Have you already completed a Working Holiday Visa in Australia and wish to extend your stay Down Under? Know that it is possible to renew your WHV twice under certain conditions. Here is all the information you need to renew your working holiday visa and enjoy more time in this beautiful country or give you the possibility of returning later.
Conditions to get a second year visa in Australia
Several conditions apply to renew your Working Holiday Visa:
- You will need to be under 31 years old (35 for Irish, Canadians, French, Italian and Danish citizens),
- have a valid passport,
- will not be accompanied by dependent children
- be able to show that you have health cover for the length of your stay in Australia.
- complete three months or 88 days of specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa.
Since 2019, holders of WHV visas carrying out 6 months of eligible work in regional areas while on their second working holiday visa (417 or 462) can claim a third WHV. The 6 months of work must have been carried out after July 1, 2019.
Good to know
Volunteer work such as Wwoofing or HelpX can no longer be counted for the 88 days. It must be paid work. For more information, go to: Volunteer Work Excluded from 2nd Year Working Holiday Visa in Australia.
Be careful though! Following the bushfires and floods that ravaged part of the country in 2020 and 2022, it is possible to volunteer in disaster-affected areas and these days count for your renewal. Check out this article for more information: WHV specified work in disaster-affected areas
Eligible areas
For 417 visa holders, all areas in Tasmania, South Australia and Northern Territory are eligible for renewal. For the other states and territories only certain postcodes are eligible.
Tourism and hospitality work carried out from 22 June 2021 in remote and very remote Australia areas will be considered eligible specified work for the purpose of a second or third Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa application lodged from March 2022.
Bushfire recovery work carried out after 31 July 2019 in specifics areas is eligible specified work for the purpose of a second or third Work and Holiday visa.
Flood recovery work carried out after 31 December 2021 in specifics areas is eligible specified work for the purpose of a second or third Work and Holiday visa.
Eligible regions to renew your WHV
Find the list of postcodes eligible to renew your second and third WHV in Australia.
Eligible jobs
There are many different industries you can work in to qualify for a second working holiday visa. Industries differ depending on your visa type (417 and 462).
For 417 Visa Holders
Approved specified regional work include:
- Agriculture industries (harvesting, cultivation, processing)
- Fishing and pearling
- Tree farming and felling
- Mining
- Construction
- Bushfire recovery work carried out after 31 July 2019 in specifics areas is eligible specified work
- Critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors, after 31 January 2020
- Tourism and hospitality in northern, remote or very remote Australia only (from 22 June 2021)
- Flood recovery work carried out after 31 December 2021
For 462 Visa Holders
Approved regional work include:
- tourism and hospitality in northern or remote and very remote Australia
- 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
- construction in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia
- bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, after 31 July 2019
- flood recovery work in declared flood recovery areas only, undertaken on or after 1 January 2022
- critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020
The Department of Home Affairs provides a list of all jobs that are eligible to renew your working holiday visa.
Good to know: It is the place where you are working, and not the company headquarter, that must be located in the regional area. Work completed in a non-eligible area, which has an office in a regional area, does not meet the requirement.
Eligible Jobs to renew your Working Holiday Visa
The Australian government provides a list of all jobs that are eligible to renew your working holiday visa. Find all eligible jobs here:
How to calculate your days to renew your WHV?
Calculating the hours and days
The government has set rules regarding the calculation of the days.
For a second year: Three months’ means three ‘calendar’ months, that is, a minimum period of 88 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days during your period of employment.
For a third year: ‘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.
To meet the requirement for a minimum period of specified work you must complete the same number of normal work days or shifts as a full-time employee in that role and industry would normally work in a 3 months or 6 months period.
One single day of work is considered to be the normal number of hours per day or shift that is considered standard practice in the industry and role in which you are employed. One full day of work is defined as seven to eight hours of work during the day. On average, the Australian working week is 35 to 40 hours.
