How to Work Abroad in New Zealand and Australia

My Youthful Wanderlust

From the moment I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to travel. There was so much to see and explore outside of America, and I wanted to experience all of it. I pleaded with my parents to let me take a gap year before college (which is NOT something that Americans do). As I was 18, my parents said I could do whatever I wanted. However, if I didn’t go straight to college they would use the tuition money they saved to take an epic vacation of their own. This meant that I would be financially responsible for furthering my education, by myself. Looking back now, I get it. They were half joking, half serious, and fully trying to ensure that I actually went to college. As desperately as I wanted to travel, I was also very aware of the crippling effects of post-college debt. Responsibility overtook my wanderlust. I started attending the University of California, Irvine in the fall.

Although I went off to college, my desire to travel never faltered. Immediately upon starting my first quarter at UCI, I devised a plan. If I took the maximum amount of units per quarter, in combination with my AP credits from high school, I could graduate in three years instead of four. This meant that I would be saving the cost of an entire year of tuition, while also affording myself free time to do whatever I wanted.

My college career was not easy. Taking 20 units per quarter and working two jobs meant that I rarely slept. I was constantly exhausted, sick, and overwhelmed. However, I knew what I wanted, and I did whatever was needed to get there. After three years I appeased my parents by graduating with a B.A. in English. Now I was ready to move on and take my long overdue gap year. As a promise to myself to follow through with my plans, I even had the word “wanderlust” tattooed on my shoulder. Young 21 year old me was excited, starry eyed, and ready to go. That is, until she realized how difficult it was to travel with no experience and very limited funds.

I thought about flying to Paris or Greece and supporting myself by tutoring English. I mulled over trying to obtain my TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate so I could work in Korea or Japan. All of my ideas seemed far fetched or costly. That is, until I discovered the magic of working holiday visas. These visas grant applicants the right to freely apply for work in another country, without having to obtain a job offer ahead of time. This was it! A working holiday visa was going to be my ticket to long term travel with limited funds. If I could work when I arrived then I only needed money for the plane ticket, and to support myself while I applied for a job.

As an American, the amount of countries that will grant you a work visa without a preexisting job offer is very limited. There are a few options for recent college graduates such as Ireland, Singapore, and South Korea, but the easiest and most accessible of these visas are for New Zealand and Australia.

With this new information, I started my internet research to compare the two and pick my future travel destination. At the time, both visas granted 12 months to work and travel, but the visa for New Zealand was completely free. Having never put much thought into visiting New Zealand, I was surprised to find the country seemed incredibly picturesque. As I continued to research different cities, I stumbled upon a photo of Queenstown, and knew immediately that was where I wanted to live. The city’s mountainous backdrop and icy blue lake were stunning, and yet comforting at the same time. It looked completely different from the sprawling suburban track housing of Orange County, and that was exactly what I wanted.

I graduated college in May, and left for New Zealand in August. While I only planned to give myself one year, I underestimated how alluring travel could be. My wanderlust increased exponentially. My plan to return home, settle down, and get a full time job, quickly dissipated. After New Zealand I only came back to California for the summer. I worked two jobs to save money, and in the fall I got another visa and went to Australia for a year.

These working holiday visas allowed me to fully integrate myself into other countries in a way that I never would have been able to otherwise. As cliche as it sounds, I truly believe that living abroad changed my life, and opened my eyes to the vastness of the world. So, without further reminiscing about my younger years, here are the logistics of how to apply for both visas, as well as my personal experiences and suggestions.

Logistics

New Zealand

Application

When you search online for a New Zealand working holiday visa, a lot of different websites come up advertising these visas.  Ignore all of them and go straight to the government website! The process is not very difficult, and you will have to fill out the same information either way.  New Zealand does their working holiday visa by nationality, so you can click here for the American visa, or go to the general link, select “work”, “nationality”, and then choose your country from the list.

Fees

The USA working holiday visa itself is free, however there is a NZ $35 processing fee.  If you are a citizen of a different country you can check your visa cost online.

