Pay 
Language 
Currency 
No results found
Australian work and holiday visa for Colombians: Complete guide
Want to know the visa alternatives for Australians available to Colombians besides the Work and Holiday? We’ve got all the details for you here.
Currently, Colombian citizens can travel to Australia with different types of visas, except for the Working Holiday visa, as only a few Latin American countries can access it through bilateral agreements between their governments.
Even so, from Colombia, you can travel to Australia by applying for a tourist visa, a skilled or specialised work visa, or even a student visa. We’ll show you in detail these alternatives you have to help you achieve your goal of visiting this country in the Oceania continent.
What work, study, and tourist visas does Australia offer for Colombians?
Since Australia does not have a specific visa for working and vacationing (work and holiday or working holiday) for Colombian citizens, there are some types of visas from Colombia that serve as permits to work or study, but not explicitly for vacationing and doing other activities. We’ll show you everything you need to know about each of these types of visas:
Specialised Temporary Work Visa (Subclass 400)
This visa is generally granted for 3 months, but in special cases, it can be extended up to 6 months if your work requires it. Additionally, this visa is characterised by the value the Australian authorities place on your work in favour of their nation.
Who is this visa for?
This type of visa is intended for temporary workers who will not stay in Australia for more than 3 or 6 months. Your professional profile and work must be highly specialised, to the extent that there is no suitable staff in Australia to perform your tasks.
The specialised temporary work visa also allows you to bring a family member with you, although they won’t be able to work or study during that time. They can only study a language for the duration of their stay in the country.
Requirements and documentation
You must meet several requirements to apply for this visa, including having the necessary documents from the employer requesting your services, your identity documents, and others that we’ll list below:
- Identity documents: Passport and national ID card.
- Work documents: A letter from your employer justifying your role in the Australian company, details of the contract such as the duration of your work, salary, and work conditions.
- Proof of financial solvency: Bank statements, proof of your salary, and a bank certificate showing your financial situation.
- Criminal record certificate: You must have no legal issues with Colombian authorities.
- Spouse’s documentation: If you’re travelling with your partner, you must certify your marriage or union through invoices, rental contracts, and bank accounts in both of your names. Also, provide your partner’s identity documents.
- Child’s documentation: If you’re travelling with your child, you must prove your relationship and gather all their documents.
- Medical exams: During the process, you’ll need to show that you’re in optimal health, so you should prepare your medical exams for when they’re required.
- Document translation: All documents must be scanned or photographed and translated into English.
- Complete form in ImmiAccount: Here you must create your profile, upload all the mentioned documents, and pay the visa application fee.
Skilled Visa or Qualified Work Visa (Subclass 189, 190, and 491)
The Skilled visa is a work permit that categorises your work to authorise you to carry it out in Australian territory.
That is, you must choose the visa that best suits your work, as the Australian authorities need to know which job you will be doing and for which you are qualified.
For skilled work, there are different types of visas, such as temporary, permanent, or innovation visas, each requiring specific requirements.
Who is this visa for?
This visa is for workers looking to live and work legally in Australia. However, you must have knowledge and experience in high-demand areas in the country for the visa to be approved. Also, your work must appear on the Australian Skilled Occupation List.
General Requirements and Documents
- Age: You must be under 45 years old.
- Language: You must have an intermediate/advanced level of English.
- Skills assessment: You must have a positive result on your skills assessment.
- Medical exams: You must be in optimal health.
- Criminal record certificate: You must have no legal issues in Colombia.
- Complete form in ImmiAccount: Here you must create your profile, upload all the mentioned documents, and pay the visa application fee.
Since this visa is divided into different types, you should review the specific requirements for each skilled work permit you wish to apply for.
Student Visa (Subclass 500)
This student visa is another option to travel to Australia, as, in addition to studying in a university program, you can work up to 48 hours bi-weekly during your studies.
The validity of this visa is determined by the time it takes to complete your formal studies, usually offering a validity of up to 5 years. Additionally, with this visa, you can leave and re-enter the country as many times as you want.
Who is this visa for?
This visa is for students from 6 years old, meaning children and teenagers who want to study school or secondary education in Australia can apply for this visa. It’s also for teenagers and young adults who want to study a course or university degree in Australia.
Requirements and Documents
- CoE Acceptance Letter: The educational institution must provide a letter confirming that you have been accepted to study there.
- Proof of financial funds: You must demonstrate your financial capacity to support your studies in Australia.