You can complete the 3 months or 6 months requirement in a variety of ways:
- working multiple short periods of work in any combination of full time, part time or on a piecework rate, which add up to the equivalent of 5 days a week over 3 or 6 calendar months
- working 5 days a week for a continuous period of 3 or 6 calendar months, including on a piecework rate agreement
- working less than 5 days a week over a period longer than 3 or 6 calendar months, including on a piecework rate agreement
Note that you cannot count work carried out on any one calendar day as more than one day of specified work. If the industry’s standard day is 5 hours long for example, working 10 hours on one day won’t count as 2 days of specified work.
Workers can count sick days only during periods where they are in paid employment and entitled to sick leave. Supporting evidence must be provided by the employer. Australian public holidays can be counted as a day of specified work if you are paid for that day.
What about the wage?
Some applications for a second or third visa have been denied because the government considered that the people had been underpaid. So remember to check that you are paid the legal minimum wage before starting a new employment.
Minimum wages for fruit picking or any other job in Australia are set by collective agreements (awards). They can vary depending on your age and the type of contract under which you are employed (full time, part-time or casual). Casual workers must be affected more than permanent employees (15 to 25% depending on the collective agreement).
To know the legal minimum wage to which you are entitled, it is important to know the professional sector on which you depend. Indeed, the minimum wage varies from job to job because it is set by collective agreements. For example, if you work in horticulture, you will depend on the Horticulture Award. On the contrary, if you work on a construction site, it will be the āBuilding and Construction General On-site Awardā.
Since 28 April 2022, workers paid a piece rate are guaranteed a minimum hourly wage. A pieceworker working full time or part time at the average productivity of a competent pieceworker must earn at least $23.38 per hour. For a casual pieceworker, it is $29.22 per hour.
The national minimum wage has been set at $20.33 per hour since July 2021 (before tax). This represents $772.60 for a week at 38 hours.
Do I need to work with the same employer for 3 months?
You can either work in one block with the same employer or in separate blocks with one employer or a number of employers. Days of work may be in different kinds of specified work. For example, you can complete 60 days of harvest work, travel for a month and complete another month in a construction job to get your 88 days. You are free to spread the work over the stay period of your WHV visa.
How to apply for a second year visa?
Application
Applying for a working holiday visa, whether first, second or third year, is quite easy. You can apply for a second Working Holiday visa online on the government website:
You can apply in or outside Australia.
If you apply from Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is granted.
If applying from outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
How much does the second year visa cost?
To apply for your Second WHV, it will cost you $495 (July 2021).
Evidence of specified work to provide
It is important to keep evidence of your specified work.
We advise you to keep:
- Keep the payslips received (paper or email). Make sure you have the ABN and details of your employer.
- Keep your employment contract if you have one, the document setting the payment terms if you are paid on performance (piecework agreement).
- Ask your employer, at the end of the fiscal year, to provide you with the PAYG, i.e. a summary of the payslips received. This document can only be sent to you by your employer after the end of the fiscal year (after June 30 of each year). So remember to keep a contact (email, phone) to contact the employer after this date.
- Bank statements from your Australian account where you can see your check deposits or wage transfers for the periods worked. If you are paid in cash, keep your pay stubs.
Tip: Keep as much evidence of your presence in the region and of the work done as possible. For example, keep photos, bus tickets, receipts for purchases made in the region, etc.
Finally, be aware that the government can call your employers to verify the information provided during your request.
Please note: You may be asked to submit a photocopy of your passport (page with your details).
When to apply for a second or third year visa?
You may apply either while you still hold a first or second Working Holiday visa or at a later date.
If you want to extend your visa straight after the first visa, you should apply before your first working holiday visa expires.
If you wish to come back later, you should apply before your 31st birthday (35 for some nationalities). You will have one year after approval to enter Australia.
UK passport holders age will be increased to 35 years old following the signature of the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and UK on 17/12/21. This will come into force within the next few months.
Bridging Visa
If you apply for your second year and your first visa is about to expire, you will be granted a bridging visa. You will be able to remain in Australia and to work while waiting for your second year visa.
The processing time varies. Some applications are granted within a few hours whereas others are investigated and can take up to 2 months.
