Australia Working Holiday D-100 (3 Months Before) Departure Checklist

"I'm departing for Australia in 3 months but feeling overwhelmed about what to prepare."

3 months before Australia working holiday departure is the time to complete essential preparations. Don't miss critical items like visa approval confirmation, flight booking, travel insurance enrollment, and TFN application.

This guide is based on experiences from over 500 working holiday makers.

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1. Visa Approval Confirmation (Highest Priority)

1.1. Verify Visa Approval

How to Check:

• Email: Sent by Department of Home Affairs
• ImmiAccount: Login and check

Grant Letter Items to Verify:

• Visa Grant Number
• Entry deadline (usually 1 year)
• Conditions

If Not Yet Approved:

• Usually takes 2-4 weeks
• Check for additional document requests
• Contact immigration (131 881)

1.2. Understand Visa Conditions

Key Conditions:

• 6-month restriction with same employer
• Study allowed up to 4 months
• Multiple Entry (visa doesn't expire when overseas)

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2. Flight Booking

2.1. Flight Booking Timing

Best Time:

• Book 2-3 months before departure
• Price: Round-trip $800-1,500

Comparison Sites:

• Skyscanner
• Google Flights
• Expedia

2.2. One-Way vs Round-Trip

Round-Trip (Recommended):

• Cheaper (than 2 one-ways)
• Date changes possible (airline policy)
• Advantageous at immigration

One-Way:

• More flexible
• More expensive
• Immigration may request proof of return

2.3. Recommended Airlines

Budget Airlines:

• Jetstar (Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns)
• Scoot (Sydney, Gold Coast)
• AirAsia X (Melbourne)

Premium Airlines:

• Korean Air
• Asiana
• Qantas

Tips:

• Tuesday/Wednesday departures cheaper
• Confirm 20-30kg baggage included

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3. Travel Insurance (OVHC)

3.1. Why Insurance is Needed

Working Holiday Visa:

• Insurance not mandatory (but recommended)
• However, medical costs are very high

Examples:

• GP consultation: $70-100
• Emergency room: $300-1,000
• Hospitalization: $2,000-5,000/day

3.2. Recommended Insurance

Korean Insurance:

• Meritz Fire & Marine (working holiday specific)
• DB Insurance
• Cost: $300-600/year

Australian Insurance:

• OSHC (for student visas, NOT working holiday)
• Allianz Travel Insurance

Coverage Items:

• Medical expenses
• Personal belongings theft
• Flight cancellation
• Legal liability

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4. First Accommodation Booking

4.1. Backpackers

Recommendation:

• First 1-2 weeks at backpacker hostel
• Price: $200-350/week
• Dormitory (6-8 bed rooms)

Booking Sites:

• Hostelworld
• Booking.com
• Airbnb

Recommended Backpackers:

• Sydney: Base Sydney, Wake Up! Sydney
• Melbourne: United Backpackers, Space Hotel
• Brisbane: Brisbane City YHA

4.2. Checklist Items

Verify When Booking:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Kitchen facilities
• Laundry
• Location (CBD or near public transport)

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5. English Study

5.1. Essential English Expressions

Daily:

• "How's it going?" (How are you?)
• "No worries" (It's okay)
• "Cheers" (Thanks)

Workplace:

• "Can you show me how to do this?"
• "I'm not sure, let me check"

Bank/TFN:

• "I'd like to open a bank account"
• "I need to apply for a TFN"

5.2. Recommended Study Resources

YouTube:

• English with Lucy
• Speak English with Vanessa

Apps:

• Duolingo (free)
• HelloTalk (language exchange)

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6. Financial Preparation

6.1. Required Funds

Minimum Funds:

• $5,000 (approximately 4,500,000 KRW)
• 3 months living expenses + buffer

Recommended Funds:

• $7,000-10,000 (approximately 6,300,000-9,000,000 KRW)
• May not find job in first 2-3 weeks

6.2. Currency Exchange Timing

Monitor Exchange Rates:

• Naver exchange rate alerts
• Set target rate

Exchange Methods:

• Bank (higher fees)
• Exchange shops (Myeongdong, Namdaemun)
• Wise (online, lower fees)

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7. Document Preparation

7.1. Essential Documents

Passport:

• Validity: 6+ months from departure date
• 2 copies (for loss backup)

Visa Grant Letter:

• Print (for immigration)
• Save PDF (Google Drive)

International Driving Permit:

• Issued by: Police station or driving test center
• Cost: 8,500 KRW
• Time: Immediate

English Bank Statement:

• Issued by bank
• $5,000+ balance
• May be requested at immigration (rare)

7.2. Optional Documents

English Graduation Certificate:

• For office job applications
• Issued by university

Reference Letter (Korean workplace):

• Written in English
• Attach to resume

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8. Packing (Preliminary List)

8.1. Essential Items

Clothing:

• Summer clothes (Australia has opposite seasons)
• Light jacket
• Swimsuit

Electronics:

• Laptop (optional)
• Smartphone
• Charger + adapter (Australia uses Type I plug)

Documents:

• Passport, visa
• International driving permit
• 6 passport photos

Other:

• Sunscreen (Australian sun is strong)
• Sunglasses
• Basic medicine (Tylenol, digestive aids)

8.2. Must Bring from Korea

Food:

• Gochujang, doenjang, seaweed (small quantities)
• Instant noodles (available in Australia but expensive)

Cosmetics:

• Korean cosmetics (expensive in Australia)

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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. When must I depart after visa approval?

A. Within the entry deadline specified in your Visa Grant Letter (usually 1 year). You can depart anytime within that period.

Q2. Should I secure a job before departing?

A. No. It's much easier to find jobs after arrival. Jobs secured from Korea are likely scams.

Q3. Is it okay if I don't speak much English?

A. Basic conversational level is sufficient. Farm and construction work is possible even with beginner English.

Q4. How much should I pack?

A. Within airline baggage allowance (20-30kg). Pack minimally as most items can be purchased in Australia.

Q5. How do I get from airport on first day?

A.

• Sydney: Airport Link train → CBD ($19)
• Melbourne: SkyBus → CBD ($20)

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10. Final: D-100 Checklist

Essential (3 months before):

• Confirm visa approval
• Book flights
• Enroll in travel insurance
• Book first accommodation (1-2 weeks)

Start Preparing:

• Study English (daily expressions)
• Monitor exchange rates
• Get international driving permit

Documents:

• Verify passport validity
• Print Visa Grant Letter
• Get English bank statement (optional)

Starting preparations 3 months ahead allows for relaxed departure!

Next Articles:

• Australia Working Holiday D-50 Preparation
• Australia Working Holiday D-7 Final Checklist
• Australia First Week Survival Guide

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About the Author The WHRESUME team is in their 3rd year living in Melbourne and genuinely supports Australian working holiday makers. This guide is based on feedback from the working holiday community and analysis of official Australian sources.

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