Uber Eats vs DoorDash vs Amazon Flex: which delivery gig is easiest to start on a Working Holiday visa (and what happened to Menulog)

You've landed, you've got a phone and a bit of energy, and you want money coming in before the farm job or the hospitality gig comes through. Delivery is the obvious answer. The less obvious part is that the three platforms still operating in Australia have very different rules, and the one that pays best is the one most WHV holders can't join on day one.

This is a straight comparison of Uber Eats, DoorDash and Amazon Flex for temporary visa holders, plus a note on Menulog, because a lot of people are still searching for it.

The short version

Uber Eats: the most flexible, with one scooter catch

Uber Eats takes bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, motorbikes and cars, and it has the widest coverage across cities and regional towns. For WHV holders the important rules are:

• Bicycle or e-bike: no driver's licence at all. You need proof of ID, an ABN, a background check, and you complete a short bicycle safety test and impairment education module in the app. This is the fastest route in for anyone whose licence situation is complicated.
• Car: Uber accepts a full overseas driver's licence for car deliveries in NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA and WA, as long as you're on a temporary visa (permanent residents must convert). The licence must be valid, show a clear photo and display your full legal name. If it's not in English, you must upload a NAATI certified translation or an International Driving Permit alongside it.
• Scooter or motorbike: this is the catch. Overseas licences are not accepted for two-wheeled motor vehicles. You need a full Australian licence, which most WHV holders don't have.

Activation usually takes one to two weeks once documents are in.

DoorDash: the easiest sign-up on the list

DoorDash has the lightest requirements of the three and is the one most experienced couriers describe as the quickest to get activated. You need to be 18 or over, have an ABN, consent to a free background check, and have work rights in Australia. Bicycle couriers need nothing else.

For car or scooter deliveries, DoorDash accepts overseas licences for temporary visa holders and international students, and also accepts P-plate licences. As with Uber, a licence that isn't in English has to be accompanied by a NAATI certified translation for the identity and licence check to pass.

Activation is typically a few days. DoorDash runs a Peak Pay system that adds a bonus per delivery in busy periods, and most serious couriers now run DoorDash and Uber Eats at the same time, accepting whichever offer is better at that moment.

Amazon Flex: better pay, harder door

Amazon Flex works differently. You book delivery blocks of a few hours, collect parcels from an Amazon station, and get paid per block rather than per drop. The hourly rate is the best of the three, and the work is more predictable.

The requirements are also the strictest:

• Minimum age 20
• A full, unrestricted Australian driver's licence. Overseas licences are not accepted, and neither are P plates. Any overseas licence has to be converted first.
• A 4-door car, SUV or van. Two-door cars, utes with open trays and motorbikes are ineligible.
• Valid insurance and CTP cover
• ABN, background check and right-to-work check
• In NSW, Bluecard transport safety training, which Amazon pays for

For most WHV holders this makes Amazon Flex a "later" option rather than a "week one" option. It becomes realistic once you've converted your licence, which in most states you're required to do anyway if you stay longer than the state's grace period. Our state-by-state licence guide covers those deadlines.

What happened to Menulog?

Menulog stopped operating in Australia on 26 November 2025 after almost twenty years, leaving Uber Eats and DoorDash as the two major food delivery platforms. If you see guides recommending Menulog as a sign-up option, they're out of date. Smaller apps like HungryPanda and Easi still operate in some cities, mostly serving Asian restaurants, but their courier onboarding is patchier and English-language support is limited.

The licence question, properly

This is where most WHV delivery plans get stuck, so here's the logic laid out:

1. Deliver by bicycle or e-bike: no licence, no translation, no conversion. Start immediately on Uber Eats or DoorDash.
2. Deliver by car on an overseas licence: possible on Uber Eats (six states) and DoorDash. If your licence is not in English, you need a NAATI certified translation or an IDP uploaded with it. A translation is usually the better choice because you'll need it again for Medicare, rental cars, police stops and eventual licence conversion, whereas an IDP is only valid for a year and has to be issued in your home country. Here's the IDP vs NAATI comparison if you're deciding.
3. Deliver by scooter, or on Amazon Flex: full Australian licence required. That means converting your overseas licence at your state's transport authority, which itself needs a NAATI translation if the licence isn't in English.

So in two of the three scenarios the translation is the first document you'll be asked for. It's a one-off cost of AU$69 at EzyTranslate, delivered in 24 to 48 hours, and it's the same document you'll reuse for the next two years.

Setting up the rest of the paperwork

All three platforms treat you as an independent contractor, so the admin is identical:

• ABN: free from the Australian Business Register, usually issued instantly. Register as a sole trader with "food delivery service" or "courier services" as your activity. On a WHV, answer "yes" to being an Australian resident for tax purposes if you'll be here more than six months and settled in one place; it's worth checking with an accountant.
• TFN: apply online before you start earning.
• GST: not required unless you cross AU$75,000 a year, unless you also drive rideshare, in which case it's mandatory regardless of income.
• Background check: free on DoorDash, run through the app on Uber Eats and Amazon Flex. This is a national police check, not the overseas police certificate you'd need for a visa application.
• Insurance: if delivering by car, tell your insurer. Many personal policies exclude commercial delivery use.

Which one should you start with?

Start with DoorDash by bicycle if you want income this week with zero licence friction. Add Uber Eats once you're activated, since running both is standard practice and the apps don't mind. Move to car deliveries once your licence translation is in hand, and treat Amazon Flex as the upgrade after you've converted to an Australian licence.

FAQ

Can I deliver for Uber Eats with an overseas licence?
Yes, by car, in NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA and WA, if you're on a temporary visa and hold a full licence. Not by scooter or motorbike. Non-English licences need a NAATI translation or IDP.

Does DoorDash accept international driver's licences?
Yes, for temporary visa holders. P-plate licences are also accepted. If the licence isn't in English, upload a NAATI certified translation with it.

Can I do Amazon Flex on a Working Holiday visa?
Only if you're 20 or over and hold a full, unrestricted Australian licence. Overseas licences and P plates aren't accepted, so most WHV holders need to convert their licence first.

Is Menulog still hiring couriers in Australia?
No. Menulog closed its Australian operations in November 2025.

Do I need an ABN for food delivery on a WHV?
Yes. All three platforms require an ABN because you're a contractor, not an employee. It's free and takes a few minutes online.

Do I need to translate my licence if it's already in English?
No. English-language licences from the UK, Ireland, Canada, the US and similar countries are accepted as-is, subject to each platform's state rules.

Can I run Uber Eats and DoorDash at the same time?
Yes, and most couriers do. Neither platform prohibits multi-apping.