Australia’s Working Holiday (subclasses 417 & 462) program offers young travelers the opportunity to explore the country while funding their adventures through short-term employment. Recent changes have extended the age limit for certain nationalities, allowing more individuals to take advantage of this unique experience.
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Age Limit Increased to 35 for Some Nationalities
Countries with age increased
This is great news for travellers over 30 years old from a few countries! Indeed, the age eligibility for applying for an Australian Working Holiday Visa expanded to 35 years for some nationalities!
- In 2018, Working Holiday Visa Australia age limit increased to 35 years for Canadian and Irish citizens.
- In 2019, it was France that announced the same change !
- Since 2022 the age limit for Italian and Danish citizens wanting to work and travel in Australia has also increased by five years – from 30 to 35 years of age. Australian citizens up to the age of 35 will also benefit from reciprocal arrangements with Italy and Denmark.
- And finally, since July 2023, the age limit increased to 35 years for UK passport holders!
Migration Act Extract
Those changes can be seen in Schedule 1—Countries or regions, passport conditions and age requirements in the instrument Migration (Arrangements for subclass 417 visa applications) Instrument (LIN 22/051) 2022 and Migration (Arrangements for subclass 417 visa applications) Amendment Instrument (LIN 23/047) 2023.
It is also noted on the immigration website under the ‘age condition’ for a WHV.
Australian legislation clearly defines the age limit for Working Holiday visa makers :
(2) The applicant:
(a) holds a working holiday eligible passport of the kind, or of one of the kinds, specified in a legislative instrument made by the Minister for the purposes of this subclause; and
(b) is aged at least 18 and no more than:
(i) 35; or
(ii) if a younger age is specified in the instrument mentioned in paragraph (a) for the kind of passport the applicant holds—that younger age.
Therefore if no age is specified, it means that the age limit is 35 years old.
Other partner countries (such as Germany) are still in the process to amend the bilateral Working Holiday Maker agreement expanding the eligibility age to 35.
In Summary: 🧑🎓 Who Can Apply Up to Age 35?
As of 2023, citizens from the following countries can now apply for a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) up to the age of 35 (inclusive):
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
- Denmark
For all other eligible countries, the age limit remains at 30 years.
For UK Passport Holders 🇬🇧
The UK – Australia Free Trade Agreement has entered into force and the age limit for UK passport holders has been increased to 35 since July 2023.
With the agreement, UK passport holders are able to:
- apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years inclusive since 1 July 2023
- 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.
UK passport holders, including those who previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa using a different eligible passport, do not have to meet the specified subclass 417 work requirement when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa on or after 1 July 2024.
More info : UK – Australia FTD
Key Points About the Age Limit
- Application Timing: You must apply for the WHV before your 36th birthday.
- Visa Granting: It’s acceptable if the visa is granted after you turn 35, as long as the application was submitted before your 36th birthday.
- Multiple Visas: Eligible individuals can apply for up to three WHVs, each requiring specific regional work (UK passport holders exempted).
Extending Your Stay: Second and Third WHVs
People currently on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia (subclasses 417 or 462) and over 30 years old, are eligible to apply for a second or third year visa if they are from France, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Denmark and UK.
For Subclass 417 visa holders, you’re eligible to apply for a second year if you have completed three months (or 88 days) of specified work in regional areas of Australia during your first year visa. This work often includes farming, fishing, mining, and construction. Holders of a second Subclass 417 visa can apply for a third year by undertaking six months of specified work in specified regional areas during their second year.
For Subclass 462 visa holders, a second year is possible if you complete three months (or 88 days) of specified work in northern Australia in certain industries, including tourism and hospitality, agriculture, forestry, and fishing. As with the 417 visa, a third year is possible for 462 visa holders who complete six months of specified work during their second year.
Benefits of the WHV Program
- Work Opportunities: Engage in various short-term jobs to fund your travels.
- Cultural Exchange: Experience Australian culture firsthand.
- Travel Flexibility: Explore Australia’s diverse landscapes and cities.
- Extended Stay: Possibility to extend your stay up to three years with additional regional work.
https://www.wionews.com/world/more-student-visas-not-part-of-india-fta-says-uk-trade-secretary-kemi-badenoch-554833
Brief mention of the visa here
I’m in a similar situation as Jonny.
