduate or have completed at least 2 years of studies.
- English language proficiency certificate. The most common is to take an English certification exam from the main official bodies: Cambridge, Pearson English test, or International English Language Testing System.
- Request a letter of support from the government of your country certifying that you meet the requirements to obtain the visa.
- Demonstrate a minimum amount of funds to cover your stay in the country. This minimum is set at A$5,000 and can be proved by showing bank statements.
- Provide a range of medical evidence. This will depend on your country of origin. You can find more information using this link.
What activities are permitted and prohibited
In relation to permitted activities, there are no restrictions whatsoever. This means that the visa allows you to work in any sector, both in Australian and foreign companies.
You should note that the Australian Government has a priority for regional work, and experience or a desire to work regionally may significantly help your application.
What nationalities are permitted and prohibited
The Australian Working and Holiday Visa does not have any nationality restrictions.
However, it does set a visa acceptance limit for each country, which you can check on the official Australian government website via this link.
This visa limit is set at the beginning of each year and, in the last year, there has been an increase due to the high demand by digital nomads.
Can you apply for a digital nomad visa for Australia if you are in the country?
The application for the digital nomad visa for Australia can be processed 100% online, so you can apply from within Australia, no problem.
However, do not forget that all documents to be submitted must be translated into English.
Failing that, each document will have to include the translator’s full name, academic background, address, telephone number, and experience.
Can I bring a partner or children with me to Australia?
The Australia digital nomad visa (Working and Holiday Visa) does not allow digital nomads to travel with a partner or children who are financially dependent on the applicant.
This means that the visa is created exclusively for you, and does not authorise the inclusion of family members in the process.
Is travel insurance for Australia compulsory?
Taking out travel insurance for Australia is not a mandatory requirement to apply for the digital nomad visa for Australia, although it is highly recommended!
In fact, the official Australian tourism website advises all travellers to enter the country with a policy that covers their entire stay.
Remember that health costs in the country are very high for foreigners and that, at any time, your dream trip can be derailed by an accident. Thus, having a comprehensive insurance is the only solution!
Best travel insurance for Australia
So, which travel insurance policy is best for Australia?
To help you, I have selected the best option for travelling on the Australia digital nomad visa, taking into account features such as medical coverage, adventure sports, repatriation, early return, and luggage coverage.
All in all, the best offer to insure your trip to Australia is undoubtedly the following policy, which has helped me on my travels plenty of times, and is even being offered at a reduced price for a limited time only.
Get a 5% discount on Heymondo until 12/10/2024. Get in quick!
Activate Discount Here
- Fill in your trip info
- Click on “Calculate Price”.
- All done! The discount will be applied automatically.
Some of the most useful benefits of Hey Mondo travel insurance for digital nomads include:
- 24/7 assistance platform.
- Repatriation and early return.
- Travel expenses for a family member if you are hospitalised for over a week.
Comparison of insurance policies to Australia
If you want to see more of the best options that are currently available, we’ve compiled the top travel insurance policies for travel to Australia, so you can compare them.
So, take a look at this comparative table for digital nomad travel insurance:
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️ | |
Price 3 months | 174€ | 210€ | 338€ | 126€ | 195€ |
Discount valid until 12/10/2024 | – 15% for families | – 5% | – 5% | ❌ | ❌ |
ACTIVATE DISCOUNT | ACTIVATE DISCOUNT | ACTIVATE DISCOUNT | GET A QUOTE | GET A QUOTE | |
Legal assistance | 13.000€ | 12.000€ | 3.000€ | ❌ | ❌ |
Covid-19 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Medical expenses | 1.000.000€ | 500.000 € | 200.000€ | 222.600€ | £10,000,000 |
Hospitalization | Actual costs | 500.000€ | 250.000€ | 200.000€ | £10,000,000 |
Theft or loss of luggage | 2.000€ | 2.500€ | Optional | 2.670€ | £2000 |
Repatriation | Actual costs | Actual costs | Actual costs | 17.800€ | Actual costs |
Sports activities | ✅ | Optional | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Recommended for | All types of stays | All types of stays | All types of stays | Digital nomad | All types of stays |
Review | Chapka insurance | HeyMondo insurance | IATI travel insurance | SafetyWing insurance | Word Nomads Insurance |
Discount > | Promo Code Chapka | Promo Code HeyMondo | Promo Code IATI |
How to travel to Australia at the best price
Now that you have all the relevant information on the Australia digital nomad visa, the only thing left to do is to find out how you can reduce the cost of your trip!
It’s no secret that Australia is an expensive country, so I have compiled my top 4 tips to help you save on your flights, your accommodation, your activity bookings and your credit card.
Here they are!
How to find cheap flights to Australia
The first tip I want to tell you about, and I’m sure it’s one of the ones you’ll be most interested in, concerns flights.
Flying cheap is often complicated, especially to destinations so far away. Platforms like Skyscanner compare the best options, but they are not always the cheapest options!
Using a virtual private network is a great solution, and has been, without a doubt, my best ally when it comes to finding the best deals.
You know, flights don’t cost the same from all countries! To pay for my cheapest flights, I use NordVPN.
Basically, it’s a private network that allows you to access Internet sites from locations other than your own, and this can have some serious benefits:
In October 2024, enjoy a 59% discount on NordVPN.
