Australia has two visas in its Working Holiday Maker programme: the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). Both generally allow an initial stay of up to 12 months. Which one you can apply for depends primarily on your passport.
| At a glance | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Initial stay | Up to 12 months on your first working holiday visa. |
| Age | Usually 18 to 30, with an upper age limit of 35 for certain subclass 417 passport holders. |
| Work | Short-term work in Australia, generally limited to six months with one employer unless an exemption or permission applies. |
| Study | Up to four months of study or training during your stay. |
Which Australian working holiday visa can you apply for?
The subclasses offer similar opportunities, but the eligibility rules differ. The countries shown below are examples. Home Affairs publishes the full passport lists and current application status.
| Working Holiday (subclass 417) | Work and Holiday (subclass 462) |
|---|---|
| For passport holders from countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany and Japan. | For passport holders from countries including the USA, India, China, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand. |
| Applicants must generally be 18 to 30. For eligible passport countries, the upper limit is 35. | Applicants must be aged 18 to 30, inclusive. |
| Standard age, passport, health, character and financial requirements apply. | Additional education, English-language or government support requirements may apply. Some first-visa applications are subject to country caps or ballots. |
A valid passport and the right age do not always mean you can apply immediately. Some subclass 462 applicants must first be selected through a ballot, and country-specific requirements may apply. If you hope to stay for a second or third year, check that your planned work will qualify as specified work.
Who is eligible for an Australian working holiday visa?
To qualify for a first working holiday visa, you will generally need to:
- Hold a valid passport from a participating country and meet its age limit.
- Have enough money to support yourself initially, usually around AUD 5,000, plus funds for travel out of Australia.
- Meet the relevant health and character requirements.
- Apply from outside Australia and not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 417 or 462 visa.
- Travel without dependent children accompanying you during your stay.
- Meet any additional requirements for your subclass and passport country.
A South African passport does not qualify for either working holiday subclass under the current participating-country lists. If you also hold another passport from an eligible country, that may change your options. If not, a different Australian visa may be more appropriate.
What can you do on an Australian working holiday visa?
Both subclasses let you travel around Australia, work to help fund your holiday and study for up to four months. You can work in different occupations, but you must follow your visa conditions.
The usual limit is six months with any one employer. Exemptions apply to certain work and circumstances, and you may be able to request permission to work longer where the rules allow. Check the conditions that apply before accepting a longer contract.
Can you stay for a second or third working holiday year?
You may qualify for a second and then a third working holiday visa, each offering a further stay of up to 12 months. For most applicants, a second visa requires three months of specified work. A third generally requires six months of specified work undertaken while holding the second visa. The type and location of the work must satisfy the rules for your subclass.
If you apply using a UK passport, you do not have to meet the specified-work requirement for a second or third subclass 417 visa under arrangements applying to applications lodged from 1 July 2024. You must still meet the other visa requirements, including the age limit.
A second or third year requires a separate visa application. It is not an automatic extension of your first visa.
How much does an Australian working holiday visa cost?
As of October 2026, the published Australian Government application charge is AUD 840 for a first subclass 417 or 462 visa and AUD 1,000 for a second or third visa. Concessions may apply to eligible subclass 462 applicants. Other costs, including health checks, police certificates and professional assistance, are additional.
How do you apply?
Check your passport, age and visa history to establish whether subclass 417 or 462 is the appropriate route.
Confirm any additional conditions, including subclass 462 education, English, supporting-document, country-cap or ballot requirements.
Prepare your passport details and supporting evidence, then lodge the appropriate application through ImmiAccount. First working holiday visa applications must be made from outside Australia.
Monitor ImmiAccount for information requests, await the visa decision and review the conditions attached to your visa if it is granted.
How long does an Australian working holiday visa take to process?
The Department of Home Affairs currently expects average Working Holiday Maker processing times of around three months, but individual applications may take longer. Check its latest visa processing times and do not book flights or make firm work or study commitments before your visa is granted.
What if you want to stay in Australia longer?
A working holiday visa is a temporary route for travel with short-term work. It does not itself grant permanent residence. If your main goal is an ongoing career in Australia, employer sponsorship or a long-term move, it is worth checking whether you meet the requirements for a skilled or employer-sponsored visa instead.
How Sable International can help
The right visa is not always the one you searched for first. Our Australian migration team, led by Sam Hopwood, Director: Australia and Oceania Region, and a registered migration agent (MARN 1382205), can help you understand your eligibility, identify the appropriate subclass and prepare for your application. If a working holiday is not right for you, we can explore other Australian visa options.
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