All about the working holiday in Austria!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 30 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
The equivalent of a few thousand dollars
This must be your first participation
Must have health, accident and travel insurance
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from the following countries can apply for the Working Holiday Visa to Austria:
Argentina, Australia, Chile, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and the US.
03. What is the application fee?
The visa application fee is €150. The exception is for Japanese citizens; they do not have to pay a visa fee.
04. What documents are required for the application?
As well as proof of passport validity, health insurance and sufficient funds, you may be asked to provide:
- Criminal record check
- A passport-sized photo
- Evidence of tertiary qualifications
The exact requirements will depend on your nationality and can be found here.
05. How long is the visa good for?
The Working Holiday Visa allows New Zealanders to stay up to six months and all other nationalities to stay for up to one year in Austria.
06. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?
There are special requirements for Australians and Americans:
- Australians: You are only eligible for the Working Holiday Programme if you have evidence of holding tertiary qualifications or of having successfully completed at least two years of higher education.
- Americans: You are only eligible if you have graduated from a US degree, diploma or certificate-granting educational institution within the past 12 months.
07. When do I have to enter the country by?
You must enter Austria no more than three months after the date of issue of the visa. You must apply for your visa at least three weeks before you plan to travel to Austria.
08. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Yes, you must buy health insurance for the entirety of your stay. You must purchase a minimum coverage of €30,000.
09. Are there any work restrictions?
Citizens of Argentina are only able to work with the same employer for six months. This exception is not applicable to other nationalities.
10. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday, to Austria and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
11. Where can I apply?
You will need to apply via your nearest Embassy. Find the details for your country here.
As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must buy private health, accident and travel insurance for the duration of their WHV.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They meet the requirements and have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Working Holiday and Other Adventures Abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Austria’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Austria, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Austria. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Austria. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Austria.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Austria before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing Abroad
Once your application is approved, you will have plenty of things you need to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, from the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot but don’t worry, take it one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Austria, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is the perfect chance to learn or brush up on German. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
You must be between 18 and 30 years old. You can apply before your 18th birthday, but the start of the visa must not occur before you turn 18. You must apply before your 31st birthday.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday and for at least three months after the visa expiry date. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
You must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover your initial living expenses in Austria. The exact amount is not specified but must prove you can support yourself and afford to buy a ticket home at the end of your stay.
See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
This must be your first participation. If you have already been in Austria on a working holiday, then you cannot apply again.
As a part of your visa application, you must provide proof of health, accident and travel insurance for the full duration of your stay.
You must have a minimum coverage of €30,000.
Apply before the annual quota is reached—if you are an American citizen, the quota is limited to 100 visas per year. All other eligible nationalities have no quota.