The Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417 or 462) in Australia exists since 1975. It is a temporary visa allowing young people aged 18 to 30 (to 35 for some nationalities) to travel and work in Australia for up to one year. You can renew this visa up to 2 times (conditions apply). Australia attracts for its culture and its relaxed way of life, its climate and of course for the incredible and varied landscapes. Find in this article all the information you need on the WHV in Australia.
Update – Following the FTA , the age limit is to be increased to 35 for UK passport holders within the next few months.
Table of Contents
What is the WHV (Working Holiday Visa)?
The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) is a temporary visa for travellers who wish to holiday and work in Australia. It is limited for a period of one year and renewable over 2 years under certain conditions. This visa is available to travellers who are between 18 and 31 years old (35 for French, Irish, Canadian, Italian & Danish).
The visa available to applicants (417 or 462) depends on their country of citizenship. The program is usually reciprocal, allowing young Australians to travel and work under similar arrangements in partner countries.
The cost of the visa is $510 (July 2022). Once your visa is granted, you have one year to enter Australia.
Conditions to enter in Australia in 2022
To enter Australia, you must:
- have a valid passport
- have a valid visa
- you do not need to prove your vaccination status anymore
- complete an Incoming Passenger Card.
Working Holiday Visa – Requirements (417 & 462)
The Working Holiday visa is a temporary visa for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to 3 years. Here are the conditions
Nationality
You must hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia. Full list here.
Age
You must have turned 18 years of age but have not yet turned 31 (up to 35 years old for Canadian, Irish, French, Italian & Danish citizens soon 35 for UK passport holders)
Funds
You must have enough funds to support yourself (about $5000) or a booked departure flight back to your country or enough additional funds to buy one.
Other conditions
- Do not have dependent children at any time during your stay
- Health conditions
- Have not previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462, 417)
- Be outside Australia when making your 1st application
Eligible countries
Depending on your nationality you might be eligible for a 417 (Working Holiday Visa) or 462 (Work and Holiday Visa).
Sufficient funds
To obtain or renew a working holiday visa you must pay the sum of $510.
You must also prove that you have sufficient financial resources to remain living in Australia for an extended period and to leave Australia at the end of your trip. The sum required is $5,000. When applying for a visa online, you will need to prove that you have this amount in your account with a bank statement or a screenshot of your online account. You can also add a Word document where you certify that you have this amount in your account.
Health conditions
Australia has fairly strict health standards. Questions about your health will be asked when you apply for a visa. Depending on your answers and your country of origin, medical examinations may be required.
Conditions to respect
To be eligible you must:
- Not have and not have had tuberculosis
- Not having been in contact with a person with tuberculosis
- Not have taken an X-ray indicating an abnormality in the lungs
To be eligible, you must not plan treatment during your trip for:
- A blood disease
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Hepatitis B, C or other disease of the faith
- HIV / AIDS
- Kidney disease
- Pregnancy
- Mental illness
- Respiratory disease
How do I know if I need to have a medical exam?
To find out if the validation of your visa is subject to obtaining a medical examination, you must:
- Log into your account ImmiAccount
- Go on your request
- Click on the “View health assessment” link in the “Applications Status” section
- If you need to take a medical examination you will find a link “Organize health examinations”
- Click on the link and complete your medical history
Legal conditions
To be eligible for the WHV, you must meet legal and personality criteria. Thus, in certain very specific cases, your request could be considered as non-eligible. You could, therefore, be ineligible if:
Ineligibility
- You have a criminal record
- You have been found guilty of ‘escape from an immigrant detention centre , or sentenced for an offence you have committed:
- While in immigration detention
- While escaping from immigration detention
- After an escape, but before being returned to immigration detention
- You are or have been a member of a group or organization, or were or have an association with a person, group or organization suspected of being involved in criminal conduct
- You have been involved in trafficking of persons, genocide, a war crime, a crime against humanity, a crime involving torture or slavery , or a crime considered to be of grave international concern, whether you have been convicted of such an offense
- Your past and present criminal or general conduct shows that you are not of good character, there is a risk that while you are in Australia:
- You are engaging in criminal conduct
- You harass, molest, intimidate or stalk another person
- You vilify a segment of the Australian community
- You incite discord in the Australian community or any part of it
- You represent a danger to the community Australian or any part of it
- You have been convicted, convicted or a charge has been proven for one or more child sexual offences
- You have been subjected to an adverse security assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization
- You are subject to an interpol search which proves that you represent a direct or indirect risk to the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community
Documents to provide (optional)
These elements can be verified by questions at the time of your visa application. Depending on your answers you may be asked to:
- Provide a police certificate
- Fill out the personal data form 80 for the assessment of your personality
- Complete a statutory declaration of character
- Provide a military certificate (if you have served more than one year)
- Provide a letter of good conduct from an employer.
