Step 1. Apply for your visa

Before you start booking airline tickets, be sure to get the visa thats right for you. If you're planning a working holiday in Australia, there are two visas types available. Both can be obtained easily online with a fee paid direct to the Australian Department of Immigration.

1. Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)
2. Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

If you are coming for a holiday only and do not plan to work, view other visa options

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)

The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is only available to people who hold valid passports from the following countries

• UK
• Belgium
• Canada
• Republic of Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• HSKAR*
• Republic of Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Taiwan
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden

*Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (includes British National Overseas passport holders).

To apply for the Working Holiday Visa, you must also:

• be outside Australia when you apply and, when your visa is granted
• not have entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa before
• be aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) at the time of applying
• be applying no more than 12 months before you intend to travel to Australia
• not have accompanying dependent children. If you have dependent children you will need to apply using the paper application.

What does the Working Holiday Visa allow you to do?

• enter Australia within 12 months of grant
• stay for up to 12 months
• leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid
• work in Australia for up to 6 months with each employer
• study for up to 4 months.
• extend your stay by another 12-months by working 3 months in a Specified Role, e.g fruit picking

If you gain a 12-month visa extension, you may return to work for a further 6 months for an employer with whom you worked on your first Working Holiday visa.

Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

The Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) is available only to tertiary-educated visitors aged 18 to 30 who hold valid passports from

• USA
• Chile
• Malaysia
• Thailand
• Turkey

Valid up to 12 months, the visa enables you to supplement the cost of your travels in Australia through periods of temporary or casual employment.

What does the Work and Holiday Visa allow you to do?

• enter Australia at any time within 3 months of the visa grant date
• stay for up to 12 months in Australia
• leave and re-enter Australia any number of times in the 12 months from the date of first entry
• undertake temporary employment in Australia
• study for up to 4 months

Unfortunately, it is not possible to qualify for a visa extension by working in regional Australia. This option is only available under the Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417).

Tertiary education requirements

• Chile: You must hold tertiary qualifications or have completed/been approved to undertake a third year of undergraduate university study.
• Malaysia: You must hold tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two (2) years of undergraduate university study.
• Thailand: You must hold a degree or post high school diploma from an accredited institution.
• Turkey: You must hold tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two (2) years of undergraduate university study.
• USA: You must have graduated from High School.

How do I apply?

For the most current and accurate information about visas in Australia and to apply online, visit the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship website (see links below). Here you will be able to apply online for your Australian visa, confirm your entitlements and check the status of the application, plus other useful information.

• Information about Working Holiday Visas
• Visa options (Subclass 417 & 462)
• Apply for a Working Holiday Visa

In addition to completing and paying for your relevant visa application, you will also need to comply with health and character checks and agree to the Australian Values Statement.