Proof of funds for a working holiday visa: how much and how to show it
Most working holiday programmes ask you to prove you can support yourself when you arrive. Border officers can β and do β spot-check this. Turning up without acceptable proof is a genuinely stressful way to start a trip, and it's completely avoidable.
How much money do you need?
- Australia (subclass 417/462): around AUD 5,000, plus funds for a departing flight
- New Zealand: around NZD 4,200
- Canada (IEC): around CAD 2,500
- Always check the official requirement for your nationality and visa before you fly β amounts change
What counts as proof
Usually a recent bank statement showing your balance, in your name. The common problem: app-only PDFs or screenshots that don't look 'official' enough and get questioned at the border.
How to avoid problems at the border
- Carry a formatted bank statement (PDF or printed) dated close to your travel date
- Make sure your name and the balance are clearly shown
- Have the funds settled in your account before you fly β last-minute transfers can be slow
- Keep a backup: a second statement or a screenshot of your in-app balance
How Tern helps
Tern generates an official, correctly formatted proof-of-funds statement in seconds β with your balance in both local and home currency and a verification code β so you can show border control something they'll accept, not a screenshot they'll reject.
How much money do I need for an Australia working holiday visa?+
Around AUD 5,000 to prove you can support yourself on arrival, plus enough for an onward or departing flight. Check the current official figure for your nationality before travelling.
What can I use as proof of funds?+
A recent bank statement in your name showing your balance. A clearly formatted, official-looking statement is less likely to be questioned than a plain screenshot.
Get sorted before you land
Tern is the neobank built for working holiday life β join the waitlist.
Join the waitlistSources
This guide is general information, not financial or migration advice. Rules and figures change β always check the official sources above.