Requirements

The requirements to be eligible for the USA visa are as follows:

• 18 – 30 years old
• NZ $4,200 in your bank account upon your arrival to support you during your stay 
• A return ticket or enough money to buy one 
• Medical insurance

Since proof of funds are required, I asked my parents to transfer money to me temporarily because I did NOT have that much money in my bank account when I left.  However, nobody ever checked.

Approval for these visas typically take less than a month.  Upon approval you will be granted 12 months to work, and six of those months can be spent studying or training.  This period begins when you arrive in New Zealand, and that arrival must be within one year of receiving your approved application.

Visa Extension

This was not an option when I got my visa, however Americans are now eligible for a three month visa extension.  This extension can only be applied for if you have completed three months of seasonal work in New Zealand in the horticulture or viticulture industries.  The application must be submitted after this work has been completed, but while you are still in the county. While I personally never did any seasonal work, my friends did, and it definitely did not seem easy.  Think nine to ten hour days outside in the field picking grapes with moderate pay and rugged living conditions. However, if this seems appealing, or you just really want another three months in New Zealand, it’s a good option to keep in mind.

Australia

Application

Unlike New Zealand, the Australian Work and Holiday Visa is not divided by country, but instead into subclass 417, and subclass 462.  Both visa types should be applied for directly through the government website.

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is for citizens from:

Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders), Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport), and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) is for citizens from:

Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, United States of America, and Vietnam

Fees

The current fee for the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) is AU $485, however you can check the updated cost for either visa online.

Requirements

The requirements to be eligible for the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) are as follows:

• 18 – 30 years old
• Meet the education requirement for your country (U.S. citizens must have a High School Diploma)
• Have at least “Functional English”
• Provide a letter of support from your government (USA is exempt)
• AU $5,000 in your bank account upon your arrival to support you during your stay, and to purchase a plane ticket when you leave

Much like New Zealand, I also did not have enough money in my bank account when I arrived in Australia, and once again nobody checked.

Approval for these visas typically take between 28 – 48 days.  Upon approval you will be granted 12 months to work, and four of those months can be spent studying.  This year begins when you arrive in Australia, and typically you are only allowed to work with the same employer for a maximum of six months.

Second and Third Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

There is no option for a visa extension with the subclass 462 visa, however there is now an option to apply for a second, and even a third visa.  To apply for a second visa you must complete three months of “specified subclass work” during your first visa, and to apply for a third you must complete six months of “specified subclass work” during your second visa.  Unlike New Zealand, Australia is very strict about the location where this work can be completed, and the exact type of work that it needs to be. Luckily they have a very detailed outline online, including examples and eligible postcodes where work can be completed.  These jobs are primarily in northern Australia, and include plant and animal cultivation, fishing, pearling, tree farming, felling, tourism, and hospitality. If this is something you are considering, be sure to read through all of the requirements first to make sure the subclass work you complete will be applicable.

Personal Experiences and Suggestions

New Zealand

Weather and Packing

This may seem obvious, but do yourself a favor and look up the weather forecast in your area ahead of time.  The weather in New Zealand can vary greatly depending on where you choose to live. I left for my trip in August, knowing that while it was summer in California, it was going to be spring when I arrived in New Zealand.  As I stepped off the plane in my long dress, light sweater, and flip flops, I was taken aback by the fact that it was literally snowing. Growing up in Southern California, I did not own a winter coat, and I definitely did not think that I was going to need one in spring.  Out of stubbornness, and an attempt to save money, I spent my first two months in Queenstown wearing layers of thin sweaters and tights, instead of buying proper clothes. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Come prepared and pack appropriately. You can always donate or sell heavy items later in your travels if you no longer need them.

If you are currently living in the northern hemisphere, keep in mind that the seasons are flipped.  Winter is summer and summer is winter. The fun part is that you’ll get to have a sunny bathing suit clad Christmas, and make all of your friends back home very jealous.

