◆First Working Holiday Visa◆
Securing your Australian Working Holiday Visa is the essential first step to kickstart your adventure Down Under.
The process is straightforward and can be done independently, but it’s important to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements. Whether you’re applying for Subclass 417 or Subclass 462 visa, understanding the basics will make your application smooth and stress-free.
★Key Points★
・Age Requirements: Generally 18 to 30 years old; up to 35 for certain nationalities.
・Length of Stay: Up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension under specific conditions.
・Work Limitations: Employment with a single employer is typically restricted to 6 months.
・Study Limitations: Permitted for up to 4 months.
・Financial Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds (usually around AUD 5,000) to support themselves initially and possess a return or onward ticket or the means to acquire one.
・Health and Character: Applicants must meet health and character requirements, which may include medical examinations and background checks.
1. Subclass 417
A. Who Can Apply?
Individuals aged 18 to 30 (or up to 35 for certain countries in green) from eligible nations, including the following countries;
Belgium / Canada / Republic of Cyprus / Denmark / Estonia / Finland / France / Germany / Hong Kong / Republic of Ireland / Italy / Japan / Republic of Korea / Malta / Netherlands / Norway / Sweden / Taiwan / The United Kingdom
◎If you submit your visa application at the age of 30 (or 35) but turn 31 (or 36) before a decision is made, your visa can still be approved as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria.
B. Length of Stay
Up to 12 months
C. Cost
Application fee: AUD650.00 (as of January 2025)
D. What You Can Do
You can:
- Take on short-term jobs to support your travels†
- Study for up to 4 months
- Travel in and out of Australia as often as you like during the visa's validity period
- Complete 3 months of eligible subclass 417 work to qualify for a second Working Holiday Visa
†: Employment with a single employer is generally limited to 6 months.
- Want to seek permission to work longer than 6 months for the same employer?
>>> You can request permission from here:
◎You do not have to seek permission if your work falls under specific exemptions, including:
Different Locations: Working at multiple locations, with no single location exceeding 6 months.
Plant and Animal Cultivation: Any location in Australia.
Critical Sectors: Jobs in agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, childcare, tourism, and hospitality anywhere in Australia.
Specific Industries in Northern Australia: Including fishing, pearling, tree farming, construction, and mining (refer to the official definition of Northern Australia).
Natural Disaster Recovery Work: Anywhere in Australia.
More details:
E. Eligibility
To be eligible for the Subclass 417 visa, you must:
✔Hold a passport from an eligible country or region
✔Be between 18 and 30 years old (or up to 35 for certain countries) when you apply
✔Apply from outside Australia through an online application
✔Not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 417 visa. If you’ve held a subclass 417 visa before, you may qualify for a second Working Holiday Visa
✔Not bring dependent children with you
✔Submit the application independently; family members cannot be included in your application
✔Must have enough money (about AUD 5,000 to cover your living expenses and purchase an onward travel ticket when your visa ends)
✔Meet the health requirements
✔Meet the character requirements
✔Ensure that any debts owed to the Australian Government by you or your family members (even those not included in your visa application) are either fully repaid or have a repayment arrangement in place
✔Not have had a visa cancelled or refused a visa in Australia before
✔Sign the Australian Values statement
◆To check more details of eligibility, visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417/first-working-holiday-417#Eligibility.
◆For comprehensive and up-to-date information, including application procedures and eligibility criteria, you can refer to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official website.
2. Subclass 462
This visa also allows a 12-month stay with similar work and study conditions as the Subclass 417 visa. Notably, there are annual caps on the number of visas issued for each country, and additional eligibility requirements may apply, such as educational qualifications or language proficiency.
A. Who Can Apply?
Individuals aged 18 to 30 from eligible nations, including the following countries;
ArgentinaAustriaBrazilChileChina*Czech RepublicEcuadorGreeceHungaryIndia*IndonesiaIsrael LuxembourgMalaysiaMongoliaPapua New Guinea (PNG)PeruPolandPortugalSan MarinoSingaporeSlovak RepublicSloveniaSpainSwitzerlandThailandTürkiyeUruguayUnited States of AmericaVietnam*
*Passport holders from China, India, and Vietnam are required to take part in a visa pre-application process (ballot) and must be randomly selected to apply for their first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.
◎If you submit your visa application at the age of 30 but turn 31 before a decision is made, your visa can still be approved as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria.
B. Length of Stay
Up to 12 months
C. Cost
Application fee: AUD650.00 (as of January 2025)
D. What You Can Do
You can:
- Take on short-term jobs to support your travels†
- Study for up to 4 months
- Travel in and out of Australia as often as you like during the visa's validity period
- Complete 3 months of eligible subclass 462 work to qualify for a second Working Holiday Visa
†Employment with a single employer is generally limited to 6 months.
- Want to seek permission to work longer than 6 months for the same employer?
>>> You can request permission from here:
◎You do not have to seek permission if your work falls under specific exemptions, including:
Different Locations: Working at multiple locations, with no single location exceeding 6 months.
Plant and Animal Cultivation: Any location in Australia.
Critical Sectors: Jobs in agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, childcare, tourism, and hospitality anywhere in Australia.
Specific Industries in Northern Australia: Including fishing, pearling, tree farming, construction, and mining (refer to the official definition of Northern Australia).
Natural Disaster Recovery Work: Anywhere in Australia.
More details:
E. Eligibility
To be eligible for the Subclass 462 visa, you must:
✔Hold a passport from an eligible country or region
✔Be between 18 and 30 years old when you apply
✔Apply from outside Australia through an online application
✔Not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 462 visa. If you’ve held a subclass 462 visa before, you may qualify for a second Working Holiday Visa
✔Not bring dependent children with you
✔Submit the application independently; family members cannot be included in your application
✔Must have enough money (about AUD 5,000 to cover your living expenses and purchase an onward travel ticket when your visa ends)
✔Meet the education requirements
✔Must demonstrate at least Functional English proficiency
✔Must provide a letter of support from your government (or an equivalent document as specified) if you are a citizen of any of the following countries:
Ecuador / Greece / Indonesia / Luxembourg / Malaysia (Good Conduct Certificate required) / Mongolia / Peru / Poland / San Marino / Slovenia / Thailand / Türkiye
✔Meet the health requirements
✔Meet the character requirements
✔Ensure that any debts owed to the Australian Government by you or your family members (even those not included in your visa application) are either fully repaid or have a repayment arrangement in place
✔Not have had a visa cancelled or refused a visa in Australia before
✔Sign the Australian Values statement
◆To check more details of eligibility, visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462/first-work-holiday-462#Eligibility
◆For comprehensive and up-to-date information, including application procedures and eligibility criteria, you can refer to the Australian Department of Home Affair's official website.