Working Holiday Visas

The Working Holiday Maker program has two types of visas: Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) depending on your country of residence.

Working Holiday

If you’re aged between 18 and 30 (or 35 in some cases) and hold a passport for a country or region participating in Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program, you may be eligible to apply for a 12-month visa which enables you to work in Australia while you are here.

Benefits

There are a range of personal and professional benefits.

A gap year is an incredible opportunity for self-discovery, growth and learning. As you travel, you’ll meet new people, learn about new cultures and develop new skills and interests.                                                                                   

How long does the visa last?

Your first Working Holiday visa lasts for 12 months. However, there are options to stay for 2-3 years if you complete regional or farm work specified by the Australian Government. Learn more about specified work for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).

Working Holiday Visa Options

Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

This is a temporary visa, which allows you to stay in Australia up to 12 months with the option to extend 

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is a temporary visa for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year. It is a temporary visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between Australia and eligible countries.

  • You’re aged between 18 and 30. The age limit for Canadian, Irish and French passport holders is 18-35 (not yet 36)
  • You have a valid passport from an eligible country
  • Your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in Australia
  • You will not have a dependent child with you while you are in Australia
  • This is your first Australian working holiday visa
  • You have enough money to support yourself in Australia (AUD 5,000)
  • You are of good health and character
  • do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday
  • study for up to 4 months
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
  • do 3 months of specified work to become eligible for a second Working Holiday visa

You must be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries/jurisdictions:

  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

To be eligible to apply for a second or third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa, you must have already completed 3 months  in work that is undertaken in a ‘specified’ industry and area of Australia. Information on eligible industries and areas of Australia is provided below.

The following industries and areas are approved for specified work:

  • plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia
  • fishing and pearling in regional Australia
  • tree farming and felling in regional Australia
  • mining in regional Australia
  • construction in regional Australia
  • bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, after 31 July 2019
  • critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020

Specified work is any type of work described below which must be the primary role, function or activity performed during your employment. Supporting work, such as book-keeping, in any industry described in the list above, does not meet the definition of specified work.

Visa application fee  $485AUD

Processing times

  • 75% of applications in 42 days
  • 90% of applications in 3 months

The visa application is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs (the ‘DOHA’), along with any supporting documents.

The main criterion is that you satisfy the requirements listed above.

You must also have access to sufficient funds to support yourself during the initial stages of your holiday.

In addition, you must meet certain health and character requirements, and may be asked to provide evidence of health and/or travel insurance.

You must enter Australia within 12 months of the date that your visa is granted. You may then work in any job in any location in Australia, provided that you do not work for more than six months for any one employer unless an exemption applies. You must also not study for more than four months.

Work and Holiday Subclass 462

This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) have an extended holiday in Australia and work here to help fund their trip.

The subclass 462 visa allows certain tourists aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) years old to have an extended holiday in Australia, while supplementing their funds with short-term work.

The visa is valid for 12 months and allows multiple entries into and exits from Australia Visa holders can generally work for up to six months with any one employer and can study for up to four months.

Work up to 12 months for some types of specified work and regional areas may be possible.

There is an annual limit on the number of first Work and Holiday visas granted to each country.

The annual limit resets on 1 July each visa program year.

Note: These are the minimum requirements for an application for this type of visa. Depending upon your particular circumstances, you may need to meet additional requirements.

You must:

  • be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive)
  • apply from outside Australia
  • not be accompanied by dependent children
  • not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 462 or 417 visa. If you previously entered Australia on a subclass 462 visa, see the second Work and Holiday visa.
  • do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday
  • study for up to 4 months
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
  • do 3 months of specified subclass 462 work to become eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa

You must be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries:

  • Argentina
  • Austria
  • Chile
  • China, People’s Republic of
  • Czech Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Slovak Republic
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • Uruguay
  • United States of America
  • Vietnam

If you are applying for your second Work and Holiday visa, you must also:

  • have completed three calendar months of specified work in regional Australia while on your first Work and Holiday visa

From 1 July 2019, to be eligible for a third Work and Holiday visa, you must:

  • on or after 1 July 2019, have completed six calendar months of specified work in regional Australia while on your second Work and Holiday visa

THE SPECIFIED WORK REQUIREMENT FOR A SECOND OR THIRD VISA

The following industries and regions are approved for specified work:

  • plant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia
  • fishing and pearling in northern Australia only
  • tree farming and felling in northern Australia only
  • tourism and hospitality in northern Australia only

Specified work is any type of work described below which must be the primary role, function or activity performed during your employment.

The period of specified work (either three months for a second Work and Holiday visa, or six months for a third Work and Holiday visa) means an evidenced period of paid, full-time equivalent work over a minimum period of 88 calendar days (for three months) or 176 calendar days (for six months) in regional Australia. ‘Regional Australia’ is defined by post code. One day of full-time work is taken to be the normal number of hours per day (or shift) that is considered standard for that particular industry and the role in which you are employed. You can complete the work in a variety of ways.

For example, to be eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa, an applicant must evidence:

  • working full time, 5 days per week for a continuous 3 calendar month period, including on a piecework rate agreement OR
  • working less than 5 days per week in any combination of full-time, part-time or piecework rate work which adds up to the equivalent of five days a week over 3 calendar months OR
  • working less than five days a week over a longer period than 3 calendar months, including on a piece work rate agreement.

The work can be with one employer, or several, and can be spread over the period of your stay in Australia. You can also work longer than the required period in regional Australia in specified work. Paid public holiday leave and sick days are counted as a day of specified work. Unpaid leave or holidays, and unpaid days due to severe or seasonal weather, are not counted.

Visa application Cost AUD485

Processing times

  • 75% of applications in 49 days
  • 90% of applications in 79 days

The visa application is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs (the ‘DOHA’), along with any supporting documents. The main criterion is that you satisfy the requirements listed above. You must also have access to sufficient funds to support yourself during the initial stages of your holiday. In addition, you must meet certain health and character requirements, and may be asked to provide evidence of health and/or travel insurance.

You must enter Australia within 12 months of the date that your visa is granted. You may then work in any job in any location in Australia, provided that you do not work for more than six months with any one employer unless an exemption applies. You must also not study for more than four months.

Note: Your subclass 462 visa may be subject to a ‘No Further Stay’ condition, meaning that you will not be able to apply for any further visas while you are in Australia. Even if your visa is not subject to this condition, you will only be able to apply for a limited range of visas while you are in Australia.

The time that it takes the DOHA to process your application is dependent upon its processing time service standards, and may also vary due to a number of other factors, including the complexity of your case, perceived risk factors and processing priorities. Please contact us for current information regarding likely processing timeframes for this type of application.

Our client "Bredan Ellis"

My working holiday experience in Australia was amazing, I made so many great friends and had the opportunity to travel across this amazing country. 

Palmer Migration made the whole process simple and stress-free. I was amazed how quickly it was approved and I was on a flight to Australia

Brendan Ellis

Application process

We take all the stress and hassle to apply for your working holiday visa and make sure it is a success 

01

Initial Consultation

We check your eligibility and to know you better.Our flexible communication process allows you to manage your relationship with us in line with your preferences.

Step 2

Visa Application assistance

We provide you with comprehensive assistance across the application process and will make sure your application is decision ready when we lodge

Step 3

Lodge your application

We will lodge your application on your behalf and communicate with the Department until a decision is made

50% off our Professional fees for Working Holiday Visa

Limited time 

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