Click here: Activate Discount
Flights from Barcelona to Buenos Aires don’t cost the same if you buy them from Spain as from India, for example. So, once you’ve installed NordVPN, simply access websites like Skyscanner and compare prices by entering as if you were browsing from different countries.
The 8 countries from which it is cheapest to buy flights are: Malaysia, Bulgaria, India, Turkey, Romania, Indonesia, Portugal, and Thailand. Once you have NordVPN, head over to Skyscanner and start paying reduced prices for flights all over the world!
How to find cheap accommodation in Australia
Accommodation is the second issue that worries travellers the most, especially if you are going to spend a lot of time in another country. Booking is the perfect platform for this, and now you can get extra discounts – find out how!
Access Booking.com now and get discounts of up to 15% in October 2024 by becoming a Genius user.
There are also ways to save money when booking your accommodation with Booking. The first of which is becoming a Genius user, something you get from making 2 bookings (Genius level 1), and 5 bookings (Genius level 2).
As a Genius user in Booking.com, you can enjoy:
- Discounts on room rates.
- Free breakfast.
- Upgrades to superior room categories.
- Free parking.
- Late check-out.
- Welcome gifts.
In addition, there are hotels in Booking.com that directly offer you a 10 to 15% discount on your rate for being a Genius user.
Access to get discounts of up to 15% by becoming a Genius user.
Finally, Booking.com has a Minimum Price Guarantee program, so if you find a cheaper price for your hotel on any other website, they’ll match it!
How to book activities in Australia at the best price
Going to Australia and missing out on the multitude of activities it has to offer would be simply unthinkable.
Booking activities and tours will undoubtedly be a big part of your stay in Australia. To help you save on activities, I suggest using this great platform.
GetYourGuide is an indispensable tool for organising any trip to any destination. It’s a platform that helps you book tourism and leisure activities for your trip.
With GetYourGuide, you can book your activities online to avoid queues, and take advantage of a discount for online bookings. This way, you save time and money, so you can enjoy more activities during your trip!
Which card to use in Australia
Finally, it is essential to have a card that allows you to make savings on all your transactions in Australia. The trick is to choose a bank card that offers good conditions regarding fees and cash withdrawals. Here’s the best one I’ve found!
If you travel frequently, the Revolut Metal Card is another great way to save money. For starters, they offer you unlimited currency exchanges without paying any fees!
This Card allows you to make unlimited domestic transfers free of charge, and withdraw up to £800 a month from international ATMs.
If you spent £650 abroad in a month using a standard card, and withdrew £350 at ATMs, you would have paid around £44 in fees.
With the Revolut Metal card, you would have paid £0 in fees.
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Countries with digital nomad visas in October 2024
In addition to the digital nomad for Australia, there are plenty of other countries where you can live and work as a digital nomad. In the following comparison table, you can see exactly which countries offer this type of visa.
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41 / 195 | Trend in | Duration | Tax | Travel insurance | Proof |
COUNTRIES | October 2024 | in months | to pay | See recommended | of income |
Anguila | 12 | $2000 | Yes | Yes | |
Antigua Barbuda | 24 | $1500 | Yes | Yes | |
Aruba | 3 | $75 | Yes | No | |
Barbados | 12 | $2000 | Yes | Yes | |
Bermuda | 12 | $260 | Yes | Yes | |
Brazil | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Cape Verde | 6 | $60 | Yes | Yes | |
Colombia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Costa Rica | 24 | $550 | Yes | Yes | |
Croatia | 12 | $155 | Yes | Yes | |
Curaçao | 6 | $300 | Yes | No | |
Cyprus | 12 | $65 | Yes | Yes | |
Dominica | 18 | $900 | Yes | Yes | |
Ecuador | 24 | $450 | Yes | Yes | |
United Arab Emirates | 12 | $610 | Yes | Yes | |
Estonia | 12 | $100 | Yes | Yes | |
Georgia | 12 | $35 | Yes | Yes | |
Germany | 36 | $100 | Yes | Yes | |
Grenada | 12 | $1500 | Yes | Yes | |
Greece | 12 | $90 | Yes | Yes | |
Hungria | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Iceland | 6 | $60 | Yes | Yes | |
Indonesia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Italy | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Latvia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Cayman Islands | 24 | $1470 | Yes | Yes | |
Seychelles Islands | 12 | $50 | Yes | Yes | |
Malta | 6 | $315 | Yes | Yes | |
Malaysia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Mauritius | 12 | $0 | Yes | Yes | |
Mexico | 12 | $45 | Yes | Yes | |
Montserrat | 12 | $500 | Yes | Yes | |
Norway | 48 | $630 | Yes | Yes | |
Panama | 9 | $300 | Yes | Yes | |
Portugal | 12 | $165 | Yes | Yes | |
Czech Republic | 12 | $165 | Yes | Yes | |
Romania | 12 | $125 | Yes | Yes | |
Saint Lucia | 12 | $70 | Yes | Yes | |
Spain | 12 | $85 | Travel insurance | Yes | |
Health insurance | |||||
Sri Lanka | 12 | $500 | Yes | Yes | |
Thailand | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes |
Need more information? Learn more in this article about visas for digital nomads, so you can start planning your nomadic adventure.
I hope that this post will help you in your application for the Australia digital nomad visa!
