Over 3 years ago I posted about how to apply for a Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility Visa (previously called the working holiday visa) as an Australian. I’d struggled with finding the correct information so thought to share my experience with the world in the hopes it would help somebody else. The response to my posts has been nothing short of amazing since then so to all of you who’ve joined the discussing by leaving a comment and providing more information as the process has changed I can’t thank you enough.
With so many comments full of great information I’ve decided to pull the best bits out and bring them together into one easy to read Ultimate Reference Guide on the Youth Mobility Visa. If you have a question that’s not answered by the below please leave a comment and I’ll get it answered.
To get this underway lets run over the application process as a few things have changed and I want you all to understand whats required to apply for the Tier 5 UK Visa or working holiday as it was once called.
Youth Mobility Visa – Working Holiday Visa Guide
Eligibility Requirements
- Available to anyone from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Monaco, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Republic of Korea. (link)
- Must be over the age of 18 and under 31 years of age at the time of application. (link)
- Have £1,890 Pounds (Approx $3490 AUD as of 18th April 2016) in available funds at the time of applying. (link)
- You must apply for the visa outside of the UK or from a country where you have citizenship or a valid visa that allows you to live/work there (link)
Costs
- The Application cost for the Youth Mobility Visa is £230 Pounds (Approx $ 221 AUD as of 18th April 2016) (link)
- If applying from Brisbane, Canberra or Perth there will also be an application fee to pay of $105 AUD at the time of your biometric appointment
- To have your passport couriered back to you once it’s approved you can pay $24 AUD otherwise it needs to be collected from the office where you had your biometrics taken
Application Documents Required
- Complete application form online
or download and complete with a pen(offline applications are no longer accepted you must apply online) - Passport sized recent color photo (link)
- Original proof of funds document. This is recommended to be an official bank statement but a letter from your bank printed on their letterhead and stamped will also be ok. It must included your name, account number, date, balance in excess of £1890 pounds and logo from your bank. (link and link)
Completed Appendix 7 Form (link)– Seems to have been made redundant with the new online application process- Valid Passport for the duration of your visa period with a free page for the visa to be stuck on
- Completed IHS Healthcare form and paid the fee of up to £300 for 2 years in the UK. (link).
All the above needs to be original documents meaning no photocopies, eftpos receipts or falsified paperwork.
Application Process
The whole process starts with filling out the online application form. Most of this is fairly straight forward asking for details about you. As part of the application process you’ll get to pick the start date for when your visa will begin. Keeping in mind that this date must be within 3 months of when you are completing your application. So if you intend to arrive in the UK on the 1st September you’ll need to be applying for the visa no earlier than the 1st June of the same year.
Once completed you’ll be given the option to pick a time to attend your biometric appointment. This appointment is required for them to collect a copy of your finger prints which will be used when arriving in the UK on your visa. You’ll be asked to give (usually one finger) them when being processed by customs. The entire appointment takes all of about 30-45 minutes ( be there 15 minutes early) and you will need to bring with you the following documents:
- Completed and printed online application form
- bank statement and other supporting documents required for the application
- Passport photo meeting above mentioned specifications
- Appointment booking confirmation letter
- Passport
- IHS Reference Number
- A second valid form of ID like a drivers licence
Before you attend your biometric appointment you’ll need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS). This is referenced as an IHS form. The first step is to run through this checklist to see if you need to pay a fee or not IHS healthcare checklist. If you are from Australia or New Zealand as of the 6th April 2016 you now need to pay a fee if you intend to live in the UK for longer than 6 months. The total fee is £300 to cover 2 years living in the UK.
To get your IHS reference number you need to go to this application page and click start now at the bottom. Follow the prompts and upon completion you will be emailed an IHS reference number that you should write down on your printed visa application. I’d also advise you to print off the email and take it to your biometric appointment as well due to how new this option is, it may save you some stress that way.
The biometric appointment process changed in late March 2014 and is now handled by a 3rd party visa processing company called VFS Global (except for in Adelaide which uses the old system). On attending one of their centers you’ll collect a token and wait for your turn to be called.
When called you will have your paperwork checked, pay your booking fee if applying in Brisbane, Canberra or Perth and then given a receipt which you need to keep for pickup of your passport if collecting it. At this time you can also pay to have your passport couriered back to you instead of returning to the processing office to collect it.
The second step is to have your fingerprints taken and have a digital photo of yourself taken, before they take all of your documents send if off on your behalf for processing. There is no need to provide your own envelopes for processing as the visa office is responsible for sending off and getting your passport back.
If applying in Adelaide then please follow the steps below, all others are to abide by the above.
You’ll leave the biometric appointment with a stamped application form and documentation on where to post your completed application and supporting documents off to. At last check you have 14 days from your biometric appointment to get your documents in the post to be processed.
It is advised to post your documents off in a platinum express post envelope and to included a second one for posting back to you. Take note of the tracking numbers on the envelopes for your own reference.
The above is a general overview for the entire application process. There have been major changes to the process this year (2014) with a revamped UK visa website and new processing options for applying. While I do my best to provide the most accurate information it is not always possible. If you notice a mistake or have details that can help others please leave a comment and I’ll update my records.
The Youth Mobility Visa FAQ
To make life easier I’ve also hand-picked a selection of questions and problems others have experienced and outlined them all below to save you trawling through over 500 comments.
Is the online application process confusing you?
In the last few weeks of 2013 the UKBA office rolled out a beta version of the new online application process. This has been met with quite a bit of confusion as sections of the application process have changed or aren’t being accepted correctly, which can be confusing if you’ve been researching the process online.
The problems I’m currently aware of are:
You receive an error when clicking Book Appointment – This error seems to have no solution other than to try and lodge your application again with a different email address.
UK Phone number being listed where your Australian one should be – This seems common and an obvious bug in the system, you can either leave it as is or hand write in the correct number. I imagine this will be fixed soon.
Your biometric appointment time is booked for say 2pm but it shows at 1pm on your letter – A fix seems to go back in and pick it again otherwise just turn up early so you don’t miss it.
I don’t have a UK Address or Phone Number
The new application form now ask for a UK phone number and address of you when applying. As you are yet to arrive in the UK I think this is beyond stupid to ask for but there you go. My advice is to put down the address and phone number of the place you intend to stay on arrival in the UK. This address will also form part of the where you will collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) from so be careful putting down just any address.
Not sure what a question is asking?
The Youth Mobility Visa form can be confusing so be sure to read the Guidance Notes provided by the UKBA office for help in deciphering exactly what they are asking for. This document lists notes for all questions asked on the forms to help you complete them.
How many points did you score for Attributes, English, and Maintenance?
On the application form you are asked for the number of points for Attributes, English and Maintenance. The English section does not need to be completed as it does not apply to this visa type. To calculate the numbers for the other box’s use the points calculator on the UKBA website or refer to your Appendix 7 form and get the numbers from that.
Can I fast track or get priority processing of my visa?
With the new changes to the visa process you can now apply to fast track your visa application. Costs to get priority visa processing are £100 for non-settlement applications and £300 for settlement ones. I believe this visa falls under the non-settlement category but can not confirm this.
