Ireland’s Working Holiday Visa for Australians
If you’re an Australian aged between 18 and 35 years old, you could be eligible for a Working Holiday Authorisation to live in Ireland for up to 12 months!
Want to learn more? This page contains information about the Irish working holiday visa for Australian citizens. It was last updated on 2 May 2024.
Key facts about Ireland
- Population: Approx. 5 million
- Official languages: Irish & English
- Capital city: Dublin
- Largest cities: Dublin, Cork, Louth, Limerick, Galway
- Name of the country in Irish: Éire
- Currency: Euro
Ireland Working Holiday Authorisation requirements
Ireland offers working holiday visas to citizens of Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan & USA. See the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs website for more information.
The information on this page applies to Australian citizens and may be different for citizens of other countries.
As Australians do not require a visa to entire Ireland, the agreement between the two countries is based on a Working Holiday Authorisation. This document allows Australians to undertake casual work in Ireland without a work permit, but only for up to six months with a single employer.
To apply for an Irish Working Holiday Authorisation as an Australian citizen, you must meet the following requirements:
- Aged between 18-35 years old (inclusive) at the time of application
- Have at least AUD5,000 in funds, or AUD2,500 if you also have a booked return flight ticket back to Australia
Documents needed to apply
When applying for a Working Holiday Authorisation for Ireland as an Australian citizen, you will need to provide the following documents:
- Completed application form
- Your passport (which should be valid until at least 3 months after you intend to depart Ireland)
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Bank statement/s showing sufficient funds (at least AUD5,000) and/or plane ticket/s
- Copies of educational qualifications/certificates, or, if you are still a student, a letter from your college to that effect
- Current CV/resumé with references
There is an AUD95 processing fee, and the normal processing time is 15 business days. If you need a faster turnaround, you can pay a higher AUD195 fee to have your application processed within 5 business days of the embassy receiving all required documentation.
You will also need to provide a self-addressed Australia Post envelope for the return of your passport.
How to apply for an Irish Working Holiday Authorisation as an Australian citizen
You’ll need to apply for a Working Holiday Authorisation in Australia before you arrive in Ireland.
If applying in Australia, you can send all required documents to the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra. The address in Yarralumla, ACT is available on the Irish embassy’s website.
As an exception, Australian citizens living in the UK may instead apply through the visa office at the Embassy of Ireland in London. In this case, the processing time is 4-6 weeks (as the visa itself is still processed in Canberra) and the processing fee is GBP51.
You’ll then have a year to activate your Authorisation by travelling to Ireland. It will be activated as soon as you arrive in the country. Once activated, the Authorisation is valid for 12 months.
See the Irish embassy website for more information about applying for a Working Holiday Authorisation as an Australian citizen.
Arriving in Ireland
After you arrive in Ireland, you’ll then also need to apply for a Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Registration Card. You should do this as soon as possible after arrival and must do so within 3 months. It can be done either by making an appointment at the INIS Burgh Quay Registration office in Dublin, or at your local Garda (police) station if you live outside Dublin. You may book your appointment before you arrive in Ireland as there can be long waiting times. A €300 (approx. AUD465) fee applies for the registration card.
You’ll be permitted to commence temporary work once you have the Working Holiday Authorisation and your GNIB card.
Once in Ireland, you may also need to get a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) from the Department of Social Protection.
While best efforts are made to keep this information updated, we do not guarantee its accuracy. If you spot an error, would like to suggest new information to be added or simply have a question, please let us know in the comments and we’ll endeavour to respond or update the article as quickly as possible!
Have I calculated it correctly that the working holiday visas are valid up to and INCLUDING age 35? i.e. I am eligible for them before I turn 36?
Yes, that is correct. This visa is for people aged 18-35 inclusive.
Hi Luke how are you doing this evening? I’m Rufus from Sydney, I’m 42 years of age, and I want to apply for an Ireland working visa.
Is the rule that you have to apply for the visa, receive it, and enter the relevant country prior to turning 36? Or is the rule only relevant to applying and receiving the visa prior to turning 36, with entry valid afterward? (although if I’m not mistaken you have to demonstrate that you’ve made a booking as part of the application process?)
Generally it is based on your age at the time of the application.
Do you have any links for job recruiters in Ireland? With a particular focus on graduate built environment work, e.g. local government and urban planning; I’ve heard of Carrington West in the UK but don’t believe they operate in Ireland. Cheers!
This is not something we provide, sorry.
Out of curiosity, is it possible to use a working holiday visa, and at the end of the 12 month period, immediately switch to a visitor visa in order to extend the trip? Or would such ‘consecutive visa’ usage not be permitted?
You could always apply for a new type of visa once the working holiday visa expires, if you are eligible for a different visa type, but this would be totally unrelated to the working holiday visa. (As you’re probably aware, it’s not possible to renew the working holiday visa or “transfer” this to a different type, i.e. in a way where your previous visa gives you any sort of leverage.)
If you’re asking whether you can simply remain in Ireland for an extra 3 months as a tourist after your visa expires – I don’t know the answer to this, sorry, but I suspect it would be “no”. At the very least, I fully expect you’d need to leave the country before your visa expires and then return (if you want to and are eligible) at a later time.
Please note that this is not legal advice. Please check with the relevant authorities if you have any doubt.
Is it possible to work in other Europen countries with a WHV from Ireland? Asking because I’m over 30 and wanted to go originally to Norway.
No, this is not allowed. This visa only gives you the right to work in Ireland.
Hi Matt,
Your website is literally a godsend! Thank you!
