What are the Working Holiday visa options?
Working Holiday visa types are only open to passport holders of specified countries. Applicants must generally be 18 to 30 years of age (inclusive), with varying requirements for qualifications, English language, and – in some cases – support from the home government.
417 Working Holiday Maker Visa
Eligible Passports Include:
- Belgium
- British National (Overseas)
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Sweden
- Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
- United Kingdom
Key Requirements
Age: Applicants must generally be aged 18 to 30 years old inclusive, however, passport holders from Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, and the UK can be up to 35 years old.
Location: Application for the first Working Holiday Maker visa must be made while the applicant is outside Australia. Second and Third year visas can be lodged on or offshore.
Family: It is not possible to include a partner or children on a Working Holiday Maker visa.
Sufficient Funds: This is usually about AU$5,000, plus departure airfare.
Validity: These visas are valid for 12 months from the date the holder first enters Australia. Second and third year visas are available where specified work is undertaken, though UK passport holders are exempt from undertaking any specified work to obtain a further visa.
Work Limitation: All visa holders are limited to working with any one employer for a maximum of 6 months per visa.
462 Working Holiday Maker Visa
Eligible Passports Include:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Brazil
- Chile
- China, People’s Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Vietnam
Key Requirements
Age: Applicants must be aged 18 to 30 years old inclusive.
Location: Application for the first Work and Holiday visa must be made while the applicant is outside Australia. Second and Third year visas can be lodged on or offshore.
Family: It is not possible to include a partner or children on a Work and Holiday visa.
Ballot: If you hold a valid passport issued by China, India or Vietnam, you must participate in a visa ballot and be randomly selected to apply for a first Work and Holiday visa.
English: Applicants must demonstrate they have Functional English
Qualifications: Must have completed senior secondary school, and in most cases, a tertiary qualification or at least 2 years of tertiary study. Requirements are set by country of passport here.
Government Support: A letter of support must be provided if you are from:
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Indonesia
- Malaysia (Good Conduct Certificate)
- Mongolia
- Peru
- Poland
- San Marino
- Slovenia
- Thailand
- Türkiye
Sufficient Funds: This is usually about AU$5,000, plus departure airfare.
Validity: These visas are valid for 12 months from the date the holder first enters Australia. Second and third year visas are available where specified work is undertaken, though UK passport holders are exempt from undertaking any specified work to obtain a further visa.
Work Limitation: All visa holders are limited to working with any one employer for a maximum of 6 months per visa.
How much does a Working Holiday visa application cost?
As of 1 July 2026, the government application fees are as follows:
First 417 or 462 Working Holiday Visa Application – per applicant – $840
Second or Third 417 or 462 Working Holiday Visa Application – per applicant – $1000
How long does a Working Holiday Visa take to process?
As of 4 August 2026, Immigration advises the current processing times are as follows:
| Application Type | 50% processed within | 90% processed within |
| 417 Working Holiday | 1 day | 25 days |
| 462 Work & Holiday | 9 days | 36 days |
Why Choose AVIE for Immigration Services?
Personalized Guidance – Every migration journey is unique, and we provide tailored advice to match your circumstances and goals.
Expert Problem-Solving – Our team has extensive experience handling complex visa situations and finding tailored solutions to meet client needs.
Dedicated Support – We intentionally cap our agents’ caseloads to ensure you receive the time, care, and dedication you deserve. You’re never just a number with us.
Avoid Mistakes – Avoid costly delays and reapplications—our expertise ensures visa applications are done right the first time.
Stress-Free Process – We handle the complexities of visa applications, so you can focus on planning your new life in Australia.
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FAQs
What is specified work?
Subclass 417 and 462 visa holders can undertake a period ‘specified work’ in order to obtain a second or third year visa. Certain types of employment in the below industries are acceptable:
- tourism and hospitality in northern or remote and very remote Australia
- plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia
- fishing and pearling in regional Australia
- tree farming and felling in regional Australia
- mining in regional Australia
- construction in regional Australia
- bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas
- recovery work in natural disaster affected areas
Note that UK passport-holders do not need to undertake specified work to obain a second or third visa.
Can I study on a Working Holiday Visa?
Yes, for up to 4 months. If your intention is to study a longer course, a Subclass 500 Student visa would be required.