When I left for New Zealand I packed the biggest suitcase I had. Since I was going to be there for a year, I thought this made perfect sense. While I did not pack a coat, I did find room for silly things like a nice dress, multiple books, and even a pair of high heels. Not only was my suitcase unreasonably heavy, and full of items I never used, but once I left Queenstown to actually start backpacking it was impossible. I suddenly understood why backpackers always carried literal backpacks. When you’re moving to a new place every other day, taking public transportation, and staying in hostels, a heavy suitcase is a constant burden. If you’re planning to go backpacking, then bring an actual backpack. Pack as light as possible, and only bring the essentials. You’ll spend much more of your time outside, adventuring, and running around in comfortable cotton clothes, than you will in fancy dress.

Housing

Before you arrive, book yourself a hostel to stay in for at least two weeks. This is what I did, and believe me it will save you a lot of stress and financial worry when you get there. Most hostels can also help you arrange transportation from the airport. I highly suggest making sure that this is a hostel and not a hotel. The more beds per room the better. Not only will this help you adjust to the backpacking lifestyle, but it will also help you meet other people. No matter how independent you are feeling, making new friends even temporarily is important. These meaningful connections will help you adapt to your new environment and gain exposure to other cultures.

Enjoy yourself during this two week period, but also start looking for a place to live. Hostels can be inclusive and fun, but they also cost a lot more per night than renting a room at a house. The goal here is to become integrated into the country as quickly as possible. Since the working holiday visa is easy to obtain, there are a lot of backpackers in most cities. Therefore, there are a lot of opportunities to find shared houses and rooms to rent on a short term basis, with fellow backpackers. Start by asking around your hostel, and looking on websites similar to Craigslist, such as Post A Note and Trade Me. You can also look for more specific classified websites and newspapers for the city you’re living in. Get a full tour of any house, and meet as many roommates as possible, before agreeing to move in. Find out all of the logistical details, and ask about a rent agreement, but also know that things in New Zealand are not as formal as you may be used to. Additionally, there are a lot of things that happen while backpacking that may not live up to the same standards you hold for your normal life back home. Don’t worry about it too much. Stay safe, use your best judgement, and enjoy the experience.

The first place that I moved into I found online on Gumtree, which was the big classified website at the time. It was a terrible little house, tucked behind another house, way up on a hill on the outskirts of town. Its sole redeeming quality was that it was very cheap, and the rent was paid month to month with no agreement. I stayed there for two days before I even met the landlord or paid rent. I never received a key the entire time I lived there because I was told “you don’t need a key here, everybody is trustworthy.” I shared one room in a three bedroom house with two other guys, one from Australia and one from Scotland. There was no internet, no heater, no working clothes dryer, and you had to pay to use the washer. Since the house was up against the hill it rarely saw the sun, meaning that the carpet, walls, sheets, and any clothes you tried to wash were eternally damp. While living there I also got very sick, making it an all around miserable time. Luckily, after about two months, my roommates found a different house closer to town. The three of us all moved together to share another room, but a bigger one this time, in a house with 12 people total. Six of us shared one bathroom, the food in my pantry drawer got eaten by rats at one point, and I still never received a key. But honestly, I had a blast. There was lots of sun, lots of people to hang out with, and it was close to the lake. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter how nice the place you end up living is, because it’s the experiences and people that you will remember the most. Find a place that fits your budget, where you feel comfortable and safe. Remember, that like everything while traveling, it is only temporary.

Phone & Bank Account

The two things that you will absolutely need to start working are a New Zealand phone number and bank account. Once you start applying for jobs, you’ll need to have a local phone number to be called back on. Once you get the job, you’ll need to have a bank account to have your check deposited into. It is also easier to pay for things with your New Zealand bank account, than to worry about currency conversion and international banking fees. While these tasks are simple to accomplish, getting a debit card can take some time, so I suggest setting up both within a few days of arrival.

If you are lucky enough to have a cell phone which is not locked to a specific carrier, then you can put a new SIM card into your own phone and be done with it. However, if you are like me with a phone locked to a specific carrier, then you will need to also purchase a phone. At the time when I was traveling I purchased the cheapest phone available from Telstra, which was a lovely little T9 brick. This worked perfectly for me at the time because I used it almost exclusively for phone calls and texting. However, at the time I did not yet have Instagram or Snapchat which I felt the need to compulsively check every ten minutes. Before you pick a carrier, check that there is a store close to you, and that they have good service on whichever island (north or south) you are living on. Pick a phone which suits your needs, but also remember that the main point is just to receive calls from your employer, and text as needed. You can still use WiFi at restaurants and coffee shops for all of your social media updates.

