How To Apply For Working Holiday Visa Australia | Step-by-Step Approach

If spending a year in Australia is on your hit list, here’s how to apply for a Working Holiday visa in Australia (subclass 417) without stress. It is simple, easy, fast, and free. To get the full information, read to the end.

We’re not surprised you want to take a long trip to Australia. After all, it’s easy to picture long summer days spent traveling along the coast, cooler months spent soaking up the outback or Top End, and immersing yourself in the scene in any number of cities.

Applying for a Working Holiday visa (WHV) allows you to earn extra money to fund your travels or study while you’re here.

Note: Ustravelhubs is not the Australian government’s visa-granting authority. The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs is in charge of issuing visas. Please visit their website for the most up-to-date information: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417.

Please note that the content on this page is for informational purposes only. For legal advice, please contact an Australian-qualified immigration lawyer or migration agent.

What is Working Holiday Visa Australia?

Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa is a temporary visa for young 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries)  people who wish to holiday and work in Australia for a maximum of 12 months. Introduced in 1975, it was initially only available to young people from the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, and Canada.

Between 1980 and 2006, the program expanded to include many other partner countries, including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and several European countries. (Departmental WHM reports contain a complete list of partner countries and the year they joined.)

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During their 12-month stay, 417 visa holders can work full-time, part-time, casual, paid, or voluntary work. However, the work is limited to six months with any one employer. (In 2006, this period was expanded from three to six months.)

Today, the majority of entrants under this visa subclass continue to come from the United Kingdom, followed by young people from Taiwan, Germany, South Korea, and France. Since 2006, no new Working Holiday agreements have been signed with any partner country—only subclass 462 Work and Holiday agreements with more stringent requirements (including visa caps).

Basic Eligibility For Obtaining Working Holiday Visa Australia

Types of Working Holiday Visa in Australia (subclass 417)

There are 3 types of working holiday visas in Australia, viz:

1. First Working Holiday visa

This visa allows people aged 18 to 30 (or 35 in some countries) to spend their first extended vacation in Australia and work to help fund their trip.

With this visa, you can

• do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday trip
• study for up to 4 months
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
• do 3 months of specified work to become eligible for a second Working Holiday visa I Australia

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You must

• You must have a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction.
• More so, you can work while you are here.
• If you meet certain eligibility criteria, you can apply for a second Working Holiday visa.

2. Second Working Holiday visa

This visa allows people aged 18 to 30 (or 35 in some countries) who currently hold or have held a Working Holiday visa to return to Australia for a second working holiday.

With this visa, you can

• With this visa, you can do any kind of work while you are here​
• do short-term work in Australia to help you pay for your holiday
• study for up to 4 months in Australia
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
• do 6 months of specified subclass 417 work, this will enable you to become eligible for a third Working Holiday visa

You must

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You must have a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction
• be 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old in some countries)
• You must have completed 3 months of specified working holiday visa (subclass 417) work​​​
• If you are in Australia, you must have a substantive visa or have had your most recent substantive visa expire within the last 28 days.
• must not be accompanied by dependent children

3. Third Working Holiday visa

This visa allows people aged 18 to 30 (or 35 in some countries) who currently hold or have held a second Working Holiday visa to have a third working holiday in Australia.

With this visa, you can

• You must have a passport from an eligible country/jurisdiction
• and must have previously held 2 subclass 417 visas in Australia.
• be 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries)
• With this visa, you can do any kind of work while you are here​
• You must have completed 6 months of specified working holiday visa (subclass 417) work​​​
• If you are in Australia, you must have a substantive visa or have had your most recent substantive visa expire within the last 28 days.
• not be accompanied by dependent children

How Long Can I Stay in Australia with Working Holiday Visa?

What is the Cost of Getting a Working Holiday Visa?

Who Is Eligible For a Workin Holiday Visa in Australia?

You could be if you’re between the ages of 18 and 30 (or 18 to 35 for citizens of Canada, France, and Ireland). On this page, we’ll provide you with all of the information you need to apply for WHV subclass 417, which is required if you have a valid passport from any of the following countries:

Belgium; Canada; Denmark; Republic of Cyprus; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders); Republic of Ireland; Italy; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malta; Norway; Netherlands; Sweden; Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport); and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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However, if you have a passport from Argentina, Austria, Chile, The People’s Republic of China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, or Vietnam, you will need to apply for a Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462).

What Documents do I Need to Apply For Working Holiday Visa Australia?

Applying for WHV 417 is a simple process. Create an ImmiAccount and fill out the details online. To help with the process, you’ll need a few documents on hand, including:

• the pages of your passport containing your name, personal information, and passport issue and expiry dates; and
• a copy of your birth certificate containing the names of both parents.

What Should I Know Before I Start Applying?

All documents you submit with your WHV application must be written in English. Those who aren’t must be provided with a translation that includes the translator’s contact information. Each of these documents will require clear, color scans or photographs. If a document has more than one page, save it as a single file.

How Long Will The Application Process Take?

You must first create an ImmiAccount, which is simple and allows you to save your application at any time and return to it later if you discover you require additional information or different documents. Set aside a couple of hours to ensure you fill out the form correctly and include all required supporting documentation.

How Long Will It Take For Me To Receive A Response?

Many applications are processed within 12 days, but it may take longer if you do not correctly fill out the online form or fail to attach the required documents. It may take longer if we need to verify your information or obtain additional information from you. 90% of applications are processed within 34 days. See above.

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Note: You have 12 months from the date your visa is granted to fly to Australia and begin using it.

How Much Does Working Holiday Visa Australia Cost?

When you apply for your WHV, you must pay AUD $510. There may be additional fees for health checks, police certificates, or biometrics (facial photographs and fingerprints).

What Are The Healthcare Requirements for Getting a subclass 417 Visa?

If you are applying for a WHV from a country with a high risk of tuberculosis, you may be required to have a medical examination and a chest X-ray.

Ultimately, you are responsible for any medical bills incurred while visiting Australia. However, our public healthcare system, Medicare, has reciprocal agreements with some countries (Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) to cover the costs of care for illness or injury that cannot wait until you return home.

How Much Money Do I Need To Save?

You should have AUD $5000 in savings – be prepared to show proof of funds in your bank account. In addition to your savings, you should have a return air ticket or enough money to pay for a flight back to your home.

How Long Can I Stay With this Working Holiday Visa in Australia?

This WHV allows you to stay in Australia for a period of 12 months from the date you enter the country. You can either stay for the entire year or leave and return as many times as you want during these 12 months.

What AreThe Work Requirements And Restrictions?

The WHV allows you to take on short-term and casual jobs to fund your travels and help you pay for your vacation. For the most part, you can only work for the same employer in different locations for a maximum of six months.

However, this can be extended with special permission if you work for the same employer but in different locations, in plant and animal cultivation (everything from picking fruit to shearing sheep), or in certain industries (such as aged care, disability services, construction, and tourism) only in northern Australia.

Can I Extend My Working Holiday Visa Australia?

You can apply to stay for an additional one-year in Australia with an extension on your WHV if you have undertaken at least three months of specified work in approved industries. Examples include plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, and construction.

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