- Health insurance: To travel to Australia, you must have health insurance covering any health issues during your studies. This can be provided by the educational institution or arranged privately.
- Language: Speaking, writing, and reading English well is ideal for studying in Australia, though if you’re learning English, a high level won’t be required to apply for the visa.
- Statement of purpose: You must submit a letter explaining why you chose Australia for your studies, along with other information about your medium- and long-term plans.
- Valid passport: It must have sufficient validity for the duration of your stay in the country.
- Medical exams: Prove that you’re in good physical and mental health.
- Criminal record: You must have no legal debts with Colombian authorities.
- Complete form in ImmiAccount: Here you must create your profile, upload all the mentioned documents, and pay the visa application fee.
Tourist Visa (Subclass 600)
The tourist visa for Australia is one of the most requested, as it grants a stay of up to 12 months. This visa is designed for visiting friends, family, or simply exploring the country’s tourist attractions.
It must be applied for directly from Colombia, not as a status change within Australia. So, if you’re temporarily in Australia and want to extend your stay by changing your status, you cannot do so by applying for this visa.
Who is it aimed at?
For people who have friends or family in Australia and want to visit them. It’s also for tourists and frequent travellers. It’s important to note that with this visa, you cannot engage in any activities other than tourism, such as working or studying. Otherwise, you may be fined, deported, or even have your visa cancelled for up to 10 years.
Requirements and Documents
- Valid passport: The passport must have at least the same validity as your stay in Australia.
- Specify the purpose of your trip: If you’re visiting friends or family, you need to clarify your reason for travelling to Australia.
- Show sufficient financial funds: Depending on the duration of your stay, they will assess your budget and how well it matches your plans.
- Travel itinerary: They will ask about your plans within the country, which places you’ll visit, and how you’ll travel between cities.
- Demonstrate a connection to Colombia: To show that you have enough reasons to return to Colombia, you could provide documents showing you’re studying a degree, have dependents, own property or a business, or have an employment contract with a Colombian company.
- Complete form in ImmiAccount: Here you must create your profile, upload all the mentioned documents, and pay the visa application fee.
Internet while working, resting, or studying in Australia
Holafly offers monthly plans with 25 GB or unlimited data, with the option to connect other devices, or a 10 GB plan if your usage will be moderate in Australia. You can also use the eSim for Australia, which provides unlimited internet for the days you need.
Remember to install your eSim before travelling and activate it once you arrive in Australia, so you can start using your data from the moment you reach your destination.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
Costs and Expenses for Obtaining Different Visas to Australia for Colombians
To obtain any of the visas mentioned above, you must consider, in addition to the application cost, other expenses associated with gathering all the required documentation.
Below, we provide the approximate costs for each visa and then you can see the average additional costs you need to pay to ensure everything is in order when applying for the visa:
- Specialised Temporary Work Visa: Costs 4,074,000 COP ($1,063 (€1,005)).
- Skilled or Qualified Work Visa: Costs 12,992,000 COP ($3,296 (€3,139)).
- Student Visa: Costs 1,988,000 COP ($497 (€474)).
- Tourist Visa: Costs 532,000 COP ($133 (€126)).
Regarding general costs, here are the procedures and documents that may generate an investment amount:
- Certifying your English level: Exams such as IELTS or TOEFL have an average cost between 800,000 and 1,100,000 COP ($199–274 (€189–260)).
- Document translation services: To apply for any of the visas, your documents must be translated into English, and the cost can range from 40,000 to 60,000 COP per page ($10–15 (€9–14)).
- Medical exams: To certify your good health, you’ll need to undergo a medical check-up, which can cost around 600,000 COP ($149 (€141)).
- Health insurance: For the student visa, you will need insurance that covers your medical expenses, and it can cost from 1,500,000 COP ($374 (€353)) per year for full coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions about Australian Visas for Colombians
Processing time for different visas varies depending on their complexity. It is estimated that a work visa can take between 2 to 6 months, a student visa 4 to 10 weeks, and a tourist visa 2 to 5 weeks.
To apply for a student visa, you must have health insurance that covers all your medical expenses while in Australia. This is a mandatory requirement.
The student visa allows you to work up to 48 hours per week to help cover all your academic expenses while studying a course or degree.
There is no physical location to submit all the documents required for processing one of the Australian visas; everything is done through the ImmiAccount website.
You cannot work on a tourist status, as your permit is exclusively for entertainment and tourism activities.
