Benefits of participating in the Programme

The Working Holiday Programme in Australia allows participants to combine travel with legal work, enabling them to finance their stay and gain international professional experience. It also provides an opportunity for intensive English language learning and exposure to Australian culture and lifestyle. It is a chance for personal development, building independence and making contacts with people from all over the world. For many people, this program is a valuable addition to their CV and a great way to experience a year full of new experiences.

Conditions of participation

Polish citizens who meet the following conditions may apply to participate in the Programme:

• their main purpose for participating in the Programme is to spend their holiday in Australia;
• they are at least eighteen (18) years of age, but have not yet reached the age of thirty-one (31) at the time of applying for a visa;
• they have no dependent children;
• they hold a valid passport with at least two blank pages, issued no more than ten years prior to the visa application and which will remain valid for at least ninety days after the end of the planned stay;
• they have a return ticket, onward ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket;
• they have sufficient funds to support themselves while participating in the Programme, if they do not take up employment in Australia;
• they meet the health requirements specified in Australian law and have purchased health insurance that covers hospital care;
• they have not previously participated in the ‘Working Holiday’ Programme in Australia;
• they have a higher education degree or have completed at least two years of bachelor's studies;
• they have a communicative level of English;
• they will present a certificate issued by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

Certificate required for visa application

Applications for the new edition of the Programme – 2025/2026 (starting on 1 July 2025) will be accepted from 30 June 2025.

Certificates are issued by the DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. Applications for certificates shall be submitted via an online form available at: APPLY.

The form shall include: first name(s), surname, date and place of birth, and passport series and number.

The applicant is also required to declare that he/she meets the conditions for participation in the Programme.

*Please note! The applicant is responsible for providing correct data.

Completion date

According to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, from 1 October 2019, the annual limit for visas under the Working Holiday Programme is 1,500 (one thousand five hundred) visas.

Submitting a visa application after the limit of 1,500 visas has been reached in a given year will result in the loss of documents and visa fees.

Further information can be found on the website of the Department of Home Affairs.

Once the visa limit for the 2025/2026 edition has been reached, information on this matter will be posted on the website of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.  The issuance of certificates under a given edition will also be suspended.

It is also possible to check the periodically updated information on visa availability.

Decision to issue the certificate

The certificate is issued based on a completed online form containing the applicant's declaration of compliance with the conditions for participation in the Programme. 

*Please note! Obtaining a certificate does not guarantee the issuance of a visa under the Programme!

Receipt of the certificate

The method of receipt of the certificate should be indicated in the application for the certificate.

Depending on the indication, the Ministry:

• will send the certificate to the address indicated by the applicants in Poland (with confirmation of receipt by the postal operator – registered economy letter)
• will inform the applicant by telephone or email about the possibility of personal collection
• will issue the certificate to a third party, provided that they are authorised to collect the certificate*
• will send a scan of the certificate by e-mail

* A sample authorisation form for a third party to collect the certificate is available below in the downloadable files.

Visa procedures for citizens of the Republic of Poland

*Please note! The Ministry does not mediate in the visa procedure! 

The Ministry only issues a ‘Certificate’, which is one of the criteria set by the Australian side for obtaining a visa under the Working Holiday Programme. After obtaining a certificate issued by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, persons interested in participating in the Programme should apply for a visa following the procedure described on the website of the Department of Home Affairs.

Documents required to submit a visa application:

• valid passport
• birth certificate containing the first and last names of both parents
• documents confirming a change of surname (if applicable)
• documents confirming education
• documents confirming knowledge of English
• certificate from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy
• proof of financial means (approx. AUD 5,000) and a return ticket or funds to purchase one

All documents must be translated into English. A detailed description of the documents and requirements for Polish citizens to obtain an Australian visa is also available on the website of the Department of Home Affairs. 

Visa procedures for Australian citizens

Citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia planning to participate in the Working Holiday Programme must submit their visa application in person at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Sydney, in accordance with the procedure applicable to persons who are planning to stay in Poland for more than 90 days (national visa – type D).

Required documents:

• visa application form completed in the e-Consulate system, printed and signed;
• written statement signed before the consul confirming the intention to stay in Poland for the purpose of improving language and cultural knowledge, and not for the purpose of taking up employment as the main objective;
• proof of age (18-30 years old on the date of application);
• a statement confirming that the applicant has no dependents;
• a valid passport issued no earlier than 10 years prior to the date of application, with at least two blank pages and valid for at least 3 months after the planned end of the stay;
• two recent photographs (35 x 45 mm);
• return ticket or confirmation of financial means to purchase one (minimum PLN 2,500);
• documents confirming financial means to cover living expenses during the applicant stay in Poland (minimum PLN 776 per month + accommodation for the entire period of stay);
• confirmation of payment of the visa fee (payment in cash or by card at the Consulate);
• proof of travel health insurance, valid for the entire period of stay, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000;
• statement of previous non-participation in the Programme;
• certificate of no criminal record certified with an apostille.

A national visa under the Programme is granted for a period of 12 months, with the right to multiple entries into the territory of the Republic of Poland. The visa holder may stay in Poland and take up gainful employment without the need to obtain a work permit for a period of up to 6 months. Participants in the Programme are required to comply with the laws of the Republic of Poland.

More information is available on the website of the Polish Embassy in Australia in Polish and English .

Contact details

Australian Embassy in Warsaw

Address: Rondo ONZ 1, 00-124 Warszawa, Poland

Tel.: +48 22 521 3444

E-mail: ambasada.australia@dfat.gov.au

Website: https://poland.embassy.gov.au/

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney

Address: 10 Trelawney Street, Woollahra NSW 2025, Australia

Tel.: +61 2 9302 5000

E-mail: sydney.kg@msz.gov.pl

Website: https://www.gov.pl/web/australia

For further information, please contact the Global Service Centre (GSC) Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time. Please note that waiting times may be longer on Mondays. The GSC is closed on Australian public holidays.

In Australia, call 131 881; outside Australia, call +61 2 6196 0196.