Similarly, when picking a bank, choose one which has a location close to where you are living. At the time I set up an account with ANZ because there was a location in town, and they didn’t have any account fees. In order to apply you will need your passport, work visa number, address (which can be your hostel temporarily), and a phone number. Receiving a debit card can take up to two weeks, and can be picked up directly from the bank if you aren’t sure where you are going to be living.

Jobs

Unless you come to New Zealand with a lot of money saved up, getting a job is going to be the most important thing you need to do when you arrive. While the only work visa restriction is that you find a legal non-permanent job, certain industries are easier for backpackers to apply to. The majority of backpackers I knew worked in either hospitality, retail, sales, or seasonal positions. These included things like working for restaurants, wineries, clothing stores, travel shops, hostels, tour companies, ski slopes, and telemarketing agencies. I knew a few people with specialty skills who worked as electricians, doing construction, or in the film industry, but this was less common. When applying for a job in New Zealand, as with most places, you need to be proactive and diligent. Apply in-person with your resume to as many places as possible, and go back frequently to check in with the manager. Since there are so many backpackers, most of whom are looking for similar jobs, you need to find a way to stand out. If you are applying for hospitality, sales, or retail based positions, consider putting a small photo of yourself in the top corner of your resume. While I found this really odd at first, I realize now that it’s an easy way to associate a face with the name. Most employers understand that backpackers are only going to be working in one place for a short period of time, and therefore the hiring process is also expedited.

Once you have a job offer, you’ll need to apply for an IRD number, or tax identification number, to make sure that you are paying taxes correctly.

When I first arrived in New Zealand I was so caught up in new experiences that I didn’t start applying to jobs for almost three weeks. This was a huge mistake. By the time I ended up getting a job I had been there for almost a month and a half, and I was running very low on funds. Enjoy yourself, but also start applying for jobs as soon as you have a New Zealand cell phone number. Since I arrived at the start of spring, a lot of employers said they wouldn’t start hiring until the start of summer when the tourist season picked up. I handed out resumes to over 20 bars and restaurants, and only heard back from one. During this period of waiting I tried my luck with funeral insurance telemarketing out of desperation. While I did get paid for training, it was a soul sucking experience, and I didn’t even last a full week. Finding a job wasn’t impossible, but my combined lack of bartending experience and poor seasonal timing made it fairly difficult. If you’re going to a large city like Auckland or Wellington, this won’t be an issue. However, if you’re going to a small seasonally based tourist town, try to plan accordingly. Eventually I got a job as a waitress/bartender at a pub in town, and learned how to bartend, change kegs, and make coffee on the fly. Luckily, the minimum wage in New Zealand is pretty good, making it easy to live and save (NZ $17.70 at the time of writing this article). I was able to save up enough money in five months of working to travel around the rest of New Zealand, spending two months doing tours and adventure activities.

Before You Leave

When you leave New Zealand, it will most likely be the last time you are there on a work visa. Therefore, even if you plan to visit for vacation later on, close your accounts and file your taxes BEFORE you leave the county. I know it sounds silly, but it is much harder to handle something internationally than to take care of it while you are still in New Zealand.

This means cancel your phone plan if you had one and shut down your bank account completely. Even make sure to cancel any service accounts you might have had, such as a video store account. I say this because my roommates continued to use my video store account after I left, and racked up a tab from past due rentals under my name.

Also, after you have finished working, file for your taxes back. There are a lot of rules and regulations surrounding tax back for working holiday visa holders which you can read about in the Visitor’s Tax Guide if you’re interested. However, any potential money is worth claiming. This will be the one time that it is better to have somebody else handle this for you. There are lots of tax shops you can go to in person, and you can also apply online. While they do take a processing fee out of your refund, it will make trying to get this money into an international bank account much easier once you’re back home.