When lodging your application for a second or third year visa, you should upload all the supporting evidence at the same time. This will avoid delay in processing your application.
Apply for a third-year visa
WHV visa holders doing 6 months of eligible work in regional areas while on their second working holiday visa (417 or 462) are eligible for a third WHV. You must complete the 6 months of work after July 1, 2019. To qualify for the third year, an age condition is imposed depending on your nationality (30 or 35), a valid passport is also necessary. You must not have a dependent child and must be able to prove that you have health insurance for the duration of your stay.
Eligible regions and jobs
To renew your visa for the third year, you will need to complete 6 months of eligible work. The jobs eligible for renewal are the same as those for a second year. The eligible regions are also the same for a second or third year.
Information extracted from the Australian Immigration Website.
Last updated 03/06/2022
Hello!
Iām a little stuck about my hours. Iām working on a dairy farm and my first four weeks didnāt meet the 35 hours however I was working the full time rota. They then changed the rota so we had more hours, will the first four weeks count?
Thanks,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
You have to check the industry standards (Pastoral Award)to see the ordinary hours worked. Under the Pastoral Award 2010, ordinary hours are 152 hours worked over a four-week period, regardless of whether they fall on a weekend. Ordinary hours for casuals are the same as for full-time employees. Cheers
Hey! I have a question about applying for 2nd whv , I have two different employers for my 88 days so when filling out my form where do I put in the 2nd employers details ? do I need to download the same page on the site again and attach it or how do I go about it ? Thank you!
Hi Noelle
You need to provide both ABN and details for your employers. Cheers
Hi ! For the 2nd year, do you have to show a bank statement of having $5 000 in your savings account.
Hi Carmela
You shouldnt have to provide such info. Make sure you give all details of your employment history. Cheers
Hey,
Iām writing to you to if see you my know what my situation may be with the visa I hold. I currently have a second year working holiday visa for Australia which I was granted on the 4th February 2020. I had applied for the visa when I was at home (Ireland) and was planning to fly to Australia on the 8th June 2020 but due to the COVID-19 restrictions here at home and in Australia my flight was cancelled.
As Iām sure you know I still have to the 4th February 2021 to enter Australia due to when I applied for the visa but with the restrictions that are in place here at home (Ireland) and in Australia, I feel I may not be able to get a flight before the 4th February 2021, due to all these COVID-19 restrictions. If this is the case and Iām unable to get out to Australia before the 4th February next year, I am wondering would I be able to reapply for a second year working holiday visa again at a later time next year even though I have been granted one already but havenāt entered Australia yet. If there is any information or help you can give me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Damian
Hi Damian,
Yes you will be able to reapply without any charge for a new WHV. You should check : https://www.australia-backpackersguide.com/working-holiday-australia-visa-waiver-refund-announced/
I’ve got a question regarding the bridging visa when applying for the second working holiday visa, online it seems like it expires after 28 days. If the processing times are longer than that, is there a way to extend the bridging visa or do I have to leave if that happens? With the restrictions on I’m not very tempted to move around too much.
Also, can I apply for my second working holiday one day before my first one expires, I got one document I’d like to add that I will get that day. Or is it better to submit it now and then add the last document later if that’s possible at all? Like say it expires on the 31st of December, can I submit my application on the 30th whilst in Australia and get straight on the bridging visa?
Hi Pernilla
Your bridging will expire when your visa is granted or declined. By now you most likely already applied for your visa so hope you got it granted already š
Hi, how do I get my passport certified as I do not know anyone in the required occupations? Other backpacker must be same situation.
Hi Peter,
You have the eligible occupations listed here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/specified-work-conditions/specified-work-462
Hi,
I have worked with two employers for my 88 days. On page 8 of the application it asks for the details of the specified work. On that page you can only enter the details of one employer. Do you know if on the next page you then can enter the details of the second employer?
Thanks,
Colleen.
Hi Colleen,
Yes you will be able to add a second employer and his details (ABN, address etc).