Already completed my first year, without doing Farm Work.
Me and my partner spent 9 months in North Queensland in Hospo and would have qualified for second year under these current conditions!
We would love to go back to the place we worked and complete the 88 days but cannot, and we would stay longer we had such a great time!
Or if they are concerned about the impact it may have on the farming side of by removing the farm work, why not lower the amount of farm work needed.
If there are so many of us wanting to go then it wouldn’t be that bad in my opinion haha
I think they’d be more likely to change the age but keep the specified work. Which would be fine by me; it’s not all farm work and it’s only for three months.
See I need both changed as I have already been on my first year visa but lost proof of the farm work 🙁
Have you asked the station you worked on or Australian tax office if they have a record of it?
Can they go against making the change around farm work or ‘specified work’? Having made the initial announcement that it would be removed?
It’s part of the FTA so I don’t think so. Unless there’s some provision that would allow them not to – like the negative impact on industry being too great. You’d need to read the FTA to be sure though.
https://www.sheepcentral.com/australian-shearing-contractors-wait-for-uk-visa-rule-changes/
Pretty good article, we aren’t just the only ones waiting for the visa changes with keenness
‘Ms Hiri said she knew of UK shearers and shedhands who wanted to come to Australia but could not because they were older than 30 years.
“There are a few of them that want to come over, but can’t, because of their age and they’re unsure how to apply for a visa.”
I have upmost faith in the Australian minister and him pressuring the UK government to get this through urgently. Its dragged on for far too long
This is the kind of thing we need! Sectors crying out for the changes, not just us backpackers!
Hopefully it will be heard by the government on both side and ensure the changes happen this year! Fingers crossed
Have a good time Jonny, I will be doing south east Asia for 3 months and will love some recommendations. Have a good time!
Cheers Lee! When are you doing it Lee?
I’m going to open a YouTube channel to be fair if you guys want to follow it haha (I’ll post the link once I have got it going)
Not till September! Going to 3 months then east coast for a month then either work or farm work depending on what happens as I’m 31 in august! I’m just over thinking that there’s going to be loads of younger people and I will stick out like a sore thumb while travelling haha!
And yes send it over.
Best of luck Jonny. Have a great time and thanks again for setting up the petition.
Thanks Charles! Thanks for all your input.
Let’s hope we all get to Australia soon enough and can all meet for a beer haha
Cheers Bradley! I’ll keep in contact on here while I’m away as I will be keeping an eye on any updates!
Let’s all hope for some good news by March when the FTA comes into force
Good luck Jonny!
Asia is an amazing place and you’ll have a great time!
Fingers crossed everything works out!
I’m literally leaving the UK on Sunday to start backpacking through South East Asia for several months so I’m hoping we get some news while I’m there otherwise I’ll be getting a tourist visa and just visiting Australia..
That just says that progress is slow not that progress isn’t happening. Remember that “slow” is subjective, it’s slow for us and the Australian government (now that they’ve passed their side) because we want it ASAP. Keep in mind too that the UK government has so far only taken eight months since starting proceedings on this bill, Australia took nine.
It’s unrealistic to expect there to be any announcements in between stages. This is because between stages no work is being done on the bill or the what is isn’t ready for release. You can keep up to date with the process in the link in my previous post.
For anyone who may be getting concerned by negative posts:
The UK government are working on passing the bill needed to bring the FTA into force. There are a total of five stages left until the bill is passed and some of the stages often happen on the same day. The next stage is scheduled for the 23rd of this month.
It’s apparent that the UK government have been dragging their heels tremendously on this deal.
The political turmoil hasn’t helped either with the changing of 3 heads of government in the space of months
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/watt-flies-to-uk-to-push-free-trade-deal-over-the-line-20230118-p5cdno
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has jetted to London as part of a government push to inject a sense of urgency into Britain’s ponderous passage of the Australia-UK free trade agreement.
That isn’t true.
The Second Reading took place on the 9th of January and the Committee Stage is set for the 23rd of January. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords have carried out every stage of the bill on the day it was scheduled so far.