To order priority processing of your visa you need to purchase it before attending your biometric appointment. To order the service you need to do so on this page. Then take the receipt of payment along to your biometric appointment for processing.
They aim to process all non-settlement applications within 5 days and settlement applications within 10. Again I believe this visa falls under the non-settlement category but can not confirm.
This service is not available to people attending an appointment in Adelaide.
Is there a biometric appointment office near me?
Processing offices for the biometric appointment are as below. Of note that all but Adelaide are run by VFS Global.
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Canberra
- Brisbane
- Perth
- Adelaide
The address’ for these offices can be found here. If you don’t live near one of these offices then you’ll need to make the trip by land, sea or air to have your visa processed.
Do I post my application form off before the biometric appointment?
No you do not, even though the application form seems to suggest you should. You no longer post your application at all unless applying from Adelaide. All other applications are left with the visa office after your biometric appointment.
Where do I post my completed application to?
You only post your application if applying from Adelaide, all other applications are given to the VFS Global staff. The address to send your application to is:
UK Border Agency
GPO Box 2718
Sydney NSW 2001
It will then be forwarded to the processing hub in Manilla.
How long does the visa take to process?
Given my experience and feedback from others it takes anywhere between 1 – 4 weeks (usually within 2 though) from the time you post it. The processing times do vary depending on the time of year as well so recommend you check with the UKBA website here for a detailed listing of processing times.
However it seems with the new visa processing procedure a 2-3 weeks estimate seems correct at the moment.
I’ve not received any confirmation from the processing center, I’ve received one email, I’ve received nothing from the processing center?
The visa processing center has a history of not updating you on the process of your visa. Some people have reported getting emails to say their application was received, processed and shipped back while others have received nothing at all. You need not fear, there has never been a case of someones application form getting lost that I am aware of and most find their passport arrives the day after they freak out. All I can suggest is a little patience.
I have a question about the visa process who can I call or email?
You can contact the visa authority on 1300UKVISA ( 1300 858 472) but keep in mind this is a charged call of $3.50/minute and only payable via credit card. There is also an email address at [email protected] that advises you’ll receive a response within 10 days. Full details on calling for help can be found here.
Can I cancel my visa application?
If you’ve applied for your visa early or simply don’t want to go ahead with it you can cancel under certain circumstances. Refunds only seem possible if you’ve not attended your biometrics appointment yet. To cancel your visa go to the refund request page on the UKBA website and complete the form. You then wait 14 days to find out if you were successful.
Can I apply outside of Australia?
This seems to be possible but appears to be something new as previous documentation I’d read suggested you couldn’t. By visiting this section of the UKBA website you can select different countries around the world that accept visa processing. From what I can tell it will allow you to apply for a Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility Visa wherever there is a processing center providing you have a valid working visa with at least 6 months validity on it to be in that country.
When does the visa start?
You can pick the start date for your visa yourself during your application online but keep in mind it must be within 3 months of your application date. If you intend to travel around Europe before the start of your visa then you will be applying for your visa closer to the time in which you intended to fly out of Australia or allowing it to start before you get there meaning you miss some of the 2 years it is valid for.
When should the bank statement or letter be dated?
Your bank statement needs to be dated within 30 days of applying for the visa. So if you were to apply for the visa on the 1st of June your bank statement or letter must be dated after the 1st of May. The statement or letter must also show you have the total amount of funds required to meet the application requirements for the youth mobility visa.
The application form asks for my previous passports but I’ve lost it?
If you’ve had a children’s passport or an adult one and can no longer find it just state that on the form. If you have the passports great otherwise noting its lost seems to be perfectly acceptable.
Is this the same as the working holiday visa?
The working holiday visa was renamed to the youth mobility visa. During that change they also adjusted the conditions of the visa allowing you to live and work for the full 2 years of the visa where as before you could only work for 1 year.
What does family name mean?
The application will refer to your mother/fathers family name, this is asking about their maiden name.
Do I need a UK address or itinerary to apply?
Previously you did not need an UK address but on the new application form you are required to give one. You do not however need an itinerary when applying for the youth mobility visa. You will need to give a UK address to the customs officials upon entry into the UK. It is a requirement for all people entering the UK when completing the landing card.
Do I need to buy a return ticket?
There is no need to buy a return ticket when entering the UK on the Tier 5 youth mobility visa. With this visa you are essentially considered a citizen of the UK for the duration of the visa.
Will this visa let me stay in Europe for longer than 3 months?
The visa is only valid within the UK which encompasses England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island. When travelling to Europe and in particular the countries that form the schengen zone you are only permitted to visit them for a period of 90 days within a 180 day period.
Will this visa let me work in Europe?
You will not be able to work for any company outside of the UK on this visa.
Can I enter the UK before my visa starts?
Yes but you will be entering on a tourist visa and as such are restricted to its limitations such as not being able to work. After your visa start date you should look to leave the country and re-enter on your youth mobility visa.
What if I have a DUI or criminal conviction?
During the application process you will be asked if you have any criminal convictions, this does not included fixed fines such as speeding or parking tickets unless you were required to attend court. If you have had a drink driving conviction or similar it is advised you included all paperwork when sending off your documents.
The visa office does perform criminal record checks so failing to document your record could be a reason for denying you a visa or them deferring your application until you offer more documentation to the entry clearance officer. To save potential problems it is recommended to get a print out of your court documents/extract, police reports and other supporting evidence including proof you’ve paid any fines associated with the incidents.
You are only provided a short time to provide this information if they request it so its better to have it all before you apply to save on missing out.
What is the BRP (biometric residence permit) and how do I get it?
From the 31st of May 2015 the visa office changed the visa permit process and introduced a biometric residence permit you collect once you’ve arrived in the UK. Full details on the BRP can be viewed on the UK website here
The short(ish) version of what this means is you now must enter the UK within 30 days of your noted start date for the visa. This is instead of being issued a sticker in your passport valid for the full 2 years. Now you now get issued a 30 day vignette which allows entry to the UK under your visa for a period of 30 days to collect your BRP card. If you arrive after that initial 30 day period you need to apply for another 30 day vignette (unsure of any fees or process to do this at the current point in time).
Once your visa is granted you’ll be provided with a decision letter stating at which post office and when you can collect your biometric residence permit card from. This is likely to be the closest post office to your noted address you used on the application. Please note the UK website states that you may get a penalty or your leave can be cancelled if you don’t pick up your BRP within 10 days of your arrival in the UK.
If you have queries about your BRP card or misplace documents needed to collect it you can refer to the following site for details https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/need-brp.
At this point in time I’m yet to speak to anybody who has obtained their visa and collected a BRP card so am unable to verify any of the details above and provide it as reference only. There has been some great discussions in the comments below so if you have been issued a visa under the new process I’d love for you to leave a comment below to help others out that are looking to apply.
UPDATE 06/07/2015
An amazing follower named Mirabai has done some digging on the BRP process and found out what you do if you are unable to claim the permit within the 30 day window and received the following details from the United Kingdom Visas and Immigrations International Enquiry Service.