Australia

Weather and Packing

Even more so than New Zealand, the weather in Australia can vary greatly depending upon where you end up living. While the majority of Australia has moderate to warm weather, parts of Victoria and Tasmania have snow during the winter. Since Australia is roughly the same size as the United States, you can imagine how many different climates exist! Make sure to review the weather in your location before arriving, and keep in mind that Australia is also in the southern hemisphere.

Although Australia’s large size means that you will often fly from city to city, rather than take the bus, I still suggest bringing a backpack and not a suitcase. Hostels are notorious for not having elevators, and believe me you do not want to lug a suitcase up three flights of stairs.

By the time that I arrived in Australia, I had somewhat learned from my previous mistakes. I had a nice backpack which I packed with essentials, and I even brought a jacket this time! For the whole year that I was in Australia I chased warmer weather up the east coast, and each city I landed in had a completely different climate. The first city I lived in was St. Kilda, a beach suburb of Melbourne. There was a massive heat wave when I arrived, but by the time April rolled around it was starting to get cold (by my standards at least). Next I flew to Byron Bay, which I fell in love with, as everybody does. It was the perfect, quaint, warm weather beach town, and I spent four months barefoot and in a bathing suit everyday. After a trip up the east coast, I landed in the tropical city of Cairns. It was warm and humid, however it also had saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish in the ocean.

Housing

Much like in New Zealand, I also suggest booking a hostel for at least two weeks when you first arrive. This will give you time to adjust to your new surroundings without having to worry about money or accommodation right away.

While there are also a lot of backpackers in Australia, it is a much larger country, with a larger overall population. This means that while there are opportunities for shared rooms and houses, they may not always be with fellow backpackers. Keep in mind that finding short term month to month rent agreements can be more difficult in large cities. Online classified websites such as Flatmates and Gumtree are a great place to start.

Instead of trying to find a shared room, a popular option in Australia is to work for accommodation at a hostel. Work for accommodation jobs can include working at the front desk, housekeeping, event planning, booking tours, night security, and even working for a hostel bar/restaurant. Depending on the job, you typically work a few hours a day in exchange for a bed in a shared dorm room, often with other staff. While this is not a luxurious lifestyle, the money saved on rent can give you extra time to find a job, or allow you to only work part-time and still support yourself. Ask your hostel when you arrive if they have any positions available, and don’t be afraid to branch out to other hostels in the area.

While I lived in Australia, the majority of my time was spent working for accommodation in hostels. My second week in Melbourne I got a job at a hostel setting up the continental breakfast each day. Although this sounds easy, I was required to start at seven in the morning, and work seven days a week. This particular hostel had a bar downstairs, and while it was fun living there, it was almost too fun. I ended up partying a lot, and waking up early each day was a struggle. Eventually I moved out because I was not leading a healthy lifestyle, and working everyday meant that I couldn’t take any trips around Melbourne. Instead I rented a shared room in an apartment with another girl from the hostel. This apartment was owned by a middle aged Australian man who technically lived in one of the two rooms, but claimed he was never home because he was always at his girlfriend’s house. It was across from the beach, had a view of the ocean, and an amazing rooftop to hang out on. Unfortunately, it ended up being too good to be true. We lived there for two months, until he broke up with his girlfriend. He then proceeded to day drink everyday, and accused me of throwing wild parties on the rooftop (which surprisingly I did not do). In the end he kicked us out with 12 hours notice and did not refund my deposit. We ended up sleeping on our friend’s pull-out couch bed…for a whole two months. After it became clear that I had overstayed my welcome, I left for Byron Bay, and didn’t try renting again for the rest of my working holiday visa. In Byron Bay I did housekeeping six days a week in exchange for staying in an eight person staff dorm. Similarly, in Cairns I did minimal daily housekeeping in exchange for staying in a two person dorm.

Working for accommodation in Australia was often less comfortable and more hectic than my living arrangements in New Zealand. However, living in hostels allowed me to form lasting friendships, find new adventures on a daily basis, and gain a stronger sense of community within each city. Additionally, not paying rent let me save way more money. With these funds I took an amazing one month tour up the east coast of Australia, and then lived in South East Asia for five months without working.

