backpackers

Australia is handing out record numbers of visas to young backpackers and Brits are snapping up the most, with nearly 80,000 young British nationals heading Down Under

Australia is giving out a record number of short-term visas to backpackers. And a huge number of them are young Brits heading Down Under for the adventure of a lifetime. There were 321,000 working holiday visas issued last year, up more than a third on the previous 12 months. Young people from the United Kingdom are leading the trend, making up a quarter of all backpacker visas That means nearly 80,000 Brits headed to Oz last year. They’re taking advantage of new rules that lifted the maximum age for British working holidaymakers and dumped requirement they spend 88 days each year doing regional work.

Matthew Heyes, founder of employment site Backpacker Job Board, said there had been a clear surge in the visa class this year, with global economic conditions a driving force.

He said: “Australia has just set a new record for visa grants, and the first quarter suggests we will go even higher. We’re seeing issues like the cost of living and stagnant wages motivate young people to make the trip.” New rules brought in by former PM Scott Morrison have led to the surge.

Former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said the working holidaymaker programme was going from strength to strength. He said: “Demand was inevitably going to be strong when we made it more generous, as we did. Australia is popular among Brits, and this is the first year we’ve seen the full effect of the agreement initially negotiated by Scott Morrison.

“It will have to peak at some stage, and it depends very much on our labour market – our labour market is certainly strong, and the UK’s is not as strong.”

Last year was the first time young Brits were no longer required to work and live in regional Australia to extend their stay. The number of visas issued to working holidaymakers from the UK soared from 47,000 in 2023-34 to a record 79,000 in 2024-25.

The raised eligible age for Brits, from 30 to 35, which came into effect the year before, resulted in 9100 visas being issued to that age group last financial year.

They are also staying longer overall: there were 28,600 second-year visas given to UK residents last financial year, up from 6300 the year before, and 8400 third-year visas, up from 680.

Visas issued to UK residents outstrip those from other leading nations, including France (42,000 visas issued in 2024-25), Ireland (24,100), Japan (16,000) and Germany (16,000). These visa holders still must work regionally to stay longer in Australia.

Before the 321,000 working holidaymaker visas issued in 2024-25, the highest number granted in one year was 258,000 in 2012-13.

The boom is being driven by a strong local jobs market and comparably tougher economic conditions for young people overseas. Many of Australia’s long-standing working holidaymaker agreements, including with the UK, are uncapped

A solo female backpacker boarded a sleeper bus in Cambodia only to be greeted with an awkward surprise. She shared details about the uncomfortable situation online

An Australian backpacker was left baffled during a recent journey on a sleeper bus in Cambodia when she discovered an awkward surprise waiting for her as she boarded the bus.

Budget travellers often opt for overnight bus and train journeys as they’re typically more affordable than daytime travel whilst providing accommodation for the night at no additional cost. But one solo backpack traveller was forced to question just how far she’d go to save a few quid when she realised she’d have to share a tiny double bed with a complete stranger during her recent overnight bus trip in Cambodia.

Eden Kelly, 26, from Australia turned to Instagram to document the moment she climbed aboard a bus in the South Asian nation, only to find an unexpected bedmate already settled in the bed they were meant to share.

“10.5 hrs on a sleeper bus being paired with a total stranger in a SMALL double bed,” she penned in her post’s caption.

“Literally that’s what you share with someone,” Eden explained at the beginning of her video, displaying the cramped double beds in question. “And because I’m travelling solo, I share with a random [person]. Don’t know what gender, don’t know who they are.”

You can watch the reel here if the video post above isn’t working

The following clip showed Eden revealing a man already lying in the bed, enthusiastically waving hello to the camera.

Eden was then filmed having climbed into the narrow bed alongside the stranger, sitting upright whilst he remained lying down. Eden described the situation as ‘one of the most awkward’ she’d ever experienced, laughing nervously at her predicament.

She noticed a British couple she’d met earlier on her travels were nearby, so she quickly moved to chat with them, hoping to escape the discomfort of sharing a bed with a stranger.

Returning to her bed, she discovered that her unexpected bedfellow had requested a change of beds, leaving Eden alone and somewhat disappointed.

“I’m offended, a little bit sad, but it’s fine because now I get a whole bed to myself,” Eden shared with her viewers.

Viewers were quick to share their thoughts in the comments section, with many questioning why the man from the British couple hadn’t offered to swap beds with Eden, seeing she was clearly uncomfortable.

“Why didn’t you stay with your female friend and your male friend go with a stranger?” one viewer queried.

In response, Eden explained: “Hi all, I met them (the British couple) on a tour 12 hours before getting the bus. I might’ve ended up being a girlfriend snatcher. They did not AT ALL need to offer to swap beds as I was pretty much a stranger to them too!!! Xx”.

Another viewer chimed in: “I would’ve booked 2 spots, ain’t NO WAY I’d share an overnight bus and a bed with a stranger.”

Yet, another individual countered: “If someone came to the spot next to me constantly recording, including putting me on their video. I wouldn’t feel great about that, glad he could be more comfortable somewhere else.”