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.
I’m thinking of going travelling next year and wanting to have a working ho in Aus but is it worth waiting or just getting a tourist visa?! What if you got sponsorship via a job opportunity – would that change the circumstance?!
Hi Raksha, if you want to work legally in Australia you will need a visa other than a tourist one. You can apply for a student or WHV depending on your situation, age etc.
Thanks! Okay well fingers and toes crossed for some correspondence on the age increase as I’m 32! Talk about disheartening haha
I’ll be 32 in July, Raksha….so many of us so desperate for this to happen!
I’d sell my soul if it means I could go hahaha
I’m 35 now and in Australia already praying to the travel gods it’s going to happen soon so I can stay here hahaha
Hey Jonny, no official date so far but as mentioned usually changes occur in July for visas…
I’ve emailed a couple of dozen people in the UK Government, FCDO, Home Office, and Aus Department for trade etc. not had any useful responses just yet. I’d be cautiously optimistic we might hear something this week or next about confirming a planned date. Could be worth emailing your MP and asking them to chase it too.
August for the changes do you reckon, Alex?
The silence the last two years was different though – before it was confirmed as going through UK Parliament it was always going to be months of waiting. We’re into a slight different period now. The NZ change was announced on 10th March and is going live on 29th June. The Aus change has been in progress for a little longer and only brings UK Passports in line with others (Ireland, Italy, Denmark) with the 35 age limit – so technical changes to reflect this should be minimal. The UK Government have a vested interest in getting this in ASAP as it’s their only post-Brexit achievement. The Aus Government have a vested interest in getting this in ASAP as there are loads of vacancies that need filling and I’m sure they’ll want to contend with the NZ change. I expect we won’t hear much the next two weeks but an announcement after that would be reasonable. My money is on August.
Well said.
It is a little concerning all this silence but hopefully Emma is right, all the paperwork needs to be finalised before they’ll say anything….I hope!
Everyone should be used to the radio silence by now, this thing has been going on for the best part of 2 years..
I think we won’t hear anything until end of May when the legislative paperwork is finalised by the UK.
This is concerning radio silence since it was agreed, surely if it was July they would announce it by now ? I’m scared it might not get changed this year.
Seems to have gone a bit quiet to be honest. I don’t think we’ll hear anything until after the deal EIF…I think it will come after the NZ changes.
I’m starting to think the same mate
Australian hostels are a rip off 🙁
Don’t even talk about hotels
I’m flying to Cairns in Oz on Sunday… Praying we get good news this month! Hostels are soooo expensive in Australia now!
I agree. I just want to know the date, whenever it may be.
“Australia and the UK’s free trade agreement is poised to come into force midyear, with Britain aiming to finalise its legislative paperwork by the end of May, UK Investment Minister Dominic Johnson says.”
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/uk-free-trade-deal-to-be-settled-within-weeks-20230331-p5cwyo
Then the visas can commence within 2 years of the deal coming into force 🙁
Hopefully they just annonce the actual date of the changes soon
I really need the changes to happen by July to be fair, I really hope we get an announcement soon like New Zealand’s announcement.
I would like to think the age increase would come in to effect in July 2023 to compete with the New Zealand visa change. However, I guess no one really knows and we will just have to wait and see what happens.
I wouldn’t read too much into that article, probably just a disgruntled business owner who is waiting on the visa changes like us and is getting frustrated with lack of workers
I’ve got my money on 01/07/23 for the age changes
I’m reading everything I can at the moment – feel that based on previous timescales July is maybe a little optimistic – August more plausible – but could be either (or neither!). The New Zealand announcement was made on the 10th March and will live by 29th June 2023 (3 months). A specific announcement just on the WHV hasn’t been made yet… It’s reasonable to assume the mechanics of the visa change should be relatively similar for Aus (and you can bet that Aus/NZ Governments knew intimately how both agreements were being agreed owing to how closly aligned their immigration policies are). Other countries are already 35 for Aus – so this isn’t a brand new process, just the change to include UK applicants alongside others.
Ofcourse, it’s possible that some kind of technicality gets in the way of all of this – both sides have given themselves the small print of “up to two years from the EIF of the FTA” which could well be the case. The quotes included above and the articles available would suggest that there is some real momentum on both sides to get this implemented ASAP – but we won’t know until we know. I’m keeping everything crossed for August though.
Hey Alex, we are hoping July … fingers crossed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Just trying to gauge what’s going on above – do we feel the changes will be done and visa available on 1st July 2023?
Just trying to understand what ”implementation of the FTA” actually means.
I’m 32 now so hoping this happens in the next 4-5 months
It also says:
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Sheep Central the Australian Government intends to exchange Third Person (Diplomatic) Notes with the UK to enable entry into force of the A-UKFTA at the earliest opportunity.
https://www.sheepcentral.com/shearing-sector-gains-from-a-uk-fta-could-be-months-away/
Not wanting to panic anyone but this recent article is indicating that the implementation of the FTA might not happen until 1/07/23
“Advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade indicates the FTA might not come into force until early in the next financial year.
And both countries have up to two years to implement Working Holiday Maker visa changes that would extend age and work period limits for UK workers here”
Not good to hear this
Australia and the UK’s free trade agreement is poised to come into force midyear, with Britain aiming to finalise its legislative paperwork by the end of May, UK Investment Minister Dominic Johnson says.
He said there were some technical instruments that had to be tabled before Westminster, around issues such as procurement, but these were straightforward and British processes would soon be complete.
“Towards the end of May is the target date. We’re committed. I harry and chivvy my team to press forward with the technical implementation,” Lord Johnson said.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/uk-free-trade-deal-to-be-settled-within-weeks-20230331-p5cwyo
I hope this doesn’t delay the announcement for the visa changes though. I’m flying to Australia later this month on a tourist visa and really hope they confirm the dates before the end of May otherwise I’ll be applying for a NZ visa on 1st July… Anyone else thinking the same?
I’ve got my money on July 1
I think it’s 30 days from when both governments confirm in writing that they’ve enacted the necessary laws unless a different date is agreed upon.
I’d expect to hear about it soon Bradley. We’re a small group relative to others that will benefit from this so they probably understand but don’t care. It’s in their interest to announce it when they have concrete dates though.
For anyone concerned about the Financial Times article:
That group is not trying to prevent the FTA from going through, they are trying to get the UK government to carry out an environmental impact assessment of the FTA and threatening legal action if they don’t. Both countries have a terrible track record regarding environmental protection so this kind of thing is (thankfully) inevitable.
This is their website: https://feedbackglobal.org/
Am I right to say it’s within 30 days or royal accent or a date mutually agreed?
Can we get an EIF date please?
Don’t think they understand people have their lives on hold, and have done for months/years!
https://www.ft.com/content/b3d55007-f5fe-4095-99f3-686376be7e42
Theres a bunch of sad activists that are challenging the outcome of the FTA
“A campaign group has taken the first step towards legal action against the UK government over its free trade deal with Australia, arguing that it flouts Britain’s international climate obligations.
Global Feedback, a UK and Netherlands-based group, said it would seek a judicial review, claiming ministers failed to carry out proper due diligence on the environmental impact of importing Australian agricultural products, such as beef and dairy”
Sad sad individuals 😀
Don’t think they’ll get far with complaining to be honest
Been a long time coming this fta I doubt anything will come of it
Yeah not sure I’ve just been trying to google Uk aus fta and see recent news. Surely should see something within the month of when it was agreed.
Where’s the best place to find out when the deal EIF and when they raise the visa age limit?
I’m guessing it will be this page?