If the applicant has been granted a 30 day vignette and fails to enter theUK within the 30 day validity period, they must make an application for a replacement 30 day vignette by applying for a Transfer of Conditions, not as a new application for leave to enter. Application can be completed online on Visa4UK and it costs £122 to transfer your visa.
On Visa4UK website at: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk, you need to select the Visa Type accordingly:
Reason for Visit: Other
Visa Type: Others
Visa Sub Type: Vignette TransferFurther information regarding biometric residence permit can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-residence-permits-overseas-applicant-and-sponsor-information.
So it seems if you don’t enter within that 30 day window your visa can become quite the bit more expensive. A real issue for those of you applying to get in before the age limit or those unable to travel over as planned.
Do you have a question not already answered above? Then leave a comment below and I’ll try and find the answer for you as soon as possible.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Thanks so much for this post – most helpful! I have couple of queries about questions in the online application that I’m hoping you might be able to shed some light on.
Query 1: Is this you first passport?
I had a passport as a child, and had it renewed in 2007. Does this classify as my first passport as it was only renewed? If not, I no longer have my child passport details – so how do I answer this question?
Query 2: Are you travelling with anyone – do they have a valid visa?
I am travelling with my cousin, who is also in the process of applying for the Youth Mobility Visa. Should I respond “No” to the question, “do they have a valid visa” as they are still undertaking the application process or does it sound funny to be travelling without someone a valid
Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
Keep up the great work!
Hi Laura, glad to hear the sites been useful to you. As to your questions:
1. Your child passport is your first passport and then if you renewed it that is another passport so you should put down this isn’t your first passport. Then you should be able to note that you don’t have it anymore or it was lost.
2. For travelling with a friend I’d mark down no. It saves on complicating the process and they don’t need to know who you are going to be travelling with.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
I have applied for my Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa and had the biometric appointment on the 21st of march. Anyway I didn’t know I needed a physical copy of my DUI conviction and it may take longer to come than I have time to send my application. I am freaking out do you have any advice on what to do? Is it possible to send my application without it and attach a note saying it will be sent later?
thanks so much,
Niki
Hi Niki, to be honest I’m not sure of the best answer. I’d either call or email the UK office and get feedback from them. I’d wait it out a week or two and hope the paperwork comes in time otherwise send it off with what you have and then send more details if asked.
Had my biometrics test today in Melbourne CBD. Different to what I expected. Process seems to be constantly changing slightly. Few points to note:
1. Whole process took around 45 minutes for me. Seemed pretty busy with a constant flow of people coming in.
2. Process as follows:
– First room: application, docs and passport check.
– Second room: process payment (if required), confirm your contact number, delivery method, provide mailing envelopes, barcoding of your application, passport and envelopes, received application Acknowledgement and Receipt.
– Third room: biometrics test, finger prints + photo, application in envelope for sending, received Biometrics Acknowledgement and Receipt.
3. In Rooms 1 and 2 I was asked if I would like my to collect my passport from the Visa Application Centre, despite specifying by post. I took this option. Note to have it delivered costs $24.00.
4. The Visa Application Centre sends it away on your behalf, and your passport will be returned to the Visa Application Centre if you opt for the pick up.
5. The Biometrics lady said that I will receive an email when the processing centre receives my application and another email when a decision has been made and to collect in 2-3 days. Print out the second email and take to the Visa application centre with the two receipts if collecting. No appointment required.
I was expecting a 10 minute appointment and to have to send my application and passport away using 2 x Platinum express bags. Happy with the pick up option… makes more sense!
Hope I get my Visa in time… leaving the country on the 20th!
Thanks again Aussie Nomad for this awesome site…
Hi Martin, thanks for the update on the process you went through its going to be really helpful to others.
The UK visa process is going through a major upheaval at the moment as they contract out the work to a visa office so everything that was once correct is changing. Hoping I can get an update up for the site soon to help more people understand the new rules and changes as so much is different.
Thank you so much for this! & thank you so much Aussie Nomad!
I’m going for my biometrics in Brisbane on Friday & was stressing about whether I needed envelopes or not.
Aussie Nomad you have certainly made my application a lot easier, I will be sure to post my experience with Brisbane after my appointment Friday 🙂
Hi Martin,
I also went to the newly opened application centre in Melbourne in late March, I was told that someone will contact me when passport is ready for collection.
When you were told an email will be sent to you, did they say it’ll be from Manila processing center or the VFS global? So they won’t call you to let you know?
Also for collection, you mentioned no appointment require, so Iyou can just go to pickup your passport during there opening hours 8:30 – 15:00, or is there a special collection timeframe?
Hi Leon,
I believe it will be VFS global who manage the process that will send you an auto-generated email. I was told staff at my biometrics appointment that I would get one upon receipt in Manila and one when the Visa decision has been made advising it will be ready for collection within 2-3 days of the email.
No calls as far a I know. They said no appointment was needed and I could just come in with my receipts and confirmation to email once that 2-3 days has lapsed. I confirmed this with the security guy who seemed to know what he was talking about.
Please let us know if you receive an email – I am yet to receive any.
Martin
Hi Martin and Leon,
I had my biometrics appointment on the 24/03/14. They sent my passport away for me and told me that they would text or call my mobile when ready for collection.
Last Friday 4/4/14 i got an email saying “Your visa will be despatched shortly. Passports can normally be collected from the Visa Application Centre after 3 days”.
This morning 9/4/14 i got a call from them (that i missed) and they left a message saying it was ready for collection. I took my receipts to the same place i had my biometrics and collected my visa.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Mel,
That is helpful and gives me some comfort. Hopefully I receive the confirmation email tomorrow or early next week and pickup towards the end of next week, just in time for my flight on the 22nd.
Cheers
Martin
Hi Mel,
I just got the email confirmation from Manila:
“Your visa will be despatched shortly. Passports can normally be collected from the Visa Application Centre after 3 days depending on which country you applied from or will be couriered back to you only if you have availed of this service.”
Exact same time frame as yours 🙂
Will pick up next week in time for my flight, fingers crossed all goes well!
Thanks
Martin
Hi I recently received this too – does that mean my VISA is approved? or still a chance that it may be rejected?
For everything I know, yes it will mean your visa is approved.
Hi, Im Australian, currently in france, trying to apply for a youth mobility visa for the UK, you answered a question saying that you could enter the UK before the visa is approved. Does this mean they do not take your passport for the application process?
Hi Shay, you can only apply for the youth mobility visa in France if you have a working visa for France. If you don’t then you’ll need to return to Australia to apply.
If you have a visa you still have to send your passport off so you’d be stuck in France until your passport is returned and so can’t enter the UK until you get it back.
I too had my biometrics appointment today and it was completely different to what I expected! Great that I don’t have to worry about posting it off but but even the people working at the centre seemed to be confused at times with the new method. This site helped so much thanks aussie nomad. Would love to hear how yours goes also Martin, hope they get back in time!