I’m 31 and ineligible for many Working Holiday visas (given they cut off at 30). But I am hoping to stay in Europe for longer than the 90-day Schengen visa for Aussies.
Would it be possible to get an Irish Working Holiday visa and then live (but not work) in a different Schengen country?
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
No, an Irish working holiday visa would not give you the right to live in another Schengen country for an extended period. While you can travel to other European countries for short trips while living in Ireland, this visa only lets you be a resident and work in Ireland.
Hi, this is great information. From my research I believe I can also take my dependent into Ireland with this agreement. Do you know anything or where I could find information about if my daughter was to go to secondary school if it would have to be a private school that we pay for, or is she eligible to go to public school?
I can’t help with this, sorry.
Also, while the Irish embassy website doesn’t specify that you cannot bring dependent children on a working holiday, I’m not sure how this would work in practice or whether your daughter would be eligible to get her own visa. You should probably discuss this with the embassy if in doubt.
Hi! Thanks for this info! Now considering the working holiday authorisation is not a visa, I am confused as to how we have up to 6 months working in Ireland if Australian citizens can only remain in ireland up to 90 days without a visa? Or is there also a visa we have to apply for in conjunction to the authorisation?? Thank you in advance!
If you have the Working Holiday Authorisation, you can stay in Ireland for up to a year and work for up to six months per employer, just as you would with a visa. Don’t overthink it, the fact it’s not called a visa just a technicality 🙂
thank you for the information, one question, is the visa for Ireland only available for people with degrees?
No, that is not a requirement for the Irish working holiday visa. 🙂
fantastic, just curious because it says in the required forms that you need to provide college or university transcripts as part of the application?
so the only requirement are that your are between 18-35 and have the appropriate savings?
Pretty much. Academic records are a required document, but if you don’t have a university degree, you could just show proof of your highest level of education.
my highest level of education is only year 11.
but I have a resume with nearly 10 years of chefing experience, would it be likely I would be granted the visa?
I can’t really say, sorry. But you might as well apply and see whether you get accepted. You should have a reasonable chance.
If you have a holiday work visa for Ireland and only intend to stay (and work)for less than the 90 days, do you stillneed to have the GNIB card to do temporary work?
Yes, you need this to do any kind of work in Ireland.
Hi Matt, I left school earlier than the last year. I did not receive any formality to leaving as in Australia it isn’t needed. I have a school report for the year before my leaving but that is about it. Would that be enough? I’m a traveller and haven’t studied since I left school so I’m in a pickle as to what I could provide for proof. Thanks
Hi Kris – I’m afraid I don’t really have an answer for you, sorry. The Irish government just says you need to provide “copies of educational certificates” and doesn’t really elaborate any further than this. If you’ve done any TAFE courses or have something like a Year 10 school certificate (if that’s still a thing?) that might help, otherwise as you say, your most recent school report might have to do.
If you want a more accurate answer though, I’d suggest asking the Irish embassy in Canberra.
I was wondering if Australians can work in Ireland for longer than 12 months? Or is the work visa only valid for 12 months?
The working holiday authorisation is only valid for 12 months. If you wanted to work in Ireland for longer than that (as an Australian) you would need a different type of visa.
Hi Matt,
Do you know if you can extend your 6 month single employer allowance on a WHA ?
I am wanting to extend mine by 6 weeks.
Thanks,
I don’t believe this is allowed as the six-month limitation is a visa condition.
This is what the Irish embassy in Canberra says: “Ireland and Australia have a reciprocal agreement under which each country allows young citizens from the other to fund a holiday through casual work. Each of the schemes is open to applicants aged 18-35. Both schemes allow participants to work for a maximum period of six months with any one employer.”
I am wanting to work in ireland for 4 months (August – December). Am I correct in saying I need to apply for the Working Holiday Authorisation?
If you have an Australian passport and want to work in Ireland for any amount of time, you would need some sort of work visa or authorisation (be it the working holiday authorisation or another type of visa). If you are eligible for the working holiday authorisation, then that’s probably a good way to do it.
Wait so i can have $2500 AUD in my savings if I have a return flight booked? No need for the $5000 AUD?
That’s correct.
This is what the Irish embassy says is required for the proof of savings on its website (see https://www.ireland.ie/en/australia/canberra/services/visas/working-holiday-authorisations/)
“Evidence in the form of a statement from a bank, building society or similar savings agency that you have personal access to funds sufficient for the cost of both a return ticket and normal maintenance for a substantial part of your proposed holiday period in Ireland. A minimum of AUD$5,000 is required or AUD$2,500 with a return ticket to Australia.”
So confirming we don’t submit anything online for this application. It’s physically submitted by mail to the embassy in Canberra?
That’s correct.
Hey Matt, I am wondering if I am allowed to work for over the 6 month period. I already have the job but I am contracted to work for 9 months. And if not what sort of VISA do i need
Hi Xavier, the Irish government makes it clear that the maximum time you can work with any one employer on a working holiday authorisation is six months.
If you want to legally work longer for the same employer, you could look into another type of work visa. See https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/
Hey Luke!
Super helpful post thankyou! I’m currently in Canada on a working holiday visa but it comes to an end as of January next year, i’m planning on heading to Ireland straight after! But is there anyway to secure a Working holiday authorisation without having to go back to australia? I see you can apply in London but i’ll only be passing through on my way so I can’t exactly ship off my passport if i’ll need it to fly out in the 4-6 weeks it takes to process in London. Did you have any advice? Know of any loopholes? Or is there no other way but to apply in Australia?
Cheers! Gabbi