Commitment to respect Australian values and laws
At the end of your visa application, you must certify that you have learned about Australian values and that you agree to respect them. These are the principles and values of Australian society.
Working Holiday Visa – Your rights
Work rights
The WHV allows you to work in Australia freely, whether full-time, part-time, casual or even as a freelancer. However, with the same employer, you are limited to a period of 6 months. If you want to extend with the same employer you will need to contact to the government and ask permission.
You can nevertheless work with the same employer for more than 6 months under certain conditions.
Important note
Until 31 December 2022, the 6 month work limitation has been temporarily relaxed.
Working Holiday Makers can work in any location, occupation or industry while in Australia. Under Condition 8547, work with any one employer is generally limited to 6 months. The Condition 8547 does not apply until after 31 December 2022.
You must pay taxes when you work in Australia. If you earn over a certain amount, your employer must pay superannuation into your superannuation fund (retirement savings).
When working in Australia, you are protected by Australian workplace law.
Possibility to study
You can study in Australia for up to 4 months. Thus, you can choose full-time or part-time courses during these 4 months. If your main goal is to study, then go for a student visa.
Your other rights
- Stay in Australia for a period of 12 months with the possibility of leaving and entering the territory as many times as you wish.
- You have the possibility to renew your visa twice under certain conditions.
Working Holiday Visa 417 – How to apply
You are under 31 years of age (35 for some nationalities) and want to travel and work in Australia? Here is how to apply for a Working Holiday Visa:
To apply:
- Login to HomeAffairs
- Go to “Apply”
- Create an account “Create an ImmiAccount”
- Click the first link of the table “First Working Holiday Visa”
- Complete the form (about 15 min).
- Pay online $510 non-refundable (price as at July 2022)
- Once payment is made, you will receive a TRN (Transaction Reference Number) that you need to keep – You can track and follow your application online through your immi account.
Application time
The timeframe for obtaining a visa is quite uncertain. Thus, it is sometimes granted in just 24 hours but can also take around 1 month. According to Australian immigration, 75% of Working Holiday visas are issued within 17 days. And in 90% of cases, in less than 4 months (for a first request).
Note that under certain conditions, you can obtain a 2nd and then a third working holiday visa for two additional years in Australia!
Renew your Working Holiday Visa in Australia
For those who wish, you can apply for a second year visa to extend your stay for another year.
The requirements
1. Be between 18 and 31 at the time of application (before your 31st birthday)
Note : Canadians, Irish and French citizens can apply up to 35 years old
English citizens will be able to apply up to 35 yo within the next few months (no date confirmed atm)
2. Valid passport
3. Have completed three months or 88 days of specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa
4. Have complied with all the conditions on your first Working Holiday visa
Eligible regions and jobs
To find out the list of eligible regions, see: Eligible regions to renew your WHV. Some regions are EXCLUDED from the list including the surroundings of large cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, etc.). It is therefore important to check carefully before starting a job.
To find out which jobs are eligible for renewal, see our dedicated article: Eligible Jobs to renew your WHV.
The request for the second WHV, can be made from Australia or outside the country. If you are applying from Australia, you will need to stay in the country pending the immigration decision. If you are applying outside the country, you will have to wait for the decision before you can re-enter the country.
And if you get a second Working Holiday visa, don’t forget to extend your health insurance.
Do a third year WHV
Since 2019, Working holiday visa holders can do the third year in Australia. The condition is to complete 6 months of work in regional areas while they are on their second WHV (417 or 462). The types of jobs and eligible regional areas are the same as for obtaining a second visa. Finally, the price of the visa is the same as for a 1st and second WHV, namely $510.
Important: The 6 months of eligible work in rural areas must be completed after July 1, 2019.