Hi Hannah, yes it seems the new process is quite different to what used to be in place. i’d imagine the visa staff are still getting to grips with the new process. Hope everything sorts itself out soon so I can get my guide updated to better reflect the setup.
Hi Hannah, just wondering if you have received any email confirming receipt of your application in Manila yet? It has been a week and I am still waiting for this.
Does anyone know how to track the our applications?
Thanks
Hi Martin, I haven’t recieved any email confirmation yet. Have been checking constantly as it’s been a week for me too! Will start to worry if there’s nothing by the end of this week.
If you find out anything on how to track it or if you get your email please keep me posted.
Thanks
Hey Hannah, I got the confirmation email today from Manila. See my other post above 🙂
Hope you got yours too!
Hoping someone can clear this up – is it true that Australians or New Zealanders who have completed a Youth Mobility visa will need a General Visitor visa to return to the UK for a holiday if the holiday is within 6 months of the Youth Mobility visa expiring? I just thought if you left the UK then returned at a later date that as a citizen of either of these countries you were automatically granted a visitor visa, but I’ve heard a few different tales recently and am keen to figure out the true story.
Hi Jemma, after your youth mobility visa finishes up you can re-enter the UK just fine on a normal tourist visa. I did so several times within the 6 months of it expiring so don’t believe you’d have any problems. Just be sure to have proof of onward travel out of the country and anything else you think might help as the customs officials can be a bit painful.
Thanks for the reply and for having such an up-to-date guide. It makes a nice change from the confusing UKVI sites and the generally vague info they provide if you manage to speak to someone.
I thought that was the case from what I was able to find on the UKVI, but had heard a few ‘tales’ recently that cast some doubt. I’m sure my Irish working holiday permit and travel docs will do the trick – even though it is the dodgiest looking permit due to it just being a laminated card!
Hi Jemma, I have to say the UK websites have got a LOT more helpful than they used to be.
Any sort of visa for the rest of the world will be more than enough, especially for Ireland so doubt you’ll have any problems at all.
Hi Aussie Nomad, my son is currently in the UK on a tier 5 charity worker visa having a great time. Aafter visiting Budapest he re-entered the Uk and did not need his passport for the last month. When he when to look for it in preparation for his next trip to Ireland it was missing. Suspected lost or stolen. He has been to the Aust. high commission and told he requires his birth cert. faxed to the office via a Aust post office with a certified copy on it. So they can reissue a new passport. That said do you know the process for getting the visa sorted out?
Hi David, I’m afraid I’ve never been through a lost passport problem before but all of what you’ve said sounds about right. They need proof he is who he says he is so getting you to send a copy of the birth certificate makes a lot of sense.
A quick google search turned up this page which seems to document the whole process as well.
https://www.passports.gov.au/web/renewal/loststolen.aspx
Thanks for the information on the passport. Are you up to speed with what should happen with the re-issue of the UK visa?
Hi David, I believe your son will need to contact the UK immigration office to ask what is required. I know you can get it re-issued but also think its on file digitally so he may not need it but worth he calling to find out and get an official response.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
I am answering the question ‘Have you ever travelled outside your country of residence, excluding the UK, in the last 10 years?’ which i have.
My question is, in 2010 I travelled to Hong Kong, then to Macau, and then back to Hong Kong again, all on the same day (5 stampls in my passport).
Do I list Hong Kong twice for the same day?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Peter, I’d just list it once. I doubt they even look over all of it that well so approximates should be fine.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Thanks for all of the advice and great information.
I just had 2 questions/info:
1) I am just wondering if anyone can share their experience in making their visa application at the new Visa Application Centre in Brisbane? I know they’ve only been open since the end of March. Is it correct that these new centres just remove the need to post off your application yourself…?
2) My situation is as follows – I live in a regional area and have to organise flights to Brisbane for my biometric/visa processing appointment. I am looking to apply online in the next week and book my biometric for Monday 28th April. I fly out of AUS on Wednesday 25th June, so I will have approx. 8 weeks, or 38 business days to have my visa processed and returned to me with my passport. I have no criminal convictions and I satisfy the required funds etc. Do you think this is enough time?
Any advice or info is appreciated.
Thanks ☺
Hi Chara, from what I gather the paperwork is now sent off by the visa office where you get your biometrics taken so you should be able to get it all on its way on the day of your appointment. Everything gets checked and verified and away you go. They do however charge you if you want it posted back to you as standard is pickup from the office. Also I believe you have to pay an extra fee at the Brisbane office in the vicinity of $100.
Also 8 weeks is a huge amount of time to get your visa back, most have it back in 1-2 weeks on average.
Love to hear how you get on when you do go for the visa appointment. I’m trying to get all the details together but its difficult when I’m not going through it like others are.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Quick question which you have mentioned and have probably been asked a thousand times, but just wanting to know if I can apply more than 3 months before I intend to leave and what will happen if I do this?
Hi Kate, you can only apply 3 months before you want the visa to start so if you apply earlier it means your visa will start before you get there so you won’t have the full 2 years to live and work there.
I have got a email saying its been sent back from millian, how do I no if its approved.
Fyi the tracking web site been down for weeks now
Hi Al, I’ll assume you got an email from Manilla and not Millan otherwise I think you’ve applied for the wrong visa. If you got an email then all should be good and you would have been approved.
Al, your Visa is approved. When did you apply for it and take your biometrics/send your passport away please?
has anyone on here been refused a visa because of a drink driving conviction or are you aware of anyone Nomad?
Hi there,
I’m in the process of applying for the youth mobility visa at the moment – just wondering if the bank statement/letter can be emailed to me and then printed, or if it needs to be an original hard copy from the bank? Unfortunately my savings bank doesn’t have a branch in this state so I’m just looking to cut out the time it would take them to mail the letter to me..
Also, I’m planning to get to the UK in May, work for a few months, then travel through Italy and France with a friend in August-September. I may also be travelling to Europe before then, around work. What do you suggest is the best way to go about this in terms of tourist visas for European countries? I’ve also heard the Schengen visa mentioned, but don’t know much about it. Could that be an option here?
Thanks!
Hi Kate, the bank statement needs to be an original I’m afraid so either printed from the bank and sent you to or by calling them and getting one mailed out directly. Printing it at home means anybody could do it and thus fake it.
For travel in europe you are granted a tourist visa to the schengen area by default on entry as an Australian so no paperwork to do. This allows you to stay in any of the countries that make up the schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. So you could leave the UK in August and spend all of August, September and October in Europe before you’d need to return to the UK and wait 3 months before being allowed to enter again.
hope that helps.
Hi aussie nomad, my partner and i are looking at getting a tier 5 so we can go shearing and wook roll8ng for 6-8weeks 8n scottland the do a contike through europe i think it will be fairly straight foqard me but am worried about my partners, he is currently 20yrs old but has charges from 17and under, ()drunken disorderly, obstructing a polive officer and theft, he actually went to juvy a youth prison, at 17he cleaned his act up and started work8ng and hasnt been in trrouble sincce, the police actually said to him you are lucky you are doing all this before your 18, ,i am wandering as he was a youth t a5 the time does he have to declare this??, am worried aboit the negative impact this may have as hes a really respectful to the law now
Hi Brydie, I can’t remember the wording on the application but any criminal convictions need to be noted on your application regardless of when they were done I believe. You’d need to include court documents as well to save them from asking you have them and having it delay your application.
