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.
Table of Contents
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’d be happy with a date on Wednesday. I’d just like to be able to plan what to do with my life lol.
I’m with you there! Stuck in limbo at the moment.
I was thinking the same. If no news by next week I reckon it will take almost 2 years for it to come in.
I’m probably wrong but becoming less and less optimistic by the day
Agreed.
Theres something going on in the background they’re not telling us which is why the changes haven’t happened.
Has to be! Surely it’s the only explanation. If next week comes and they’ve not announced a date, I’m going to be fuming
If no new news comes out by next Wednesday, safe to say the age changes are cooked.
Very strange that the NZ changes were done swiftly and the Australian ones haven’t changed.
Someone on my road is a researcher for House of Lords so I’ve sent him a nice message asking if he will know the info on this fta and could tell me about anything he knows or could find out.
Any reply mate? Haha
Sent the message but hadn’t replied back…
Only thing I’m thinking with that article is that’s included with the no farming and age range surely they will at least do the age range instantly then do the farm work removal at another date. If so doesn’t make sense!
Don’t think so mate. We all know the 2 year caveat that’s been quoted loads.
It could be two years – but I doubt it will be. As mentioned before – other changes have taken 4 months to be implemented.
Think this will be the question to keep an eye on over the next few days – although suspect this will come back with the same sh*t we’ve been quoted a million times before – it does at least ask a slightly different question about what conversations have been held!
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-05-15/185173
If it will be 2025,the majority of us can kiss goodbye to ever going over.
But yeah, I am remaining optimistic for next week for some sort of official statement that says otherwise.
If nothing is heard by the 31st, what other significant date would we be most likely to hear something do you think? Or if nothing is said by end of the month, will we be possibly looking at 2025?
In the absence of an official announcement – all of these news articles are just rehashing the stuff we already know (just phrasing it differently).
Wouldn’t sweat it until there’s a proper statement.
I wonder what their source is. And they only talk about Australians going to the Uk, not vice versa.
All we can do is wait until next week and see what the news on the 31st brings us.
https://lsj.com.au/articles/the-australia-uk-free-trade-agreement-and-what-it-means-for-the-legal-profession/
This article says the age changes will be 2025 :/
Wow we made it to 1000+ comments and still no set date for the age changes! FFS!
3 years of ineptitude by both governments
My Local MP has been great – he even issued a follow up question because the first one contained the stock response. There have been 4 questions to the Home Secretary in the last few weeks – one still to be answered – but none contain any helpful information…
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions?Answered=Any&AnsweredFrom=&AnsweredTo=&DateFrom=01%2F03%2F2023&DateTo=01%2F12%2F2023&Expanded=False&House=Bicameral&SearchTerm=Australia&Page=2
Don’t sweat how you’re writing the email too much Dan, they’re humans after all – as long as it’s polite and makes sense! Don’t worry about it being word perfect.
I’m going to write back to my MP again and just reinforce that there’s been no new information from any of the responses and ask if there’s anything we can do to push for a date for an announcement.
Going to email my local MP to see if he has any info on the visa increase, won’t hurt to ask I guess.
Does anyone know what I could put to make my email look somewhat proffessional? I’m not very good at writing to people…how and what could I write? Thanks
And if you want a good start on this – genuinely just put something into ChatGPT and use that as a framework!
Poke this into ChatGPT and go from there: Please write a letter to my MP in the UK Parliament, asking for them to confirm the start date of the UK Australia working holiday visa age change. Please make it clear that I already understand the official comment on the 2 year implementation but want them to be more specific and not just quote old information.
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/05/16/sunshine-high-wages-and-new-rules-australias-working-holiday-visa-is-opening-up-to-over-30
Stupid article giving false hope
Yeah it’s very annoying when they are like “rules set to change soon” then later in the article are like “government has 24 months to implement the changes”… That’s not soon and it’s not news as we have known this for 2 years already..FFS haha
You’d like to think with it been said that it’s going into force end of my may.. that we should find out by June..
I really hope so mate. Not sure why they can’t just give it an actual date
Guys, it’s at the stage now where both governments need to simply decide what date to implement the visa changes… I think we all need to contact and email our local MP’s and push for an update on when they plan to make the decision… I have emailed mine simply requesting to find out when they will be having the discussion and making a decision. Let’s all do it and get others to do the same. Just an idea haha
Will find out my local MPs details and give them an email later today. No harm in asking I suppose haha
All quiet on the visa age change front. Still hoping to hear a date at the end of this month!
Same here James….I think this is the site I’ve visited the most in the past 6 months! Sometimes I’m on here checking for comments 3 or 4 times a day ahaha.
I am holding out hope that others on this site are correct and we will hear someting at the end of the month.
I’m comparing this waiting to when I was younger waiting for Christmas day! I just can’t wait for it!
Thanks Dan
Yep it does suck. I’ve been checking up on this thread now for over 6 months. I have some time on my hands but it really sucks here in the UK right now and this weather is really giving me itchy feet!
James – people have said its possible on the 31st May, may be the date we will hear a date set for the visa age increase.
Have also heard others saying July is the time when changes happen etc but again, we’re all just guessing here.
Until there’s an official date announced and is on the government websites etc, we just gotta wait. This waiting game sucks
Do we think the 31 May is the date for it going up to 35 officially, or 31 May is the date they will decide the day, so to speak..?!
I am happy to do the farm work, after 3 years of waiting for news I just want to be over there!
By what I’m seeing id assume they will lift the age to 35 but it seems the farming will still be in place up to 2 years. But it’s all hearsay until it’s actually confirmed.
hi all
Trying to make sense of what is going on here.. i turn 33 in June so i have time but i’m desperate to get over to Aus asap.
Do we think that it could take another 2 years for the age to be put up?
Thanks!
Hi Bradley, I emailed the NZ PM and got a reply from his office confirming that for NZ you will not be able to reapply. The response:
“The working holiday visa scheme only allows for a person to be granted one WHV. We are not currently considering granting further WHVs to those who were unable to use the full duration of their initial visa”