Ireland

Ireland's Working Holiday Authorisation lets Australians aged 18 to 35 work for up to 12 months, with no more than six months for any one employer. Apply through the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra (or London if you live in the UK).

Currency

EUR

1 AUD = 0.6 EUR (mid-market, 2026-05-21)

Working Holiday Visa for Australians

Working Holiday Authorisation

Age 18-35 | up to 12 months

Smartraveller

Check live advisory

Emergency: 112 (also 999)

Working Holiday Visa

Scheme: Working Holiday Authorisation
Visa class: WHA
Eligible age: 18-35
Max stay: 12 months

Source: www.ireland.ie

Deep dive: Ireland Working Holiday Authorisation deep dive for Australians

Tourist or short-stay entry

Visa-free entry

Up to 3 months. Work rights: none.

Australians do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Source: www.irishimmigration.ie

Highlights

Same English-speaking advantage as the UK, with EU-style café and pub culture.
Open to Australians aged 18 to 35, valid for up to 12 months after entry.
Strong tech (Dublin), pharma (Cork), agri-food and hospitality sectors hiring WHV-holders.
30-day visa-free travel through the entire Schengen Area from Dublin.

Watch outs

Dublin's rental market is one of the tightest in Europe; expect to flat-share.
PPS number (tax) takes 4-12 weeks; employers can withhold emergency-tax rates until issued.
Healthcare is not free on a WHA; private travel insurance is mandatory.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK and needs a separate YMS visa to work there.

Money tips

Revolut and N26 work well; an Irish AIB or Bank of Ireland account is harder to open as a WHV-holder.
USC (Universal Social Charge) sits on top of income tax; check your payslip net.
Cost of milk and meat is high; produce markets like Moore Street are cheap.
Public-transport Leap Card knocks 20% off fares versus paper tickets.

Practical basics

Power plug: Type G (three-pin)
Drives on: Left (same as AU)
Emergency number: 112 (also 999)

Sources

Last updated 2026-09-23.