To get an official answer I’d call the UK visa folks and check though as I’m just not 100% on the right answer.
Hey, when I went for my appointment no one said anything about mailing things off, they just took my documents and that was it. My appointment was on 26th March 2014, has the process changed or have I stuffed up?
Hi Rebekah, you’ve done nothing wrong. The process changed 2-3 weeks ago and I’m still trying to find out all the required information to get my guide updated. All is good for you so you can relax now.
Thank you so much for this blog, I’m 19 and moving to the UK for 2 years and it will be my first time travelling out of Australia, and this blog has helped me so much. Keep up the good work!
Hi Bek, I actually sent 2 envelopes ( 1 stamped ) but they weren’t needed, the Visa people took it & did it themselves.. Our Appt was the day before yours. We also thought :\ oops we stuffed up.. But all good 🙂
Hello,
Upon arrival to the UK on the tier 5 visa , Do you need to have a return flight home booked?
Thanks 🙂
HI Lauren, there is no need to have proof of return to Australia when entering while you visa is valid.
Wish I came across this a few weeks ago. It was pure hell going thru this Visa stuff :\
Its been just over 2 wks and fingers crossed we get it soon. My Son is booked on a flight on the 21st – he’s off the play Cricket in the UK
Hi BHB, normal processing time is around 2 weeks but with all the changes to the process in the last few weeks it’s anybodies guess it seems. I’m sure you’ll have the visa back shortly and your son will be set to go.
Hi,
Your blog is so helpful- thanks so much.
I just have a question about Criminal Record Checks,
When I was a lot younger I was caught stealing an item under $50 by the police.
I did not go to court and was just given a warning.
I am not sure if this will appear on my criminal record check- if it doesn’t appear on the one I request from the police station is it safe to say it will not appear on the document that the VISA agency request?
I obviously want to be honest in my application but because it was so long ago (I was over 18 at the time) I am not even sure it will come up.
What is your advice?
Hi Sarah, as you never went to court I’d say you will be just fine. If you are getting a criminal record check and its not on there then you don’t need to mention it. The criminal records details is more for more serious crimes etc.
Hey Aussie Nomad,
I’m just about to submit my application but first I need to read and sign the declaration. Although, when it comes to the end and after I type my name, there is no way to “OK” that I have signed the declarations. Do you know anything about this? Or what I could possibly do? Thank you so much in advance!
Hey Aussie Nomad, it’s Georgia again.
I fixed my problem I had just earlier, but thank you anyway!
I’m now having trouble making a biometrics appointment. You must select your region, appointment location, and visa appointment type. When I go to select region, Sydney is the only option – is that normal? I’m still able to select my appointment location as Perth which is where I am located. I just find it bazaar that it says Sydney and nothing else if it asks you to make a selection.
Hi Georgia, good to see you fixed the first problem as for the second one thats a bit strange. The whole visa process has changed a lot in the last 3-4 weeks so everything seems a bit messed up. As long as you can select Perth I’d imagine you are all ok but at this point in time its difficult to know as the process has changed and I’m not 100% up on everything yet.
Hi Georgia, I think this is standard as Sydney came up as the only selectable region when I was booking my appointment in Adelaide. I assume it’s because the documents are sent to Sydney from before going on to Manilla. Hope this helps 🙂
Hi Georgia, it seems that the standard region is Sydney no matter where you apply from. I choose Sydney and then I choose Brisbane from the next drop down box. I had a mini heart attack when it only came up with Sydney, thinking I would need to fly there! But it doesn’t mean anything as long as you pick the city you want.
Hi, just letting people know briefly about my experience with applying for my visa in Brisbane. I applied online, paid for it online ($380) and booked my appointment for about a week later. I booked last Monday and my only optitions for times were 1.20pm or 2.20pm. I choose 1.20pm but when I went to the confirmation page it said 12.20. Obviously a computer glitch, so I went back and changed it to the 2.20pm time and then on my confirmation is said 1.20pm. I thought maybe I might have issues when I got there (maybe be an hour early) but it seemed to be fine. I was about 5 minutes late due to traffic and the guy looked at his watch in a annoyed way so make sure you’re on time! I bought my appointment confirmation sheet, my application form, passport and a passport photo. The guy asked if I had paid for the appointment (which I had no idea about) and so they stung me for another $105. I think I should have paid that online and it would have been cheaper?? I also live 4 hours from Brisbane so I paid for the $25 courier fee. A very expensive exercise all up! There was a guy there too that had printed his bank statement off line (rather than the bank print it) and he had to leave and go to the bank so they could stamp it since it is seen as a copy. Hope that helps anyone! They said it should take about 3 weeks to get sent back to me.
Hi Pip, thanks for the detailed report its a big help for me and everyone else applying for the visa. I have seen a lot of people have the booking appointment time error so seems to be a common fault in their system. As for the extra fee from what I can find out you only pay an extra fee if applying from Brisbane, Canberra or Perth the rest don’t charge. Annoying to say the least given you’ve paid so much already and the other offices don’t cost.
It also seems the process takes longer now as normally you’d have your passport back within 1-2 weeks but now it seems to be more like 2-3 weeks. Love to hear how you get on and how long it takes you to get your passport back.
Hi Pip,
I also did not pay the $105 booking fee online, I will have to pay this when I arrive in the office. Did they have any issues with you paying at the centre on the day, can you do card or cash?
Also from what I can gather on this page you now leave all documentation with the visa office and they post off for you? No need to provide envelopes?
Thanks,
Aaron
Hi Aaron, I believe you can only pay the visa booking fee on the day of your appointment for your biometrics and not before. Also you are correct you leave all documentation with the visa office after your biometrics and they send it off on your behalf.
Hi,
You can also pay from the link below before your appointment (if the fee is required for your particular application centre). You can also pay the courier fee at the same time and pay for multiple appointments in one transaction. If you do pay in advance you’ll need to take the receipt that is issued when you complete the payment as they didn’t seem to know we had already paid our fees, so I had to show them the receipt.
The site is: http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/Australia/applicationcentre.html
The guy in Brisbane was surprised that I had even used the website, but I managed to find the link a few days before we did our applications, so paid in advance once I had finished and paid for the actual visa applications.
Paying in advance doesn’t really speed up the biometrics process though (except for those people who had to go back out to the locker to get their wallet to pay the fee on the day), so I wouldn’t really bother doing it up front – I only did it because I didn’t realise I could pay on the day.
Cheers,
Steve
Thanks for the details Steve, this whole new process sure is a bit to work out.
Hi Nomad,
Not wrong. I did quite a bit of research before we applied, including this site (even though we applied for ancestry + dependents) and there was quite a bit of conflicting info out there. I reckon your site has the most up to date information for sure, especially for those applying for the YMV, so well done. For Ancestry/Dependent vs YMV, there was just a few more docs required, plus a glitch in the online application process that took a bit to work out. This new process starting recently didn’t help much either.
