Get a passport
If you already have a passport, check that it'll be valid for at least six months beyond the end of your proposed stay in the UK. If you don't have a passport, then rest assured that applying for one is a straightforward procedure in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. And you'll need a passport before you can ...
Apply for a visa
If you want to work in the UK, or if you want to spend more than six months in the country, you'll need a UK work visa of some sort. Apply through the British High Commission in your home country and allow plenty of time - applications can take up to two months to process.
> British High Commission in Australia
> British High Commission in New Zealand
> British High Commission in South Africa
The main visa option for young Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans is the Working Holidaymakers visa, which is set to be replaced by the new Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa from this autumn. An exact date is yet to be announced.
For the most up-to-date visa imformation see UK Visas for news on UK visas and the UK Home Office for details on working in the UK; alternatively, see Foreign Affairs Dept, Ireland for Irish visas, and DETE Ireland if you want to work in Ireland.
Book your flight
Once you've set the visa-application wheels in motion, there's no reason not to book your flight. The general rule of thumb is that the earlier you book, the cheaper your ticket will be.
Shop around, especially if you're thinking of making a stopover en route to the UK. If you think there's a chance you may have to change your travel dates, ensure the ticket has flexibility built into it.
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