What You Can Do | Visa Requirements | Work & Holiday Requirements | Eligible Countries | Processing Times | Second Working Holiday | Third Working Holiday | Lastest News | Sponsorship Pathway
A Working Holiday in Australia is a great experience and offers the chance to really live the Australian lifestyle!
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa program was created to foster closer ties and cultural exchange between Australia and partner countries, with emphasis on young adults. It has been in existence since 1975. This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) – except for Canadian, Irish, Italian and Danish citizens up to 35 (inclusive) – to apply for a working holiday in Australia.
The WHM visa program is comprised of the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa and the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa programs. Partner countries encompass 47 partner nations and regions from across the globe.
Of the 47 partner countries, 19 are Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa arrangements, and 28 are Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa arrangements. The key differences between the two visas are that Work and Holiday visa arrangements generally have caps on the number of visas granted annually and additional eligibility requirements.
Work and Holiday visa applicants must meet additional requirements, which may (or may not) include:
| Country | Working Holiday (subclass 417) | Work and Holiday (subclass 462) |
| Argentina | ✔ | |
| Austria | ✔ | |
| Belgium | ✔ | |
| Brazil | ✔ | |
| Canada | ✔ | |
| Chile | ✔ | |
| China | ✔ | |
| Czech Republic | ✔ | |
| Cyprus, Republic of | ✔ | |
| Denmark | ✔ | |
| Ecuador | ✔ | |
| Estonia | ✔ | |
| Finland | ✔ | |
| France | ✔ | |
| Germany | ✔ | |
| Greece | ✔ | |
| Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders) |
✔ | |
| Hungary | ✔ | |
| Indonesia | ✔ | |
| Ireland, Republic of | ✔ | |
| Israel | ✔ | |
| Italy | ✔ | |
| Japan | ✔ | |
| Korea, Republic of | ✔ | |
| Luxembourg | ✔ | |
| Malaysia | ✔ | |
| Malta | ✔ | |
| Mongolia | ✔ | |
| Netherlands | ✔ | |
| Norway | ✔ | |
| Peru | ✔ | |
| Poland | ✔ | |
| Portugal | ✔ | |
| San Marino | ✔ | |
| Singapore | ✔ | |
| Slovak Republic | ✔ | |
| Slovenia | ✔ | |
| Spain | ✔ | |
| Sweden | ✔ | |
| Switzerland | ✔ | |
| Taiwan | ✔ | |
| Thailand | ✔ | |
| Turkey | ✔ | |
| Uruguay | ✔ | |
| USA | ✔ | |
| United Kingdom | ✔ | |
| Vietnam | ✔ |
Countries with which Australia is currently negotiating new Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa arrangements (as at 30 June 2018) :
| Andorra | Mexico |
| Croatia | Monaco |
| Fiji | Philippines |
| India | Solomon Islands |
| Latvia | |
| Lithuania |
The updated processing times are available on http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/processing-times
To apply for a second Working Holiday, you must:
If you are already in Australia, and wish to remain onshore, you should apply for a second Working Holiday visa before your first Working Holiday visa expires.
To apply for a third Working Holiday, you must:
If you are already in Australia, and wish to remain onshore, you should apply for a third Working Holiday visa before your second Working Holiday visa expires.
The department has announced that they have extended the relaxation of condition 8547 until 30 June 2023. This change allows Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) to work with any one employer for the duration of their visa without requesting permission, and any work that is carried out before 1 July 2023 will not be counted towards the 6-month limitation period. This means that from 1 July 2023 onwards, WHMs may work for any employer for up to an additional 6 months even if they worked for that same employer before 1 July 2023.
The working holiday visa is a good opportunity to gain relevant Australian work experience whilst proving to your employer your worth which may be a good springboard into an employer sponsored visa providing you with a more permanent stay in Australia.
There are two types of sponsorship visas: Subclass 482 and Subclass 186.
The TSS visa, or 482 visa, is a temporary visa that permits the holder to live in Australia, while working full-time for the sponsoring employer, in a nominated occupation which is listed on the Short Skilled List or Medium Long Term Skilled List.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) or Subclass 186 visa, is permanent residency visa for skilled workers which enables your employer to sponsor if they can prove a genuine need for an on-going permanent position.
A General Skilled Visa, which is a points based independent visa, may also be a way of gaining Australian permanent residency as having Australian work experience will gain you greater points than overseas work experience. To read more about the requirements, please see Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) and Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa).
If you require assistance with exploring your different visa options and your eligibility, feel free to book a consultation with one of our expert Registered Migration Agents here.
Eligibility is the most important step in determining whether a person may meet the legal criteria for a visa application and one consultation could save you money.
Book a Consultation
Book a Consultation