If you like, I can add my 2c on the entire process, plus timelines from Brisbane once we get our Visas (hopefully next week).
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Aaron
I paid by credit card, I’m not sure if cash would be an issue? I’d probably pay by debit card just to be sure. Yeah they will send your passport by courier, it costs $25. I actually had a self addressed envelope with me but they won’t take those anymore. There was no issue with paying the fee at the office, it sounds like from the information here that is the expected way now.
Hi my husbnd is over here in UK on YMS visa right now, we were panicking loads before he got it but all unecessarily as it all went very smoothly. Anyone know about changing the visa to a partner one when his 2 years are up?
Hi Sabrina, your husband will need to return to Australia or at the very least leave the UK to begin applying for any other visa for the UK. You are unable to extend or transfer the youth mobility visa into any other visa I’m afraid.
Hi, thanks for this post, the information is really useful. I’m in the process of applying for a Tier 5 visa and just wanted to confirm these are the steps to take?
1) Fill out application form online
2) Book and attend biometric assessment
Is it at this point that I send off a hard copy of the application + supporting documents (bank statements etc.)?
Thanks for your help
L.
Hi Linda, yes you fill out the application online and then book an appointment for your biometric details to be recorded. At that time you also hand over your application at the visa office so take all paperwork with you.
There is no need to post off your application anymore UNLESS you are applying from Adelaide.
First of all,
Thank you SO MUCH for this very informative and useful post. I really appreciate the effort you’ve gone to and it makes me love the internet even more than I already do!
I have one dumb question, which I don’t think is answered above. If anyone can help, I would appreciate very much :). I note the response above:
“When does the visa start?
You can pick the start date for your visa yourself during your application online but keep in mind it must be within 3 months of your application date. If you intend to travel around Europe before the start of your visa then you will be applying for your visa closer to the time in which you intended to fly out of Australia or allowing it to start before you get there meaning you miss some of the 2 years it is valid for”
Can I take that to imply that you can definitely arrive any time after the date of visa beginning? (e.g. apply June 1st, so visa can begin Sept 1st, you arrive UK Oct 15th). That is, that you don’t have to arrive on the day your visa begins? The only consequence of which is that you sacrifice some of the 2 years?
I can’t find explanation of this anywhere and am just double, triple checking before I make plans 🙂
Thanks again for a great post!
Meg.
Hi Meg, yes you can arrive whenever you like after your visa begins and all you are doing is sacrificing some of the 2 years you can spend there.
Help! I have perviously had a Tier 5 youth mobility visa back in 2009, i entered the UK for 1 week only to holiday and on arrival at the airport they gave me the option on whether i wanted to activate my visa or wait until i came back from my European travels, so i choose not to activate it or get it stamped. however, i never returned back to the UK to use or activate my visa i returned home to australia. i’m in the mist of trying to reapply for this visa again and no one will give my any straight forward answers or advice on whether or not i can re apply for it again or whether its a waste of time and it wont get approved? i don’t want to re-apply and paid and get knocked back without having some idea of which way the application might sway.. does anybody know who can help or give me a straight forward answer on whether or not i should go ahead with the application or not?..
thanks
Hi Leah, I’m afraid you can only apply for the visa once so as you’ve had it granted to you already it would be a waste of your time and money applying again.
I’m surprised by the customs official asking if you want to activate your visa or wait though as the visa is valid on the dates stamped on it in your passport and can’t be changed by a customs officer.
Hi Leah
Just wondering if you have found out anything else re reapply? I am in a similar situation where I had to come back after 2 months due to personal reasons and now bulk of the visa time is lapsed and wondering if I can reapply. any info will be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Hi Robin, I’m afraid you can only apply for and get the visa once. When it expires thats it.
Hi all,
Just received my passport back today. Timeline as follows:
27 March – applied online and booked biometrics;
31 March – attended biometric appointment and passport was sent away by Visa Application Centre;
11 April – received email from Manila Visa Centre informing that my visa will be ready in 3 days;
14 April – received phone call from Visa Application Centre in morning, collected passport this afternoon.
Total time from biometric appointment – 14 days.
Interesting to note that this is exactly the same time frame (days and number of days) Mel above.
All the best everyone!
Dear Aussie Nomad,
I have been following and reading everyone’s posts. thank you AN and everyone here for your time in posting and sharing this information- im sure its the most helpful hub to all.
I never thought I would approach to ask a question but i am in the middle of applying, and I have become really worried about penalties section. I feel ashamed to be open about it, but I have had a few parking fines, 1 fare evasion and 1 failing to stop at intersection whilst on my P’s and it resulted in a suspension of license. I am sure they will take this into account. I will be refused the tier 5 YMS? im am just about to turn 31 in 3 weeks. I have never been convicted or been to court in my life.
In your experience, what do you think? Is there a chance ill be refused?
thank you
Marie
Hi Marie, my understanding of the rules and as outlined in the guidance notes is that parking fines and other on the spot fines don’t need to be recorded. I’m not 100% sure on the suspension of your licence but for that one I’d be marking it down as it was more than your average on the spot parking or speeding fine.
Just include any paperwork you have on it to be safe. I don’t see it as a problem but its more than your average offence and it had a spent time period on it so better to be safe than sorry.
I don’t see you as getting refused for that. I’ve had reports of others with far worse getting a visa just fine so I really wouldn’t worry.
Hi
Do I gave to leave the uk the day my visa expires or can I leave the day after?
Thanks
Hi Carla, you need to leave the UK on or before the date your visa expires. Staying longer puts you in breach of the visa and open to trouble with UK customs.
Hi everyone.
So i applied for my Visa. first application i sent was wrong. i stupidly put my birth year as 2014… what an idiot. so i had to apply for a refund. which came in 6 days. i was really happy with the communication via auto emails etc in relation to the refund. I applied for my visa again, same day, correct info and now i have a question:
I applied for my visa on the 1st April, had my biometrics appointment on the 3rd April where they took all my documents (passport, passport photo x2, bank statement that i had printed myself and got stamped from the back, appendix 7 – even though i think its not relevant anymore and my application – with the correct birth year!) they sent it away for me.
Its now the 16th April, i haven’t had an email from anyone…. Is this bad?? I have tried to track my passport with the rec. number they gave me at my biometrics appointment but the website – VFS global keeps saying my rec. number is wrong or my D.O.D is wrong – which it isn’t…. is this another bad thing??
I can’t find any other way to track it. Do i just wait?
My flight is booked for the 1st July which isn’t a problem however i am leaving for the Pacific Islands on the 15th May & i need my passport back before then to leave Aus.
I am worried that 1. My visa will be denied, that stupid VFS Global website freaked me out and 2. that i wont get my stuff back in time for my trip in May.
Any advice?
PS website is fantastic and i wish i had of found it sooner before i applied, it would have saved me a lot of stress & anxiety!!