Cheers
Hi,
My partner and I completed our 88 days of farm work and have since submitted our second year visas with all payslips included. Today, we have received an update requesting more information in the form of bank statements to see payments being received. We received cash payments so only have our payslips as evidence, any advice as to what we can do? Such a horrible situation since we have actually completed all of our days
Hi Amy,
You can join any other evidence you may have – cash receipt for example. You might want to attach a statutory declaration from both of you to certify you received cash payments and used the money for daily expenses…
My British partner had a working holiday visa about 8 years ago and only stayed a few months. He didnāt do the farm work required for 2nd working holiday visa. He wants to move to Australia, is there a way to get second working holiday visa and do the farm work when he arrives? Are there other options as we arenāt eligible to partner visa requirements abs need to live together for 12 months. Thank you
Hi Erin,
Unfortunately if he didnt do the 88 days he won’t be able to apply for a second year. Your options seem to be to wait for the 12 months relationship to apply for a partner or go for a student or tourist visa in the meantime. However, know that currently borders are closed and won’t reopen before 2022 (likely). Good luck
Hi!
My second WH Visa was granted before my first visa finished.
Do you know if it’s okay to start counting the 6 months of specified work for the third visa from the granted day?
Or does it starts counting after the first visa finished?
Thanks,
Francisco
Hi Francisco, Yes from the granted day. Cheers
Hi , I was in Australia on my first year working holiday visa , and applied for my my second year working holiday visa and it was granted while we where in Australia , but we then left Australia before or first year visa ended , does that mean I have 12 months from the end of my first year to re entrer and have a full second year from then or does it continue directly from when my first one ended for one year ? Thanks
Hi Michael,
You were in Australia when you applied and held a first Working Holiday visa so You can remain in Australia for 24 months from the date you first entered Australia on your first Working Holiday visa. cheers
Hi, I hope you can help.
I did my working holiday in Australia from July 2017 to June or July 2019. I did about 8 months farm work in my 1st year and 6 months in my 2nd year (loved it!). The new law about getting your 3rd year came into effect about 2 weeks before my 2nd year visa ended so I did not get to utilise it.
I’m wondering if there is any way I can go back to Australia with a working holiday visa?
Hi Jess,
Unfortunately, the work to renew for a 3rd year needs to be completed after July 19. So even if you did 6 months work during your second year you won’t be able to renew…sorry š
hi, I am currently working in a mine camp, in Nebo, cp 4742, I work as a housekeeper, I would like if this job and area, serve to extend my WHV 417 for a second year??? Also, how do you count the 88 days, since I work 14/7 or 7/7, thanks
Hi Fernando,
The postcode is eligible.
However, I do not think the job is eligible. See Immi Website : Examples of ineligible specified work in mining: cooking/catering on a mine site / cleaning the interior of mine complexes or buildings
cheers
Hello,
I was wondering if I did 3 months at the beginning of my 1st year to give me eligibility to apply for my second year… If I wanted a to go back to the UK and then return to Australia at a later date, do I have to apply outside Australia to be able to wait as long as it’s before I’m 31?
And if I applied for my second year visa within Australia, does it technically carry on without pause once the first 12 months has been completed ?
Is it also possible that in few years time that the age will be finalised to 35 years old to enter ?
Also if whatever visas we have now ,as potentially farming may be scrapped and we can travel to aus on a 3 year visa instead … can this be added or switched from the visas we have ? (As technically if it’s a new rule that we didn’t know about it or had the opportunity to do will they make allowances?)
Thank you
Alice
Hi Alice,
– If you apply from outside Australia, you will need to wait the response before entering Australia. Once your visa is approved you ll have 1 year to enter Australia.
– Yes if you apply from Australia.
– following the FTD between Australia and the UK, the age limit should be increased to 35 in the coming months (we are hoping July 22)
– We do not know at the moment.
Cheers
Hello,
Iām currently 30 and will be entering on my first WHV in the new year. I know that Iāll need to do my 88days and apply for my second year before my 31st birthday or would my vids need to be granted before my birthday? The two years would then count from when I first entered right?
Iām from the UK so know that it should be changing to 35 but this might not come into effect in time or be applied to those who already have visas so just want to make sure that Iām covered!
