Travel Planning

Before travelling to a foreign country you have think of  several things to do. We recommend considering the following things:

Flight

As soon as you get your internship agreement, book your flight! The best thing to do is to gather information from different airlines, compare them and make a reservation on the flight you want to take. That will ensure you the cheapest rates.

Passport

You need a valid passport which must be valid for another 6 months after your stay in Australia.  It also needs at least one page left for the stamp you will get entering Australia. Please pay attention to the fact that applying for a new passport can take up to six weeks.

Visa

Occupational Trainee

The Occupational Trainee is the classical Visa for an internship. The Visa procedure is split and combines the acceptance of the internship (nomination) and the following Visa Application. Therefore you need to have an internship position before applying for the Visa. It is not bound to a study programme, but is also aimed at young professionals.

Working Holiday Visa

Since 1 July 2006 it's possible to work for one employer for 6 months with a Working Holiday Visa.

It is a lot easier to be issued a Occupational Trainee Visa, because nomination by the employer is omitted and you can apply for it without an internship position. So it is possible for you to just come to Australia and knock on companies' doors to ask for an internship or work. But it is not easier to find a qualified internship position with a WHV. Therefore it is not advisable to just come to Australia at a venture, particularly for an internship. You might need to have the internship approved by your university in advance as well.

Insurance

You need valid health insurance for the duration of your stay in Sydney. Make sure that in case of illness the insurance covers a return transport to your home country. There are many companies offering those health insurances, ask us for our recommendations.