UK Working Holiday for Australians: The 2027 Guide
A UK working holiday lets Australians aged 18 to 35 live and work in the UK for up to three years. You don't need a job offer, a sponsor, or a ballot spot: just the right visa, some savings, and a plan for your first few weeks. This guide covers who can go, what the visa costs, how to find work and somewhere to live, and the best months to arrive in London.
Who can do a UK working holiday?
The UK working holiday visa is officially called the Youth Mobility Scheme visa. Australians can apply if they:
- are aged 18 to 35 when they apply
- hold an Australian passport
- have £2,530 in savings, held in their account for 28 days
- don't have children who live with them or who they support financially
- haven't had a Youth Mobility visa before
New Zealanders and Canadians get the same deal: the same age range and the same length of stay. Australians also don't have to enter a ballot, as people from some countries do. If you meet the rules, you can apply.
The visa in one minute
How longUp to 2 years, plus a 1-year extension for Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians
Application fee£340
Health surcharge£776 a year, so £1,552 for 2 years, paid when you apply
Savings£2,530
Earliest you can apply6 months before you travel
DecisionUsually within 3 weeks of proving your identity
What you get: an eVisa, with no physical card. You can leave and come back as often as you like while the visa is valid, so weekends in Europe are fine. You can work in almost any job, except as a professional sportsperson or coach, but you can't claim benefits.
Near the end of your second year, you can apply from inside the UK for a third year, with another application fee and another year of surcharge. Our UK working holiday visa guide walks through the application step by step.
How much money should you take?
The £2,530 is the minimum the Home Office wants to see in your account. Treat it as a floor, not a budget. Your first month's costs fall into four groups:
Before you fly
The visa fee, health surcharge, flights, and travel insurance for trips outside the UK.
Your first bed
A week's rent paid before you arrive. In our London rooms, that's about £140 to £225 a week, depending on the room.
Getting set up
A UK SIM, a contactless card for transport, and work clothes or a uniform.
Living until payday
Food, transport, and nights out until your first pay lands.
Finding work in London
You don't need a job lined up to get the visa, and most London employers prefer to meet you after you arrive. The trick is to land with introductions already made, so you're earning in your first weeks instead of handing out CVs.
These are the jobs most Aussies start in:
- Hospitality and events: bar staff, waiting staff, food runners, hosts, and cloakroom at hotels, stadiums, museums, and VIP events
- Festivals and concerts: the summer festival season runs June to August, and camping is usually provided at multi-day festivals outside London
- Crewing and labouring: event set-ups and pack-downs, or construction labouring Monday to Friday if you prefer daytime work
- Office and education: temp admin, reception, and teaching assistant roles once you're settled
The UK minimum wage is £12.71 an hour if you're 21 or over and £10.85 if you're 18 to 20 (from April 2026). Hospitality jobs often add tips on top.
Before you start, every employer checks your right to work. With an eVisa, you share a code from your UK Visas and Immigration account instead of showing a card.
Your first week in the UK
Your first week is mostly admin, and it's what lets you start work and get paid. Tick these off in roughly this order:
- Get a UK SIM so employers and landlords can reach you on a local number.
- Apply for your National Insurance number online. You can start work while you wait for it.
- Open a UK bank account so your wages have somewhere to go.
- Get your share codes from your UK Visas and Immigration account for right-to-work and right-to-rent checks.
- Register with a GP, the local doctor, so you can use the NHS.
- Meet people. New arrivals on Jumpstart London get a ticket to our Thursday meet & greet pub crawl.
Our first-week checklist covers each step.
Where to live in London
Rent is the biggest cost of your trip, and it's the hardest thing to sort from Australia: most landlords want a viewing, references, and a UK bank account. That's why it pays to book your first bed before you fly.
With Jumpstart London, you choose from:
- Zone 1 city rooms: dorms, triples, twins, and singles in central London, with 2 meals a day
- Hotel rooms in Leytonstone, East London: single or double ensuite rooms, weekly rent, and no bond
- Share houses in Zones 2–3: rooms in houses and flats in East and West London with bills included and a bond of 2 weeks' rent. They're popular, so you join a waitlist when you arrive
All three charge rent weekly, with no long lease and only 1–2 weeks' notice to move out. Friends and couples can share twin and double rooms. Our guide to where to live in London compares them in more detail.
When is the best time to arrive in London?
You can start Jumpstart London any week from February to November. Here's how the year looks:
- February–MarchSettle into London life before the weather warms up and work gets busy. If you want festival work, it doesn't start until June.
- April–MayLonger days and big sporting events and concerts. It's also a good time to travel Europe before the summer crowds and prices.
- June–AugustPeak season, with festivals, concerts, and the busiest months for event work.
- September–NovemberIdeal if you're spending summer travelling Europe first. There's still plenty of work when you settle in.
- December–JanuaryThe quietest months for new starters. Few employers hire new staff in December, and work through Jumpstart London picks up again in early February.
How Jumpstart London sets it up
Jumpstart London is our package for Aussies and Kiwis starting a UK working holiday. Before you fly, we:
- hold your bed in London for your arrival week
- introduce you to hospitality, events, and labouring employers, subject to availability and the employer's right-to-work checks
- help with your Youth Mobility visa if you want it, through licensed agents with a money-back guarantee
When you land, our London team runs your arrival orientation and helps you set up your SIM, bank account, and NI number. You also have a 24/7 emergency contact for your whole visa.
The jobs are flexible with no minimum hours, so you can keep applying for other roles or take time off to travel. Each intake takes up to 15 new arrivals a week, so it pays to pick your week early.
FAQ
Can Australians do a working holiday in the UK?
Yes. Australians aged 18–35 can apply for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa without a job offer or a ballot. You need £2,530 in savings, must apply from outside the UK, and can apply up to 6 months before you travel. The visa runs for 2 years, and Australians can extend it for a third.
Do I need a job offer for a UK working holiday?
No. The Youth Mobility visa doesn't need a job offer or an employer sponsor. You can arrive and look for work, or line up job introductions before you fly with Jumpstart London.
Do I need a visa to work in England?
Yes. Australians and New Zealanders can't work on a visitor visa or an ETA. For 18–35s, the usual route is the Youth Mobility Scheme visa, which covers England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. If you have a UK-born grandparent, you may qualify for the 5-year Ancestry visa instead.
Ready to start your UK working holiday?
Pick your arrival week and we'll hold your bed and line up job introductions before you fly.
