Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

Who can apply?

• You hold a passport from an eligible country, and you are within the age limit for that passport when you apply.
• You are not accompanied by dependent children and you apply on your own, with no family members on the application.
• You have not previously entered Australia on a 417 or 462 visa. If you have been in Australia on a 417 before, see the second and third year visas.
• You have enough money to support yourself and to leave Australia, usually about A$5,000 for the initial stay plus the fare onward.
• You meet the health and character requirements, and you have repaid any debt to the Australian Government.
• Your immigration history, including past visa cancellations or refusals, is considered.

Eligible passports and age limits:

You must lodge before you turn 31 (or 36) in Australian Eastern time. The deadline is midnight the day before that birthday, even if you apply from overseas. Try not to apply on your birthday. You can still be granted the visa if you applied at 30 (or 35) and turn 31 (or 36) before the decision.

What can you do on the visa?

• Work in any job, but usually for the same employer for no more than 6 months (condition 8547). You can work longer for one employer if you work in different locations, in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia, in natural disaster recovery, in critical sectors such as agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, childcare and tourism and hospitality, or in certain industries in northern Australia.
• Study for up to 4 months (17 weeks).
• Travel in and out of Australia as many times as you like during the 12 months.
• Do 3 months of specified work to qualify for a second visa.

How long can you stay?

You must enter Australia within 12 months of the grant date. The 12-month stay starts the day you enter, and time spent outside Australia does not extend it. If you hold two passports, you must enter on the one linked to the visa. If you are later granted another visa, such as an eVisitor, your Working Holiday visa and its work rights end on that date. You cannot extend the visa, and a Visitor visa after it must keep your total stay to 12 consecutive months unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Cost and processing

The charge is A$840 for the first visa, plus any health checks, police certificates and biometrics. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when it is decided, and you must declare your location correctly. If you come onshore on another visa while the application is pending, it cannot be granted. See processing times for the official 50% and 90% figures.

Health insurance and tax

Home Affairs strongly recommends health insurance. You are personally liable for healthcare costs, and some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements. You pay tax on work income, and employers must pay superannuation over a threshold, which you can claim when you leave.