Cancellation of your visa
Under Australian law your visa will be cancelled if:
- You are sentenced to death, life imprisonment or more than one year in prison
- You have been convicted of a sex crime involving a child by an Australian or foreign court
- A charge has been proven for a sex crime involving a child, even though you have been released without a conviction
- You have been convicted of a sex crime involving a child, even though you have been released without conviction
If your visa is cancelled for the legal reasons mentioned above, you have 28 days to appeal.
Download the Backpackers Guide
Our FREE 400-page eBook contains all the information you need for your WHV in Australia :
- administrative procedures
- transport and ways of travelling
- jobs & +500 fruit picking contacts
- regions and practical life
- numerous discounts
Are Nate Nigerians not allowed a working Visa?
Hi Jennifer
Nigerian citizens are not eligible for a WHV (417 or 462). Cheers
Hello, I was granted and paid for a 417 visa in March 2019 but due to my Mum receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis I did not enter Australia. Am I eligible to reapply for my 1st 417 visa since I didn’t enter the country using my initial application? Thank you
Hi Kate,
Yes you will be able to apply free of charge. Good luck.
Hello, do United Kingdom citizens still have to do the compulsory farm work on a working holiday visa?
Hi Miles,
When the new arrangements commence, UK passport holders will not have to do their specified work when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa.
Cheers
Hi Im from Singapore and want to apply for visa 462. May I pls know what are the requirements to rent an apartment?
Hi john,
You will need to pay a bond, 2 weeks rent in advance and have references. Please check https://www.australia-backpackersguide.com/cheap-accommodation-australia/ for more info. Cheers
Hello, I’ve IELTS result that was taken on 28 Nov 2020, and I cannot apply due to Covid-19. Now I was planning to apply for the Visa. Can I still use the result or should I retake the test? Thank you
Hi Monika,
The IELTS test is valid for 2 years so you ll have until the end of the year. Cheers
Hello Im applying a 462 , may I pls know if I need a return ticket as most airlines only offer 6mths return date,I have sufficient funds on arrival, also do I need health insurance when applying or can do so after being granted? Thanks!
Hey Jay, you do not need a return ticket. You ll need to prove your funds when lodging your application for WHV. You should get your health insurance once your visa has been granted 🙂
Hello, i am applying for 462 visa (expecting to travel by november this year). Regarding the 6 months temporary relaxation, say if i start work before 31 dec 2022, does that mean i can keep workng for the same company for the rest of my visa duration without 6 months limitation? Thanks!!
Hi Andy, The relaxation has been extended till dec 2022, after this date, you ll be able to work 6 months for the same employer (unless they extend the relaxation). Cheers
Hi , if I apply for the 417 visa, does the 12 months validity start when it’s approved or when you start travelling? It says it can take up to 4 months so I want to allow plenty of time, however, if it’s a lot quicker I won’t be ready to go!
Hi Sarah,
It will start when you enter Australia. 🙂
Hi!
I would love to work and visit Australia but will become 31 on 21 September 2023. How long am I able to ask for the WHV and can I also renew this visum after one year even if I turned 31 already?
Thank you!
Hi Melanie,
You can apply until your 31st birthday, you ll then have 1 year to enter Australia.
Hello! I am looking to apply for the Working Holiday visa 417. I’m working on accumulating the required funds in my bank account, but I’ve read various things about how to prove the 5000 AUD + return air fair: I’ve read in some places that showing adequate credit card limit would be sufficient, is this true? Similarly, would a bank loan/line of credit be accepted?
Thanks!
Mistralle
Hi there,
You can screenshot your bank account, provide a letter from the bank or show your balances to prove the funds. Cheers
Hi
My boyfriend applied for 417, but he doesn’t have the $5,000 sufficient funds. He applied for 2 417 visa before and this is his 3rd one, he applied from Aus.
Although he doesn’t have the $5,000, his family overseas sends him money if he needs and also he has friends here that help him financially if needed. I am wondering if it would be valid for him to provide 3 months worth of his payslips to show he is working, and also for me (as a third party) to write a letter confirming that he can support himself financially?
If you have ay other suggestions please let me know, we are super worried regarding the visa 🙁
Hi Lina,
If he is applying from Australia and has a job it shouldn’t be a problem. He can also join his payslips and he employment contract to the application. Cheers