Phone and Bank Account

Just like in New Zealand, you’ll need to set-up a phone number and bank account as soon as possible once you arrive. By the time I made my way to Australia I did have Instagram, and therefore I splurged and purchased a touch screen phone with an internet plan. I also managed to drop that phone in the toilet at some point, and went back to having a cheap brick phone for the rest of the trip. However, with the additional traveling that I did in Australia, having the internet to look up directions was very helpful while it lasted.

I choose to set-up a bank account with Commonwealth, which was free to use as long as you had AU $2,000 deposited into the account per month. This wasn’t an issue while I was living and working in Australia. However once I left the country I was charged four dollars per month. The biggest mistake I made was not closing my bank account before I left. At the time all of my money was in my Australian account, and I didn’t know how long it would take to transfer to my American account. I also had a far-fetched plan of returning to Australia the following year to visit, which did not happen. Turns out that closing an international bank account cannot be done over the phone, and requires sending a signed letter to the bank manager. While this wasn’t an impossible task, I ended up leaving my account open for four years after leaving. At one point I forgot about it, and accidentally went into the red due to bank fees. I then had to claim my superannuation (Australian retirement fund) and have it deposited into my Australian account, just to cover past due fees. This long winded explanation is to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes I did. Close your bank account before you leave the country. Trust me.

Jobs

Once again, unless you have a lot of money saved up, getting a job should be your top priority when you arrive. The only requirement in Australia is that you can’t work with the same employer for more than six months. With such a large country to explore this shouldn’t be an issue. Most of the backpackers I knew worked in bars and restaurants. However, quite a few also worked at travel shops doing sales. Although I anticipated it would be easier to find work in large cities like Melbourne, I actually found the opposite to be true. In larger cities there were more Australian natives who took priority when applying for jobs like serving and bartending. However, in smaller cities with a higher concentration of backpackers, they seemed to be more willing and accustomed to hiring working holiday visa holders for short term positions. It is also important to remember that hostel bars and “backpacker bars,” which cater specifically to foreign visitors, are much more likely to hire backpackers to work for them. Regardless where you choose to live, be diligent and apply to as many places as possible when you first arrive.

Once you have a job you’ll need to apply for a tax file number, which can be completed online.

After learning from my experiences in New Zealand, I started applying for jobs as soon as I arrived in Melbourne. Unfortunately, aside from the work for accommodation position at the hostel, I had a very hard time finding anything. After a month I got a part-time job, ironically at a San Francisco themed burrito restaurant run by an American. I worked limited hours, and once I moved out of the hostel it wasn’t enough money to support me. Eventually I got a second job at a small Italian restaurant where I was the only person working front of house. I had to serve, bartend, clean, and wash the dishes by myself. They also paid me lower than minimum wage, under the table in cash. At this point I was desperate and running low on funds, so I took a risk and flew to Byron Bay with very little money. It was a rocky start, but within two weeks I got a work for accommodation position, and within three weeks I got a job at a very trashy backpacker bar. The good news was that when I worked a night shift at the bar they also gave me dinner. The bad news was that they had weekly theme nights which involved dressing up in a full costume, and sometimes walking around town handing out flyers. I also worked part time for store credit at a travel agency, as a terrible salesperson. While I may not have been good at sales, I did get a 50% discount on my month long tour up the east coast of Australia. That alone was completely worth it. After my tour I landed in Cairns, got another work for accommodation position, and got a job at a slightly less trashy bar. The wages in Australia were even better than New Zealand, and my bartending position started at AU $25/hour. Even with the trouble I had finding jobs, I was easily able to save up enough money to travel around Australia, and even South East Asia when my visa ended.

Before You Leave

Unless you are applying for a second or third visa, assume that when you leave Australia it’s the last time you’ll be there with a work visa. I know I’ve touched on this multiple times already, but close your bank account and cancel your phone plan before you leave the country.