Hi Katelin,
I found a new UK & Visa faq site today, which seems quite recent – it appears that the UKBA is outsourcing quite a few functions now. The site indicates that they will provide application tracking info as well, so maybe you could enquire about your application progress here:
https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/
Select “Australia” click confirm and then you can either send a message or do a webchat. I haven’t tried it yet, so not sure if it works. They also provide a number to call but it costs per minute to use that service.
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Katelin, it seems the delay on getting your passport back is around 2 weeks but could be a little longer. You are right on that threshold so I’d wait it out a little longer and am sure it will turn up.
From what I’ve seen getting notifications is very hit and miss so you might just find you get a call from the visa office saying to come and collect your passport.
This may have been asked already, but do you have to show proof of funds for at least 3 months in your bank statement or just the required amount? My current statement stamped by the bank only shows a months worth of transactions. Cheers
Hi Mike, you just need the proof of funds not proof you’ve had it for 3 months as far as I’m aware now.
Thank you for creating such a helpful page for applying for this VISA. Initially when I started my application online the latest date I could put for “travel date” was 12 July 2014. As I am traveling throughout South America before arriving in London I needed to apply for my visa now. I do not intend on arriving in the UK until about September-ish so in the application when it says “date of planned arrival” I put 1st September 2014.. As it let me put a date past 12 July 2014 I thought this would be okay.. now reading through your notes I am worried that this is incorrect and I may be declined.. has anyone else had experience with this issue?? I also made a mistake with the Place of Issue and put New Zealand instead of Sydney (As I am a kiwi living in Syd – the passport was issued in Sydney. However in the next question Issuing Authority I wrote DIA Sydney.. I am thinking I will probably need to give the helpline a call for both of these just in case! Really don’t want it to be declined and don’t have the time for it to be declined. Thanks for your help! 🙂
Hi Tineke, the problem with your start date on the visa I’ve found that if it is further than 3 months from your application date the processing center often starts the visa right away and not at 3 months out from your application.
As for the issuing details, you should go off what your passport says so if it states Sydney etc thats what should have been put down.
I don’t believe you will be denied the visa but to be sure all is correct I would get in touch with them. Better to do it before you get your visa back.
Hi,
I’m heading to Canada in about 8 weeks to work on a summer camp for approx. 3 and a half months, and then wish to fly to the UK soon after. Can I apply for my visa in Canada?
Hi Michael, if you have a visa that allows to you live/work in Canada then you will be able to apply from there But keep in mind you’ll need to be able to attend a biometric appointment so if you are not near a center that provides it applying might be difficult.
Hi, i’m wanting to apply for the YMS and i’m just wondering if I’m 31yrs at the moment does that make me eligible still?
Many thanks!
Hi Petti, if you are 31 years of age before you apply then you will be ineligible for the visa I’m afraid. You can only apply between the ages of 18 and 30.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Is there any difference between Mobile Visa Application Service Fee and User Pay Fee?
I will be applying for this Tier 5 Visa from Perth, but do I have to pay for both fees?
Cheers
Hi Rizki, there is an extra fee of $105 I believe if you are applying from Perth I’m afraid. The fee is to cover the new visa processing part for your biometrics appointment as that is not contracted out to somebody else. So you pay that fee and the fee for the youth mobility visa as well.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
First of all what a godsend your website has been, I realise now that all those companies who advertise how difficult it is to apply for the visa and open bank accounts etc are just using scare tactics.
I have one question for now about the passport sized photos – are the photo requirements that same as for an Australian passport? As in, can I go to Australia Post to get these (the one in my passport is over 5 years old now), or am I better off finding a photographer who takes British requirement background/sized photos?
Thank you
Hi Holly, that’s pretty much it in terms of companies offering to help you get your visa. The whole process is very straight forward once you get down to the details. It’s a lot easier to find the information you need now as well.
For the photos the UKBA website asks for this:
Your photos must be professionally printed and 45 millimetres (mm) high by 35mm wide.
For mine I just got them done at the local photo shop but anywhere should be fine. Just make sure they meet the above requirements and you’ll be fine.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
I have a quick question also;
I’ve completed my application and have scheduled an appointment to have my biometrics taken in a couple of weeks. I am in Melbourne.
Do I have to take all of the documentation (printed application, appointment confirmation, passport, passport photo, bank statement & secondary ID) to the biometrics appointment – OR – do I send the documentation to the Visa Processing Centre in Melb?
Thanks
Hi Jase, yes you take all your paperwork with you as you no longer post off the application yourself. This is handled by the visa processing office at your biometrics appointment.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Mate, just going through the process now. I noticed in a related article you said that if you went to court for a parking or speeding ticket you may need the documents. Mate a few years back I contested a traffic ticket for not displaying my ‘P-plates’. I had the fine wiped in court, but the offence for not displaying the p-plates stuck. Should I be worried about that? Do I need to source the documents for that? It is not a criminal offence.
Cheers,
TJ
Hi TJ, they are more concerned with drink driving and other more serious charges. Basic infringements shouldn’t be a problem at all so I’d leave it off.
Hey Nomad,
I recently had a Youth Mobility Visa and everything was alright I stayed in thd UK for 2 years and now I want to go back again. Do you know if we are able to apply for another visa of another category after having this visa? For example a Student Visa for studying, if you know a good website or anything to direct me to that would be great. Thank you.
Hi Sarah, the only real way to get back is to get sponsored by a company to work as that allows you to live there but you can only work for the company that sponsors you, if you stop working for them you need to find a new company within 3 months or leave the country.
Or you can go back on a student visa of some sort and details on those are here:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/study-visas
Either way its not easy and if you can get it the sponsored work visa is your best option.
I posted a question last night but forgot to tick the notify me box and I can’t find it now anyway, so…
I got an e-mail back on 7th of April saying my visa will be despatched shortly, yet I’ve heard nothing since, is this normal? I had missed calls from a private number but have not been contacted since, would that mean anything?
H Arlen, when you applied for your visa did you post off the paperwork or did you hand it over at a visa processing office? if you handed it to the office maybe go in and see if they have it and just didn’t notify you.
If you posted it off then I’d call the UKBA visa folk or look up the tracking on your parcel to see where it is.
I posted my passport off to Manila and that came back in the prepaid envelope after I got the e-mail, but nothing else was with it.
Hi Arlen, the visa is stamped in your passport. Is that not there?
OMG, I feel so blonde :/ I’ve just opened the passport and it’s inside of it. so awkward , thankyou though!!!
Hi
Applied to fast track visa (clicking on link on your web page). It did not allow me to print receipt which is needed on Monday. Fee has been taken out of my account. Any suggestions of what to do or who to contact?
Thanks
Hi Wendy, you could print off proof of funds taken from your bank account or did you take a screenshot of the payment accepted page of the website?
This is a new features so I don’t know of anybody else that’s gone through it so can’t say how it works other than what’s provided on the site.
Hi Chris.
I just wanted to say a massive thank you for putting together this fantastic guide! I applied for my Youth Mobility Visa at the start of the month and it has been such a huge help being able to read through your guide. I’m heading over to the UK on May 13th and I was so happy to get my email today to say that my Visa is due to be despatched. I can’t wait to get it back in my hands, hopefully mid next week!
