Working Holiday Visa
(Subclass 417)
The WORKING HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 417) enables eligible tourists, aged 18 to 35 (inclusive), and eligible passport holders to enjoy an extended holiday in Australia, incorporating short-term work to support their finances. This visa has a duration of 12 months, offering multiple entries and exits from Australia. Within this period, visa holders can typically engage in employment with a single employer for up to six months, pursue studies for a maximum of four months, and explore opportunities for specific work in designated regions, potentially extending the work period to 12 months. Applicants completing three months of designated work in regional Australia during their initial Working Holiday visa may qualify for a second Working Holiday visa. As of July 1, 2019, eligibility for a third Working Holiday visa is possible, subject to meeting supplementary specified work criteria.
Updates to the Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa and Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa provide young adults from specific countries with the opportunity to work in Australia to support their holiday expenses. While the visa typically has a 12-month validity, eligible visa holders may, under certain conditions, seek a second or third working holiday visa.
UPDATES FROM 22 April 2022
The government has introduced changes to the categories and locations of specified work for working holiday maker visas – subclass 417 and 462. These changes encompass:
FLOOD RECOVERY WORK: Includes paid or unpaid work carried out after 31 December 2021 in areas affected by floods in NSW and QLD.
BUSHFIRE RECOVERY WORK: Encompasses paid or unpaid work undertaken after 31 July 2019 in regions affected by bushfires.
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY: Four new postcodes have been incorporated: 4406, 4416, 4498 in QLD, and 7215 in TAS.
Typically, individuals seeking a second working holiday visa must engage in ‘specified work’ for a minimum of 3 months. For those considering a third working holiday visa, a duration of at least 6 months in ‘specified work’ is required.
For Subclass 417, specified work is generally expected to be undertaken in regional Australia and includes activities such as:
- 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 carried out after 31 July 2019
- recovery work in natural disaster affected areas carried out after 31 December 2021
- critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020
For Subclass 462, specified work areas encompass:
- Plant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified regional areas
- Fishing and pearling in Northern Australia only
- Tree farming and felling in Northern Australia only
- Tourism and hospitality in Northern Australia only
- Construction in Northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia
- bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas carried out after 31 July 2019
- recovery work in natural disaster affected areas carried out after 31 December 2021
- critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020.
However, due to the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘specified work’ now extends to include working holiday makers in the healthcare and medical sector across all of Australia, not limited to regional areas.
Healthcare and medical sector work in this context involves tasks related to medical treatment, nursing, contact tracing, testing, research, and support services, excluding general administration work or the sale of personal protective equipment. This expanded definition applies to applications from 19 August 2020 onward.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Note: The following represent the minimum criteria for visa application. Additional requirements may apply based on individual circumstances.
To be eligible, you must:
- Fall within the age bracket of 18 to 30 years (inclusive), with an exception for citizens of Canada, Denmark, France, and Republic of Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom who can apply up to the age of 35.
- Submit your application online from outside Australia.
- Travel without dependent children.
- Not have a previous entry to Australia on a subclass 417 or 462 visa. If you have a history with a subclass 417 visa, refer to the second Working Holiday visa.
- Possess a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction.
AGE ELIGIBILITY BY PASSPORT COUNTRY
Note: The age limits specified below are applicable at the time of application.
- Belgium: 18 to 30 years
- Canada: 18 to 35 years
- Republic of Cyprus: 18 to 30 years
- Denmark: 18 to 35 years
- Estonia: 18 to 30 years
- Finland: 18 to 30 years
- France: 18 to 35 years
- Germany: 18 to 30 years
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders): 18 to 30 years
- Republic of Ireland: 18 to 35 years
- Italy: 18 to 35 years
- Japan: 18 to 30 years
- Republic of Korea: 18 to 30 years
- Malta: 18 to 30 years
- Netherlands: 18 to 30 years
- Norway: 18 to 30 years
- Sweden: 18 to 30 years
- Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport): 18 to 30 years
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including British National Overseas passport holders): 18 to 35 years
If you apply at the age of 30 (or 35) but turn 31 (or 36) before a decision is made, the visa can still be granted.
Eligibility Criteria:
First Working Holiday Visa:
- Age: 18 to 30 years (or 18 to 35 for select countries).
- Apply online from outside Australia.
- Not accompanied by dependent children.
- Passport from an eligible country.
Second Working Holiday Visa:
Completed 3 months of specified work in regional Australia during the first visa. ‘3 months’ is taken to mean a period equivalent to the 3 shortest ‘calendar’ months of the year, that is, a minimum period of 88 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days during your period of employment.
Third Working Holiday Visa (From 1 July 2019):
Completed 6 months of specified work in regional Australia during the second visa. ‘6 months’ is taken to mean a period equivalent to the 6 shortest ‘calendar’ months of the year, that is, a minimum period of 179 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days during your period of employment.
Specified Work Requirement:
Industries for Specified Work:
- tourism and hospitality in northern or remote and very remote Australia, from 22 June 2021
- 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 carried out after 31 July 2019
- recovery work in natural disaster affected areas carried out after 31 December 2021
- critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020
Specified Work Conditions:
- Voluntary work not accepted.
- Minimum period: 88 calendar days for three months, 179 calendar days for six months.
- ‘Regional Australia’ defined by postcode.
Work Completion Options:
- Full-time, 5 days per week for a continuous 3 or 6 calendar month period.
- Part-time or piecework rate work equivalent to five days a week.
- Can be with one or multiple employers, spread over the stay in Australia.
- Can exceed the required period.
Exemptions to 6 month work limitation:
From 1 January 2024 you can work for the same employer in Australia for more than 6 months without asking permission if you work in any of the following:
- different locations for the same employer, as long as work in any one location does not exceed 6 months
- plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia
- natural disaster recovery work anywhere in Australia
- critical sectors, including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare, tourism and hospitality, anywhere in Australia
- certain industries, including, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, in northern Australia only
Application Process:
Lodging Application:
Submit to the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) with supporting documents.
Main Criteria:
- Satisfy specified work requirements.
- Sufficient funds for initial stages.
- Meet health and character requirements.
- Health/travel insurance may be required.
Entry Requirement:
Must enter Australia within 12 months of visa grant.
Work Completion Options:
- Work in any job for up to six months per employer (unless exemption applies).
- Not study for more than four months.
Note: Paid public holiday leave and sick days count as specified work days. Unpaid leave, holidays, and days off due to weather are not counted
Experience swift processing times for your application:
- 75% of applications are processed in just 15 days.
- 90% of applications processed within a reasonable timeframe of 22 days.
Embark on this journey of a lifetime, exploring the wonders of Australia while gaining valuable work experience. Uncover the diverse landscapes, culture, and opportunities that await you Down Under.