Also, make sure to file your taxes at some point. Any money paid into your superannuation fund (Australian retirement fund) while you are working is due back to you when you leave. Depending on how much you worked, your return amount could end up being between AU $1,000 – AU $2,000. Technically you cannot be paid until you have left the country, but often times you can submit an application in person before leaving at tax shops and even tour companies. There are also various websites that can process your taxes for a fee, such as TaxBack or Aussie Tax Returns Taxbacker.

To apply for this money you will need:

• The name of your super company and membership number for every job you have worked
• A photocopy of your passport, often showing your Australian arrival and departure stamps
• A copy of your Australian visa grant e-mail, or visa grant number

Having this information ahead of time would have been great, because trying to track down my super companies and membership numbers from my previous employers via e-mail took almost two months. My suggestion is to ask every employer you have for this information in person, before you quit your job. Also, watch to make sure that they stamp your passport as you’re leaving the country so that you have proof of departure.

The problem for me was that all of these sites require the money to be deposited into an international bank account. This makes sense, I shouldn’t have kept my Australian bank account since I was departing the country. However, with some internet digging, I found out that it’s not hard to file for your superannuation back on your own. Also, for some reason the Australian government will deposit your money into an Australian bank account. The first step, if you worked multiple jobs, is to transfer your funds into one single account. This can be handled directly with your superannuation company, which in my case was HostPlus. Secondly, you apply online directly through the Australian Taxation Office. It was honestly pretty easy, and there were no fees.

What I Learned

I was so adamant about traveling directly after college because I knew that if I settled down in Southern California I would be too comfortable to want to leave.  I was scared that if I didn’t leave then, I might never live abroad, and therefore I’d end up living with regret. However, I realize now that comfort and settling down isn’t a bad thing, and neither is uprooting your entire life and choosing to travel the world.  There is knowledge and growth to be gained in all stages of life, and my world-wide adventures then allowed me to find a place of contentment living in California now.

While the experience of living abroad often seemed like a dream, it was also difficult in ways I didn’t anticipate.  Although the act of moving to New Zealand was intimidating to start, the more I put myself out there and invested time into exploration and new friendships, the easier it got.  The real challenge for me was having to work on a daily basis to form new connections in every aspect of my life. When I first arrived I didn’t try very hard to make friends, as I naively assumed it would happen naturally.  As a result I ended up in a sad and lonely place. I got very sick for a few weeks while I was living in that terrible house in Queenstown, and I started to wonder if traveling by myself was a mistake. Spending my first Christmas without my family was really tough.  In the beginning I often questioned if it was even worth it. Yet, as time went on I got more comfortable with my surroundings. I began to open my eyes to the beauty of living in a picturesque landscape, surrounded by like-minded travelers. The more I talked to other people, and said yes to unknown adventures, the more fun it became.  

When I arrived in Australia I had more experience, enthusiasm, and willingness to step outside of my comfort zone.  Even then, there were still periods of time when I was lonely. It was exhausting to make new friends, only to have them leave a few days later.  While there was always somebody to talk to, or more so drink with, many of these connections felt superficial. At the same time, after living and working in the same city for a few months, I felt too settled.  While I spent some time traveling, going on tours, and seeing all of the hidden gems of the country, I also spent a lot of time working. Not everyday was an adventure. Sometimes I was exhausted, sometimes I laid in bed all day watching TV, and sometimes I just really missed my friends and family back home.

I don’t say any of this to negate the great times I had, or how grateful I am for the experience, but rather to give a more realistic view of my time abroad.  The life-changing part about these working holiday visas wasn’t physically being in Australia or New Zealand, but more so the mental and lifestyle changes which they caused for me.  While backpacking’s comradery in poverty and daily drinking had some appeal, I started to gravitate more towards meaningful friendships, outdoor activities, and alone time to write. I found that opportunity for new adventures means nothing unless you actively pursue those opportunities.  It took some time, but eventually I realized that living back home and abroad was the same in that life is only what you make of it.

Ultimately, what I still carry with me to this day are the lifelong friendships that I made while traveling, and the knowledge that there is always more to see and explore.  My wanderlust is insatiable, but now I see that my exploration doesn’t always need to be global.