Australia's Working Holiday Visa Sees Surging Interest Among Indonesians
Interest among young Indonesians in the Australian Working Holiday Visa (WHV) programme has continued to rise in recent years. Amid limited annual quotas and increasingly fierce competition, document preparation, including English language proficiency, is considered a crucial factor in improving the chances of passing the selection process.
According to data from GoodStats, the number of Indonesians obtaining the Working Holiday Visa has steadily increased from 2022 to 2025. The high level of interest means the annual quota is often exhausted within minutes to hours after registration opens.
This situation encourages prospective applicants to prepare their documents well in advance, ranging from passports, proof of funds, and educational documents, to the Statement of Support for Work and Holiday Visa (SDUWHV) and English proficiency test results such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
British Council Indonesia considers early IELTS preparation essential, as achieving the required score often demands structured study time, sometimes even requiring more than one test attempt.
Beyond being an administrative requirement for the visa, English language skills are also needed to support participants’ activities while living and working in Australia, from communicating in the workplace to navigating daily life.
Head of Sales and Account Management at British Council Indonesia, Arnold Simanjuntak, stated that the rising interest in the WHV reflects the increasing mobility of Indonesians abroad.
“The Indonesian diaspora in Australia continues to grow, reflecting the increasing mobility of the people and the strengthening economic ties between the two countries. As interest in the WHV programme rises, good English language skills become increasingly important for applicants to maximise the opportunities available,” Arnold said on Friday (17/7/2026).
To support participants’ preparation, the British Council provides various learning materials, including the IELTS Ready Premium platform, which can be accessed after registering for the IELTS test. The platform offers official materials, exam simulations, and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based feedback feature for Speaking and Writing skills.
Additionally, the British Council offers a One Skill Retake feature, allowing participants to retake one section of the test without having to sit the entire exam again. IELTS test results through the British Council are also generally available within one to two days, helping participants plan their visa applications.
One Working Holiday Visa recipient, Jennifer Amanda, said the official IELTS preparation materials helped her navigate the selection process.
“For me, the WHV is not just a way to break out of a routine, but an opportunity to grow, explore new experiences, and gain a perspective that may only come once in a lifetime. Preparing with official IELTS materials from the British Council really helped me during the preparation process,” she said.