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3152
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/immigration/uk-india-young-professionals-scheme-no-sponsor-no-job-necessary-for-two-year-stay-9869921.html
Seems like other countries agreements making progress except the Australia-UK agreement
There’s myriad reasons they wouldn’t immediately change the age; not feeling any need to rush or governments/civil services just moving slowly is a good example.
I can only think of one reason where they might be in a position where they couldn’t immediately change it though: During the discussion around the FTA in Australia it was mentioned that the removal of specified work should be investigated to establish its impact before implementing it. However, there are two things I’m not clear on:
1. Whether this is binding and must be carried out or is just a recommendation.
2. Whether the age change and removal of specified work are coupled and must be changed at the same time or can be done separately.
So there’s potential for delays coming from the Australian side but I’m not 100% certain. There’s probably someone on here better informed on this aspect of the deal than me so hopefully they can fill in the blanks.
I’m sure this has been mentioned before, but what would be the reason once the deal is ratified/in place etc they wont just change the visa age limit there and then?
The deal will be done pretty soon and the UK’s bill passing process is not something we can have any impact on at this time.
From now on I’m going to be focusing my energy on trying to get the age change done ASAP as that’s something we might be able to change .
https://www.beefcentral.com/news/ag-minister-flys-out-in-push-to-finalise-trade-deals/
Australian minister flying out to hurry the deal along…
UK taking their sweet f’n time
I have a degree and over 10 years of experience in finance, and I’m still finding it near impossible for any employer to sponsor me on a tier 2 visa in the UK.
Australia isn’t much better to be honest. It’s not impossible but it’s definitely not easy
Great! I look forward to hearing what they say.
Sponsorship is a bit of a nightmare. Not impossible if you have a degree or trade but the easiest route is by going in on the WHV and then getting sponsored by a company in Australia (normally one you’ve already been working for). From what I understand at least.
I will contact my local MP tomorrow.
Been looking online to see if anyone is sponsoring jobs….I’m desperate but don’t know how it all works so gave up haha.
Dan, you don’t just have to hope. You can contact your local MP to ask when it will change and express your desire for it be immediate. You can also contact the UK’s immigration minister.
The petition is a great but it requires 100,000 signatures before all the MPs become aware of it. You can make one aware of the situation this week. I don’t live in the UK but have asked my family to contact theirs on my behalf.
I really hope it’s not in 2 years. Not sure what other country I could go to at this age
It does seem like a generic reply. Saying something without saying anything really.
Before anyone panics though; Q3 2023 is June this year. Four and a half months away and the same amount of time as from the start of September until now.
EIF will most likely be very late Q1 or early Q2 2023 so changing the age three months after EIF probably seems pretty quick to both governments.
Most importantly, I find this quite revealing; “we expect that the changes will be in place ona date between Q3 2023 and Q1 2025″. It’s their expectation, they didn’t say”It will happen between these dates”. So seems like they don’t have any concrete info yet either. Just like the Danish and Italian changes this could come out of the blue.
Again seems like a generic reply and doesn’t really state if it will or not. Best thing is just waiting till it’s finalised. I can’t see why they wouldn’t change the age range as they need more people.
May be generic but if those dates hold any weight, then we are f’**d
Dear _______
Thank you for your correspondence of 3 January 2023 to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship,
and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles MP, concerning the implementation of the
changes to the Australia’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa under the Australia-United
Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA). Your enquiry was referred to the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade for response.
The A-UKFTA will enter into force (EIF) after the completion of domestic legal and parliamentary
processes by both Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). Australia passed the necessary
legislation in November 2022. The timing for passing legislation in the UK is dependent on the UK
Parliament and we hope this will occur as early as possibly in 2023.
Once both Australia and the UK have completed their internal processes, we (Australia and the
UK) then exchange notifications and the A-UKFTA will then EIF 30 days later (or another mutually
agreed date).
The changes to WHM visa will commence within two years of EIF. Therefore, we expect that the
changes will be in place ona date between Q3 2023 and Q1 2025. For further information on the
changes to the WHM, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/latest-news/arrangements-uk-
passport-holders.
| trust this information is of assistance.
Yours sincerely
Edwina Stevens
Assistant Secretary, FTA Services Branch
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade