In March 2013, I arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa. I was 22, I had never been overseas, and I could not speak English. Four to five years later, I had permanent residency.
This is not a list of visa rules. We have other guides for that. This is my own story of going from working holiday to PR in Australia: what it felt like, what helped me, and what I would tell you if you are starting out now. Rules have changed since my time, so please treat this as one person’s experience and check the official pages for your own situation.
My Journey at a Glance
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Before Australia | Finished military service in Korea and worked as an electrician at a shipyard in Geoje to save money |
| March 2013 | Arrived on a working holiday visa, aged 22 |
| About 6 months in | Decided I wanted permanent residency |
| 2014 | Went to Bundaberg for farm work |
| After 2 working holiday years | Moved straight onto employer sponsorship with a bread factory |
| 4 to 5 years after arriving | Received permanent residency |
| Later | Left the factory, studied plumbing at TAFE, then started as a farm contractor |
Why I Came to Australia
I went into the army at 20 and came out at 22. Back in normal life, I took a job with an electrical subcontractor at a shipyard in Geoje and saved up. Then a friend from high school said, “Let’s go to Australia together.” That was it. We came on working holiday visas. I did not have a grand plan.
My First Week: Total Culture Shock
My first home was a backpackers in Stanmore, Sydney, and it was a new world. I had never left Korea, and suddenly I was using mixed-gender showers. I could not say a word of English, and I could not understand what anyone was saying to me. I basically spent that first week as a tourist, just taking it all in.
Doing Every Job I Could Find
I did every kind of work there was: tiling, cleaning, mowing lawns, washing dishes and more. My goal was money, so I just kept my head down and worked hard.
Then I noticed something. People around me started to recognise my effort. Nobody cared which school I went to, which region I came from or who my family was. If I worked hard, people respected it. I loved that about Australia. About six months in, that feeling is what made me want permanent residency.
One thing I would do differently is learn my rights earlier. In those early days, I took cash jobs without knowing what I should be paid. Please read our guide to the minimum wage in Australia before you accept your first job.
How I Learned English at the Pub
My English came from real life. There were always older people at the pub, so I would buy one of them a beer and say, “I came here to study English. I don’t have any foreign friends. Is it okay if we talk?” We would end up chatting for ages. I also studied on my own, of course, but those conversations are what really made my English improve.
Bundaberg: Three Months of Waiting
Around 2014, I went to Bundaberg for farm work, and I could not get a job. I spent about three months just waiting. I ran so low on money that I helped with the housework where I was staying to save on rent. Eventually I worked with crops such as tomatoes and garlic, and it was not easy. Back then, there was nothing there for someone like me, not even a Korean grocery store.
If you are planning your own farm work, read our guides to farm jobs and the 88 days rule and farm work seasons. Timing matters more than most people think.
The Bread Factory That Changed Everything
My sponsor was a bread factory. The owner was Australian, and he really looked after me because I worked hard. I made bread, drove the forklift and managed the stock. I was lucky. After my two working holiday years, I went straight onto sponsorship.
Four to Five Years to PR
In total, it took me four to five years to get permanent residency. When I wanted to give up, it was never because the work was hard. It was always because of people. When people made life difficult, I wanted to quit and walk away from everything. If you feel that way, I understand. It was the hardest part for me too.
Sponsorship and PR rules are different now, so please do not use my timeline as a plan. Our guides to the Skills in Demand visa and PR pathways explain the current options.
How I Asked for a Raise
When I asked for more money, I explained everything from the start: where things stood and what I had improved. Then I told them what I wanted. For example, I would ask for a 20% raise and end up with about 15%. So I always ask high first. It has worked well for me, though every workplace is different.
No Regrets, and My Best Decision
I do not really regret anything. The best decision I made was leaving the bread factory. It had given me so much, but if I had stayed, I think I would have spent my whole life working under someone else for a weekly wage.
After I left, I went to TAFE and studied plumbing for about two years. Then I stopped and started working as a farm contractor. At first, there was no money in it, only debt. But as time went on, I learned what I now believe: the person who hangs on wins.
My Advice: Ask Someone Who Has Done It
If you want to achieve something, ask a person who has already achieved it. If you want a second-year visa, ask someone who got one. If you want permanent residency, ask someone who has it. Their answers will help you more than almost anything else.
Final Thoughts
When I arrived in 2013, clear answers were hard to find. That is why I started Life in Australia Hub. You do not need perfect English or a perfect plan to begin. I had neither. But do check the current rules, know your rights at work, and keep asking people who have walked the path before you.
Related Guides
- Working Holiday Visa Australia
- Farm Jobs in Australia and the 88 Days Rule
- Skills in Demand Visa (482)
- Australian PR Pathways
- How to Find a Job in Australia
