Any person can apply who fulfils following criteria as set out in the immigration rules:

• National of Common wealth countries
• Age from 17-30 years
• Unmarried or married to a person who also qualifies and coming as a Working Holiday maker.
• Able to maintain and accommodate himself during the period of his stay.
• Intending to take employment incidental to a holiday.
• Having no dependant children of 5 years or over or who will reach 5 years of age before the applicant completes his working holiday time period.
• Intends to leave the UK at the expiry of visa.
• And has not spent a time in the UK on a previous working holidaymaker visa.

2. What Documents to Submit?

The persons intending to apply for a working holidaymaker visa need to provide following documents with their entry clearance application.

• Entry Clearance Form
• Two Passport size Pictures
• Original Passport
• Visa Fees (If applicable)
• Copies of the Educational / Work experience Documents
• Job Offer in the UK, If any.
• Bank statements / Proof of income

It is also advisable to provide any proof of family, social and financial ties with the home country that may be:

• Property Documents
• Business Documents
• Family tree
• Any memberships of professional bodies

3. Duration of Visa

The applicants are normally issued a visa for the maximum period of 2 years. It is not extendable at all however; the working holidaymaker can switch in some of the immigration categories, which might result in extension of leave to remain.

4. Right of Appeal

If the British Diplomatic Post refuses the entry clearance application of a working holidaymaker, the applicant has got a right of appeal that need to be lodged within 28 days of the receipt of refusal letter. The Entry clearance manager normally reviews the decision in the light of the grounds of appeal and may overturn the decision and decide to issue the visa. If the decision is not overturned in the review then the case is sent to the Asylum & Immigration Tribunal in the UK for a full Court Hearing.

5. Work Allowed

Working holidaymakers can now only work for 12 months time period and take a 12 months holiday. They can do any sort of work but it must be incidental to their holidays.

6. What is not allowed?

Working holidaymakers are not normally allowed to engage themselves in Business or self-employment or work as a professional sportsman. All other types of professional works are allowed. They cannot therefore legally become a partner / sole proprietor / Director in a business.

7. Extension of Visa

Working holidaymakers cannot apply for an extension of visa in any case.

8. Spouse / Children

Working holidaymakers cannot invite their spouse to join him as his dependant in the UK. However, the spouse can apply in his / her own right and come to the UK at the same time. Working Holidaymakers` children can certainly apply to join their parents or parent in the UK subject to following restrictions:

• The child must not be five years of age or over.
• The child will leave the UK before reaching the age of 5 years.
• The child can be maintained and accommodated by the parents or parent living in the UK

9. Switching Rules

Since 01^st of October 2004, there have been some major changes in the switching rules. Under the new switching rules, a working holidaymaker can change his immigration status without leaving the UK and can apply for the following immigration categories:

• Spouse Visa (Provided the applicant has been issued a working holidaymaker visa for more than 6 months initially and he has got more than 3 months of his current leave to remain).
• Religious Minister (provided they have lived as a working holidaymaker for 12 months and fulfil all the requirements to apply as a Religious Minister.
• WP (Business & Commercial) - Provided that he has remained in the UK for more than 12 months and applies for a work permit to work in a position enlisted in the shortage occupation list.
• HSMP
• Business Person (Provided the applicant has spent more than 12 months of time period in the UK in the capacity of working holidaymaker.
• Innovator

10. Settlement Prospects

A working holidaymaker cannot possibly be eligible for settlement unless he switches to an immigration category, which leads to settlement. Apart from switching to spouse visa where he can apply for settlement after two years, the working holidaymaker once switched into any one of the above immigration categories, can apply for indefinite stay after remaining in the UK and fulfilling the requirements of that specific immigration category for 5 years.