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.
4 more working days to get this done otherwise a long wait til the new year
HoL haven’t had the second reading yet. It seems unlikely to get done before the new year.
House of Commons: 21st of December to 8th of January
House of Lords: 22nd of December to 8th of January
https://whatson.parliament.uk/nonsittingperiods/
Ffs
Yes losing hope, I believe it’s the 20th December to 9th Jan
Does parliament close for Xmas during UK? Hoping this gets done before then……
The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill has been passed by the House of Commons and has completed the first reading in the House of Lords.
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3152
Thanks Charles
Updated today:
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3152/news
Hopeful. Thanks for everyone who has posted over the year or so. I’ve kept up to date the whole time and it’s been helpful knowing I’m not alone in wanting this to go through.
Cheers
This thread has been really helpful and I’ve kept up to date for over a year now – so thanks to everyone who’s posted. It’s given me hope knowing I’m not the only one waiting for this.
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3152/news
Updated today. Hopefully move to next stage soon.
Fingers crossed 🙂
It’s becoming a joke how long this has taken. The Australian side got this done in a couple of weeks
Fingers crossed Charles we get some clarification this week
I don’t think we’ll hear anything this week both bills still have to go through the other house and get royal assent. They might move quickly but I doubt there will be any announcements re an expected date of ratification. I’m inclined to believe the government will keep quiet until it’s done. I might be wrong though………
The third reading of the Procurement Bill is currently underway in the HoL as is the report stage of the Trade (Aus/NZ) Bill in the HoC. So things are moving.
Thanks Charles, agree. At this stage willing to try anything to get clarity on the situation and speed it up, and we know know we can email the trade ministers directly now through this mechanism. Cheers
I’ve submitted it as I agree with the principle. From what I understand from reading it though the letter isn’t intended to speed up the UK-Aus FTA entering into force but to show a desire for greater freedom of movement between the two countries.
Thanks guys
Just sent mine as well. Also added in a sob story in the hopes that makes a difference ☺️
https://www.canzukinternational.com/uk-australia-fta
Guys, please fill in the template here and share to anyone you know wishing to move abroad. The more the better, we need this ratified quickly
I have just sent mine and will add it to Facebook groups! Let’s hope it works!!
https://www.canzukinternational.com/2022/12/help-us-advance-free-movement-with-the-uk-australia-trade-agreement.html
Very interesting page
Therefore, CANZUK International is calling on Australian and British residents to use our online contact form and get in touch with the Australian and British International Trade Ministers. The online form includes a pre-drafted email emphasizing the need for freer movement between the two nations under the Free Trade Agreement
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hey Jonny, that’s very encouraging. Thanks again for asking.
I also totally agree we need it in writing before we can believe it. The day the number next to British passports changes from 30 to 35 on the Australian immigration website I’ll be very happy.
When are you planning to go to Australia? I’m leaving UK and travelling Thailand and Vietnam at the end of January and going to just stay out there until the visa changes and head to Australia
I plan on going as soon as I’m able. So hopefully within a week or two of the age change happening. It sounds like we might be two of the first over-30s to arrive.
Haha let’s hope! Fingers crossed we hear some more news next week then
Jonny that is excellent! Thanks for taking the time to do that.
Who is your MP and did they give any indication of what “quite quickly” means?
Hi Charles, my local MP is Ian Levy and I asked him if they visas would change straight away and his words were “that would be my understanding”
It’s a positive thing if my MP doesn’t think there will be any delay to the visa changes, but again we just need to see it in black & white on the gov websites
Hopefully, like others have said we should know a bit more end of Dec / beginning of January?
I can’t remember if this was ‘in progress’ at the committee stage or the ‘report stage’…somethings changed on the page but I can’t work out what…. https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3152
The committee stage has been completed but it was incorrectly marked as being in progress in the report stage, it looks like that was corrected. The report stage won’t be in progress until the 12th.
The report stage is followed immediately by the third reading and then it goes to the HoL. Given that they’re just about to pass something that supersedes the Aus/NZ Bill it might fly through if we’re lucky.
Excellent news! I’m 36 in Feb 2024 so hopefully I can get 1 year (which would be wonderful)
Awesome!!
Bradley
Thanks for the quote and I think you’re right. I’m not an expert but from what I understand the Procurement Act gives the govt the power to change certain rules so as to meet the requirements of trade agreements. It’s effectively more powerful than the Aus/NZ Bill but will also retain the changes that bill makes.
So as soon as the Procurement Act is passed the UK govt can make the changes necessary to be able to ratify the FTA. It looks like the Procurement Act still has to go through the House of Commons though and I don’t know how long that will take.
Hi everyone, I contacted my local MP and asked him the question regarding if the visa changes will happen straight away or if we would be waiting for up to 2 years from EIF and his understanding was that the changes would happen quite quickly. Hopefully this will give us all the news we need once UK finish the ratification ☺️
If the work requirement wasn’t being removed at the same time it would just be changing 30 to 35 in the system like they’ve done for five countries previously.
From the response Bradely got from the British government it seems like the decision on when the age change happens is up to Australia. Australia needs more workers and people aged 30-35 are more likely to valuable skills. They lose some of the people doing the necessary work but also gain people with higher skill levels. From my point of view getting the age change done seems like a good idea. We’ll see what happens though.
As you’re an Australian citizen have you considered contacting the government and asking them if they have a timescale in mind for the visa changes once the FTA enters into force? The government works for you after all and the fact that people are asking might just get to ear of the right person.
To be honest I don’t know where to begin to ask. I will have a look into this though
The Trade Minister’s office is probably a good place to start also immigration. They may already know when it’s expected to happen.
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/hindi/en/article/australia-to-offer-backpacker-visa-for-young-indians-within-two-years/jsz3d33z6
This is a bit worrying to be honest. The India Australia FTA is starting December 29, but the visa changes won’t be done until 2 years
This gives me no hope for the UK australia FTA, it will still be a waiting game even if the deal gets done by the end of the year.
Something to keep in mind is that India doesn’t currently have a working holiday visa arrangement with Australia so implementing it would require training, new digital infrastructure for processing and possibly recruiting and hiring new people.
For the UK/Australia it requires changing a number in the system from 30 to 35 and no longer having to assess whether people have done 88 days of necessary work. So in theory it is much, much more simple. That doesn’t mean it will go through immediately but it will be a lot less hassle for both sides to implement.
Agree Charles, that is a very good point.
Australia and the UK already have a system in places for many years now.