It has been three weeks today since I posted my application and to be honest I’ve been feeling a bit stressed about it this last week with my departure date coming up soon and worrying I’d done something wrong. Your guide has certainly helped calm my nerves though when reading through both your advice and the experiences of others. Thanks to those that have shared their experience! I have applied from NZ but found the process/time frames to be pretty much the same as those applying from Australia.
Thanks again!!!
Hi Sarah, good to hear everything is on track for your visa and that you’ll have it back soon. Enjoy the UK, you are heading over at the right time to beat the initial rush of people taking off for a summer in Europe.
Hi Chris
My son is over in the UK has been on 2yr work visa which expires early July. He has had his passport and drivers licence stolen and I am unable to locate where his birth cert is here. He is looking in to how he applies for new passport over there. Does he have to be out of the country when his work visa ends? Also he is eligible for an ancestral visa (which we didn’t know about before he left) do you know if he could apply for one in France or somewhere (once he has passport to be able to actually leave!!)
Hi Kerry, best option to get a new passport is to head to Australia House in London (if he’s in London) otherwise calling them up and they can help. He should be able to get a temporary passport to get home on or get it replaced and get a new one.
For his work visa he will need to leave the country yes as his visa will be expired so he’d become illegal if he overstays it. As far as I understand for an ancestry visa you need to apply for it from your home country so he’d need to return to Australia.
Thanks for that
Just wanted to update you on how my visa application went.
I completed the online forms, paid my $380 & booked my biometrics in the Brisbane VFS office on 04/04/14, there was an additional fee of $112 to get my biometrics done in Brisbane which I paid online (because I thought you had to), but once getting there, they queried if I had paid, and I presented my receipt & they said that I was able to pay at the VFS office on the day too (so don’t stress if you don’t pay the $112 fee before your appointment).
As I don’t live near Brisbane, I opted to get my passport/visa couriered back to me (additional $24). My fingerprints were taken & my photo, then they gave me a receipt and sent me on my way.
I received an email on 24/04/14 advising it was on its way back to me, so now the waiting game!
I would of failed miserably at this whole process if it wasn’t for The Aussie Nomad!
Good to hear everything went well for the visa Tahlia and thanks for the update on the process. Have a blast in Europe, its an amazing part of the world.
Hi Tahlia,
Congrats, just wondering how long the courier took to deliver your passport once you received your email?
We did biometrics in Brisbane on the 7th April and received our emails on the 29th April. That was for 3 Visas (one ancestry and two dependents), so a fairly good turnaround time.
We applied online on the 30th March, paid our $528 each (ours cost a bit more than a YMV) and same as you we paid our processing/courier fees online before the appointment but most people were paying on the day, so that seems to be OK too.
Thanks to The Aussie Nomad for providing up to date and accurate info on the UK Visa application process, which was also helpful for our Ancestry and Dependent Visas – we just needed some extra supporting documents.
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve, good to know the ancestry visa process is similar to the youth mobility one. I may need to write up some details on that visa to help others go down that route as well. Any tips on your application process would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Such a helpful blog has answered many questions i’ve had about the visa! So the situation is I’m a New Zealander who wants to move to australia to work for a while, probably till early next year. Was wondering would you (or anyone else know) if I can apply for my youth mobility two year visa to the UK in Australia given that I do not have to get a working visa to move to Australia??
Thanks,
GKR
Hi GKR, as far as I’m aware you will have no problems applying in Australia as you are granted a work visa upon entry to Australia due to the relationship between our two countries.
I’m a kiwi and I’ve applied for mine from Australia and it has been approved
hey there, you seem to be a great help! as I have just completed this form now next step it says i need to sign the declaration………how do i do this ?? i type my name in??? it doesn’t seem to work or change anything.
Hi Jacque, from memory you do just type your name in and proceeed in that fashion. If you are having problems try logging in from a different web browser or computer. Failing that you would be best to start your application again and signup with a different email address. The new application process seems a little problematic still and this seems to be the best way to get around any problems you face.
Hi,
Thanks so much for putting in all the time and effort to this blog of yours.
Would you know if there’s a limitation on how long you’re allowed to work for a particular company under this UK working holiday visa?
e.g – 3 months, then you must switch to a different employer, or you’re free to move around and switch companies as you see fit during the 2 yr period?
Thanks
J
Hi Jaq, there are no limitations on how long you can work for a company. It could be 2 days or the full 2 years its entirely up to you.
Hello Aussie Nomad. Ive found the information above very informative and had just one question, if you can help me out so I can get a better understanding.
I applied for the Tier 5 Today, Youth Mobility Visa, also did my interview. There is a question which asks if I have any criminal charges pending. To which I have answered Yes. In Nov 2011, I was charged for drinking and driving. It has not yet come to trial. I have no convictions.
I have previously stayed in the UK from 2006 – 2010 under a student visa, and had no trouble there either. Ive been told that they can deny me if the conviction, if it had been in the UK, amounts to more than 1 year in jail, All the sites I have checked, the maximum for a first time Drinking and Driving is 6 months in the U.K. Furthermore I have not even been convicted yet.
Should I be worried? If denied, would I have any sort of opportunity to explain/appeal?
Thank you very much.
Hi Paul, did you provide any details of your pending court date with your application when you handed it over? I’m not familiar with the UK laws for drink driving but I’d say you should be fine. I believe they are more worried about more serious crimes. If they query your application you will be notified and given a period of time to submit additional supporting documents for them to review. So its not an immediate cancel of your application.
Hi Paul, FYI – I applied for my Visa on 8 April 2014. I had a DYI conviction in 2006 and, following advice on this site, included as much paperwork as I could in my application, including the court record. On 2 May I received an email from the processing centre requesting a National Police Certificate. They have given me 5 working days to get it which is NOT going to happen as they say 2-3 weeks to get one. All I can hope is that the fact that I have applied for it today (online and then taking ID etc to the local police station) and have a receipt number etc for it will buy me some time (here’s hoping!)
If I was you I’d be applying for one of these now!
Tom
Meant DUI of course, not DYI!
Was your court papers not enough?
Hi Tom,
Just wondering how you got on with this?
I have just sent off my application with various documents, did you send the police clearance in the end?
Hi Aussie Nomad! Wow, you have definitely answered some questions that I have been unable to find any information on! Thank you very much!
My partner and I are wanting to apply for a visa in 12 months time however, he has a conviction record of misdemeanours, 1 was from 5 years ago but another was only recently in December. How much will this hinder his application? Will it help if he has over $50,000 in his bank account when we apply? Besides having the relevant police documentation attached to his application, is there anything else we can do to help have the application approved? Would it be able help going through an assistance company that help lodge your application?
Your knowledge would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Danni, I can’t say for sure just how much his convictions would hinder his application. You’d just need to submit as much paperwork from the court appearances as possible and go from there. Providing he’s not spent any time in jail and the incidents weren’t of a too serious nature all should be ok.
Going through an assistance company won’t help you anymore than you did it yourself as all they will do is what you have to do anyway.