Thanks
Hi Clare,
No need for your visas to be approved before your 31st bday. Once the FTA enters into force you ll be granted the 3 years no matter if you have done the 88 days of not – you ll still need to apply for it though (and pay the fees). Cheers
Hi,
I would like some informations, My westpac bank account was closed by the bank 2 years after my expiration Visa (maybe in 2016). I went to the bank to close but there seems to be a problem. My parents never told me that they received document from the bank ā¦.
My bank account was at 0 dollars so they closes it on negativ.
Do you think, itās can be a problem for my second visa ?
Cannot fine any answers online ā¦
Thank a lot for your help.
Lola
Hi Lola,
No it shouldnt be an issue. Unless you owe Westpac a huge amount of money!
Hello š
Iām thinking about getting my first WHV and eventually a 2nd but am unsure how long I can wait between the two? I plan on traveling for a long time, could I complete my 1st year and then travel elsewhere for as long as I want before applying for my 2nd WHV (considering the age limit ofc)? Canāt find the answer anywhere online, hopefully you can help!
Thanks,
Emily x
Hi Emily,
As long as the FTA is not into force, you ll need to work the 88 days to renew. But once it is in place, you can do a year. Then travel else where and come back to Australia whenever you want. Cheers
Hello,
I visited in 2019 and worked for a silage contractor on a whv 417.I have recently applied for my second one but payslips only show 87 instead of 88 days. Do you think this will be let through?
Hi Tyler, at the moment it should be fine. Or else you can add a statutory declaration saying that you actually did 88 days ? Cheers
Hi there, I completed my 88 days on 3 different farms, it was in 2018 i finished it and i’m now applying for my second year in 2022. i’n putting in the details for a farm i worked on and the Abn number is invalid according to the gov website but this was the abn that paid me, what do i do? any advice would be helpful.
thanks,
Sam
Hi Sam,
Try to see if the company changed its structure – maybe they changed their ABN. Best is to contact them and check with them, you might need to add a letter from the company confirming your work with them. Cheers
Hi,
Can an employee work on their own ABN and still qualify for their 2nd year visa in a rural hospitality position? eg Contract Cleaners?
Cheers
Kellie
Hi Kellie,
This point is quite unclear with the ATO, so my advice would be to contact them directly to clarify. Cheers
hi the uk australia trade agreement is about to come into force raising the age to 35
my age is 35 and i know i must apply before 36th birthday once trade agreement is enforced
its expected march or april to be installed
i got a working holiday visa back in 2008 for 1 year
my question is once it comes into force will i be able to apply for the second year visa inside australia on a bridging visa or will I have to apply for it outside australia?
I would like to go to my friends on 3 months bridging visa and then once it is implemented apply for 2 year work holiday visa but i’m not sure if it is possible to do it inside australia
Hi Jordan, unfortunately we do not have any info on this point. Logically it should be possible to apply from Australia (as for the 2nd and 3rd year atm).
Hi there,
So I was on a working holiday visa 10 years ago when I was 20, I completed my 88 days farm work while I was over there & I have kept all documentation, ABN numbers and payslips from that time.
Iām now 30, from Ireland and planning on heading over in August to Perth by applying for the second year working holiday visa.
Is this an accepted route to get back over? I have also kept all the emails sent from Visa first with the first year working holiday visa document details on it.
Any information on this would be great.
Many thanks,
Alan
Hi Alan,
Sure you will be able to apply for a second year by providing payslips, ABN details etc. Enjoy!
Hi, I hope you can help please!
I am a UK passport holder in Aus currently on my first WHV. I have been offered a two year sponsorship.
After these two years, will I be eligible to apply for a 2nd WHV to travel / have more flexible work?
By this point I am hoping the FTA will also be in force!
Many thanks,
Abigail
Hi Abigail, why not. However the best option for you will be to get another TSS following your first one – path to the reisdency. Cheers
Thank you! Hoping to get a bit of travelling in which I understand will be harder on a TTS…. Thanks for the response!
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