Visa snapshot
Verified on 20 June 2026Work and study
- Work rights
- You can take casual and temporary work without a separate employment permit, once you have registered your immigration permission and received your residence permit (IRP). Australian and New Zealand holders can work up to six months with any one employer; Canadian holders have no per-employer limit.
- Study rights
- Short courses and study are allowed alongside the authorisation.
Funds and health
- Funds required
- AUD 5,000, or AUD 2,500 with a return ticket.
- Levy or extra cost
- IRP registration EUR 300 after arrival.
- Health and insurance
- No reciprocal public-health cover. Canadian applicants must hold a full year of comprehensive insurance at application; Australian and New Zealand applicants are not asked for it in the official application requirements, but going uninsured is a real risk.
- Health and insurance details →
Extensions
- Further stay
- No extension
Quota or ballot
- Allocation
- Not capped (no published quota; rolling applications)
- No ballot
Reciprocal healthcare
- Agreement in place
- Yes
- The WHA itself confers no health cover, but Australia has a separate Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Ireland, so Australians can access medically necessary public care on the same basis as people ordinarily resident in Ireland (still paying the standard public charges). Private insurance is still recommended, as the RHCA does not cover GP fees, private treatment or repatriation, and it is not listed in the official application requirements (contrast Canada, which mandates it). See the Ireland healthcare guide.
On this page
Eligibility at a glance
- Passport: This route is for Australian citizens, so you must apply on a valid Australian passport.
- Age: You must be aged 18 to 35 when you apply, not when you travel.
- Funds: AUD 5,000, or AUD 2,500 with a return ticket.
- Health: No reciprocal public-health cover. Canadian applicants must hold a full year of comprehensive insurance at application; Australian and New Zealand applicants are not asked for it in the official application requirements, but going uninsured is a real risk.
Eligibility and conditions
Who can apply
Open to Australian citizens aged 18 to 35. Maximum six months with any one employer. Apply via the Embassy of Ireland, Canberra (or London if resident in the UK).
General conditions
One Working Holiday Authorisation per person; activate it within 12 months of issue. After arrival, non-EEA nationals register their immigration permission and pay the residence-permit (IRP) fee, currently EUR 300.
Age limit
Age 18 to 35, wider than the New Zealand route at 18 to 30.
Work conditions
- Maximum six months with any one employer.
- Valid for work only once you have registered your immigration permission (IRP) after arrival.
Application rules
Apply via the Embassy of Ireland, Canberra, or the Embassy of Ireland, London, if resident in the UK.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the Irish Government's official visa portal. Processing typically takes a few weeks.
Apply Now →Get ready for Ireland
Sort out the essentials before you arrive, from banking and mobile data to flights, accommodation and insurance.
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Essential setup
Banking
Open a local account soon after you arrive in Ireland so you can get paid and skip foreign-card fees. Most banks let you start the application online before you land.
Mobile and connectivity
Set up a local number or eSIM in Ireland for data and calls. The major networks have the widest coverage; budget MVNOs run on the same towers for less.
Plan and book your trip
Useful tools for arranging your insurance, flights and first accommodation.
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Skyscanner
Compare flights to Ireland from hundreds of airlines.
Hostelworld
Book your first nights in Ireland. Hostels and budget stays.
Other nationalities going to Ireland
Your first-week checklist
The practical order of things for your first days. What to sort and where to go next.