UK–Australia Free Trade Deal: What’s New for Working Holiday Visas

Under the Australia–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A‑UKFTA), Australia has introduced major new privileges for UK passport holders on the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa. These changes took effect in two phases, July 2023 and July 2024 and are now fully in force.

Commencement of the Agreement

The Australia-UK FTA entered into force on 31st of May 2023. The agreement implies that more than 99 per cent of Australian products will enter the UK duty-free. On the other hand British products including cars, whisky, confectionery, cosmetics etc. coming into Australia are expected to be cheaper.

But the FTA is also bringing massive changes for Working Holiday Visa Makers (subclass 417)! From 1st July 2024, UK passport holders can be granted up to three separate Working Holiday visas without having to meet any specified work requirements. These arrangements apply to all Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa applications lodged by UK passport holders on or after 1 July 2024.

Moreover since July 2023, they can apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years inclusive.

👍 Since January 2024, Australians up to the age of 35, up from 30, are able to apply for working holidays in the UK and stay for a maximum of three years instead of two.

Working Holiday Visa changes for UK passport holders

Age Eligibility Expanded

From July 2023, UK citizens aged 18 to 35 (inclusive) may apply for a Working Holiday visa—up from the previous upper limit of 30. This brings the UK scheme in line with several other WHM partner countries and opens the door for more young Britons to live and work Down Under.

Australians are also able to apply for the visas up to the age of 35, instead of 30, and stay for three years instead of two in the UK.

Up to three years in total

Under the old rules, a Working Holiday visa gave you 12 months, extendable only by completing regional work. UK passport holders can now be granted three consecutive Working Holiday visas, for a maximum of three years in Australia with no specified work at any stage.

You don’t have to take them back to back. You can do a year, go home, and come back two years later for your second, provided you’re still within the age limit when you apply. And if you’ve already spent one or two years here on a 417, you can apply for whatever remains under the new arrangements.

No Specified Work Requirement

UK passport holders, including those who previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa using a different eligible passport (for example, from the Republic of Ireland), do not have to meet the specified work requirement when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa on or after 1 July 2024.

You can choose to apply for a first, second and third visa at any time as long as you comply with the eligible age requirement. You do not need to stay in Australia for three years in a row.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: If you have already spent one or two years in Australia on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa before the new arrangements commence, you will be able to apply for the remaining visas under the new arrangements. This will enable you to access the maximum of three years in Australia.

Eligible passport holders

These provisions are exclusively for applicants who use a passport issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to apply for their visa.

The term ‘UK or British passport’ includes any passport issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, such as a British National (Overseas) passport, also known as a BN(O) passport.

According to longstanding legislative arrangements, regardless of which eligible Working Holiday (subclass 417) passport a dual national uses, an individual can only obtain a maximum of three Working Holiday (subclass 417) visas in their lifetime, excluding any nil VAC WHM visas held.

UK citizens who have been granted and entered Australia on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa with a different passport (for example, from the Republic of Ireland) can apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa without meeting the specified work requirement if they use their UK passport to apply on or after 1 July 2024.

Consequences of the agreement on visa holders

In order to understand the consequences of the agreement on current and future WHV makers, here are a couple of scenarios extracted from the immigration website.

If you had to leave Australia because of Covid

Example of Bridget who was in Australia on 20 March 2020 when COVID-19 travel restrictions started. She was on her first Working Holiday visa (a ‘COVID-19 affected visa’). She returned to the UK without completing any specified work. Her visa ceased before 31 December 2021.

Alternatively, with the new arrangements, she is able to apply for a second and third visa. She does not need to meet any specified work requirements.

If you came to Australia in the past without completing specific work requirements

Example of Doug who held a first Working Holiday visa in Australia in 2017. He returned to the UK before the COVID-19 pandemic. If he wishes to apply for another Working Holiday visa before the new arrangements start, he will have to meet the specified work requirements.

With the new arrangements, he will be eligible to apply for second and third Working Holiday visas, up to the age of 35 years. He will not need to meet any specified work requirements. He can apply from in or outside Australia.

Other changes included in the Free Trade agreement

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Australia and the United Kingdom, marks a significant milestone in the economic relationship between the two nations. This landmark agreement aims to enhance trade and economic cooperation by eliminating tariffs and reducing trade barriers. It covers a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services, opening up new opportunities for businesses on both sides. By fostering stronger trade ties, this FTA is expected to boost economic growth, create jobs, and promote innovation while strengthening the historical and cultural bonds that have long connected Australia and the UK. It represents a promising chapter in the ongoing collaboration between these two Commonwealth nations and paves the way for even closer ties in the future.

Therefore as part of the deal, the Australian government will scrap tariffs on a range of British goods. This includes whisky, pharmaceuticals, cars, machinery and tractors. British products including cars, whisky, confectionery, cosmetics etc. coming into Australia are expected to be cheaper. Britain will also gain greater access to Australian markets for services.

More than 99 per cent of Australian products will enter the UK duty-free. These include some of Australia key exports, such as wine, short and medium grain rice, sugar, honey, nuts, olive oil and food supplements. Britain has agreed to liberalise Australian imports of beef, sheep meat and sugar, increasing their tariff-free threshold and tapering tariffs over time.

Beyond the Working Holiday visa: the IECSEP pilot

The A-UKFTA also created the Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP), giving UK nationals access to a Temporary Work (International Relations) subclass 403 pathway, with 2,000 places:

• Early Careers Stream — up to 12 months, for tertiary-qualified applicants aged 21 to 45
• Innovation Stream — up to 36 months, for highly skilled professionals with a track record of innovation

Check the current status before planning around this. The pilot was originally scheduled to run to 30 June 2025. Whether it has been extended, made permanent or closed is worth confirming directly with DFAT or Home Affairs — pilot programs are frequently reviewed, and this one is not widely publicised.

For most UK travellers the Working Holiday visa remains the simpler route. The IECSEP is aimed at a narrow group: graduates in specific fields, and professionals in innovation-driven roles.

What the FTA did not change

Two questions come up constantly in the comments below, and the article never answers them directly.

The six-month rule still exists

Condition 8547 is unchanged: in principle you can’t work for the same employer for more than six months. The FTA removed the specified work requirement, not this one.

In practice it rarely bites, because since 1 January 2024 there are broad exemptions — you no longer need permission if your work is in plant and animal cultivation, natural disaster recovery, or critical sectors including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, childcare, tourism and hospitality. Those apply anywhere in Australia. Construction, mining, fishing and forestry are exempt too, but only in northern Australia.

Irish passport holders are not covered

These arrangements apply only to UK passports, including British National (Overseas) passports. Irish citizens have their own agreement: the age limit is 35, but the specified work requirement still applies for a second and third visa.

More on this: how to calculate your 88 days · eligible jobs for a second year