Australian Working Holiday Visas

AUSTRALIAN WORKING HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 417)  

Currently, Australia welcomes more than 200,000 working holiday makers each year.   

Australia is part of the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa scheme, providing opportunities for young people to holiday in Australia and supplement their travel funds through short-term employment. The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months from the date of first entry to Australia, regardless of whether or not you spend the whole time in Australia. Some of these countries have caps in the number of visas per year, which are filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Australia has reciprocal working holiday arrangements with 19 countries. Applicants from those countries aged 18-30 years who hold a valid passport are eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa in Australia. 

People from Belgium, Canada, the Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are eligible for the Australian Working Holiday Visa. 

Working Holiday Makers on this visa can usually work for 6 months for any one employer in casual or temporary work. But from 5 November 2018, holders of 417 visas are able to work for up to 12 months in jobs doing agricultural work. The full definition of this can be seen here.

The Department of Home Affairs has further information about the WHM scheme including how to apply online.

*From 1 July 2019, citizens of Canada, Ireland and France aged up to 35 can now apply for a 417 visa (up from 30 years old).

AUSTRALIAN WORK AND HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 462) 

Australian Work and Holiday Visas may be available for tertiary-educated people from Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, Vietnam and Ecuador.

These visas provide similar opportunities to the WHM visa scheme, but have different requirements. 

Please note that residents from the USA are exempt from the tertiary education requirement. 

The Department of Home Affairs website has further information on how to apply for a Work and Holiday Visa.

SECOND WORKING HOLIDAY VISA 

Loved your time in Australia so much you want to stay a little while longer? Working holiday makers on a subclasses 417 and 462 visas may apply for a second Working Holiday visa valid for a further 12 months if they work in any regional primary industry – for example, farm work – for three months (88 days).

In addition, subclass 462 visa holders are able to seek the second year visa if they work in Northern Australia (places like Darwin, Broome and North Queensland – north of the Tropic of Capricorn) for three months (88 days) in tourism and hospitality as well as the usual primary industry options. For example, Working Holiday Makers employed at a café in Cairns or a bar in Broome may be eligible for a second year working holiday visa.

See the changes made to the Working Holiday scheme in November 2018.

THIRD WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

From July 2019, 417 and 462 visa holders will be able apply for a third year visa if they undertake 6  months of specified work in a specified regional area during their second year.

See our guide to applying for your second and third year working holiday visa.

STUDENT VISAS 

Alternatively, if you plan to undertake study while in Australia, Department of Home Affairs has a range of Student Visas available, depending on the type of study to be undertaken. 

FURTHER READING

yha.com.au also has information about setting up a bank account for working holiday visa holders, getting your tax back on an Australian working holiday visa/help with your tax return and employer expectations, including resumes/CVs.