Visa Information
The Australian Internships Program was developed to comply with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) visa requirements. The information contained in this page is designed to assist you to understand some of the visa options available for interns coming to Australia.
Please refer to DIAC or a registered Migration Agent for any specific visa related advice.
i. 416 Special Program Visa:
- The Australian Internships Program has been approved by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for the Special Program 416. Suitable candidates aged 18 to 30 are eligible to apply for the 416 visa. Australian Internships will issue the necessary documentation to suitable candidates so they are able apply for the Special Program Visa 416 - this visa can be issued for up to 12 months in duration.
- This visa option provides flexibility to complete short periods of English language studies prior to your internship program commencement in Australia.
- The English language component can only make up 20% of the total time the applicant wishes to spend in Australia. If more intensive English language is required, the applicant would need to enter Australia on a more appropriate visa and to complete their study on that visa.
- The visa application will not be sent to DIAC until Australian Internships has received the DIAC visa application fee. Please check the DIAC website for visa application fees. If a delay occurs due to this, Australian Internships accepts no responsibility.
- All program applicants are advised not to purchase or arrange flights until DIAC have provided visa approval.
- Special Program Visa applications should be lodged to allow for at least 28 days processing time.
- If the applicant is a current student enrolled in an overseas tertiary institution they may complete an unremunerated internship of up to 6 months maximum
- If the applicant is a graduate they must apply within one year of graduating and may complete a maximum of 3 months in an unremunerated internship
- Either of the above cohorts of applicants may complete remunerated internships up to 12 months in length.
ii. Working Holiday Visa:
- The Working Holiday Program provides opportunities for people between 18 and 30 to holiday in Australia and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
- The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months from the date of first entry to Australia, regardless of whether or not you spend the whole time in Australia.
- Applicants from the following countries may complete an internship on the WHV for a maximum of six months: United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China, Finland, the Republic of Cyprus, France, Italy, Belgium, Estonia and Taiwan. (please refer to the DIAC website for confirmation)
- The applicant must provide Australian Internships with evidence of the WHV prior to the internships start date.
iii. Student Visa:
- Applicants holding valid student visas may complete an internship for up to 20 hours per week throughout the semester, or on a full-time basis during scheduled holidays Students may have the option to complete up to four weeks of full time internship on completion of their study. Students are required to obtain work rights with the student visa prior to completing the internship.
iv. Occupational Trainee Visa (OTV):
The occupational trainee visa allows foreign nationals to undertake a supervised, workplace-based training program in Australia.
Who is this visa for?
This temporary visa is for people from outside Australia who want to improve their work skills through training with an Australian employer. The training must provide trainees with additional skills in their occupation, field of study or area of expertise.
An occupational training program needs two participating entities:
- An occupational trainee
- An Australian nominating organisation to nominate a trainee and provide the training.
What does this visa let me do?
- The visa, if granted, may be valid for undertaking a training program for up to a maximum of two years (subject to the length of the approved training program). The length of the visa issued will be determined by DIAC.
- There is an option to complete short periods of English language studies prior to your internship program commencement in Australia.
- The English language component should only make up 20% of the total time the applicant wishes to spend in Australia. If more intensive English language is required, the applicant would need to enter Australia on a more appropriate visa.
Australian Internships required the following for all applicants who intend to apply for an Occupational Training Visa:
- That applicants be aged 18 to 30
- That the internship program is a period up to and including 12 months.
- That program applicants allow 4-6 weeks for processing of OTV Nominations and a further 4 – 6 weeks for processing of the OTV application.
- If the applicant is a current student enrolled in an overseas tertiary institution they may complete an unremunerated internship of up to 6 months maximum
- If the applicant is a graduate they must apply within one year of graduating and may complete a maximum of 3 months in an unpaid internship
- Either of the above cohorts of applicants may complete remunerated internships up to 12 months in length.
Please note Australian Internships require all students to complete a full time internship program to gain a more realistic and thorough understanding of the Australian workplace. Full time internships provide greater scope for learning and assist to ensure your internship objectives are realized.
Please refer to DIAC for additional information pertaining to your visa application. Note Australian Internships will not provide you with visa advice or information