WORK AND HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 462)

The subclass 462 visa permits tourists aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) to stay in Australia for a prolonged period of time while supplementing their income with short-term work. The visa is valid for 12 months and permits you to enter and exit Australia several times. In general, visa holders can work for up to six months for one employer and study for up to four months. Some forms of specific jobs and regional areas may be available for up to 12 months. Each country is limited to a certain number of first Work and Holiday visas each year. Each visa program year, the annual cap resets on July 1st. 

Applicants who performed three months of specified employment in selected regional areas of Australia while on their first Work and Holiday visa may be given a second Work and Holiday visa. A third Job and Holiday visa may be awarded from July 1, 2019, if the visa holder meets further specified work conditions.

REQUIREMENTS

Note that these are the bare minimums for applying for this type of visa. You may be required to meet extra standards depending on your specific circumstances. 

 You must: 

•  be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive) 
• apply from a country other than Australia 

• not be accompanied by youngsters who are reliant on you 
• not have entered Australia previously on a subclass 462 or 417 visa See the second Work and Holiday visa if you previously entered Australia on a category 462 visa. 
• hold a passport for one of the countries or regions listed in the table below:  
• Argentina 

• Austria 
• Chile 
• China, People’s Republic of 
• Czech Republic 

• Ecuador 
• Greece 
• Hungary 
• Indonesia 
• Israel 

• Luxembourg 
• Malaysia 
• Peru 
• Poland 
• Portugal 

• San Marino 
• Singapore 
• Slovak Republic 
• Slovenia 
• Spain 

• Thailand 
• Turkey 
• Uruguay 
• United States of America 
• Vietnam 

You may also need to meet other unique requirements depending on your country of origin, which may include: 

•  completion of a specific educational level (e.g., secondary school, tertiary study/qualification) 
• Language proficiency in English (e.g., IELTS overall band score of 4.5) 
• help from the federal government (e.g., letter of support from your home government) 

If you’re applying for your second Work and Holiday visa, you’ll need to include the following information: 

• While on your first Work and Holiday visa, you must have completed three calendar months of designated work in regional Australia. 

To be eligible for a third Work and Holiday visa after July 1, 2019, you must: 

Have completed six calendar months of specified work in regional Australia while on your second Work and Holiday visa on or after July 1, 2019. 

A SECOND OR THIRD VISA REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIFIC WORK 

  For specific work, the following industries and localities have been approved: 

• Plant and animal farming in northern Australia, as well as other regional Australia areas. 
• Plant and animal farming in northern Australia, as well as other regional Australia areas. 
• fishing and pearling in northern Australia only 

• tree farming and felling in northern Australia only 
• tourism and hospitality in northern Australia only 

Any type of work defined below that must be the major job, function, or activity done throughout your employment is referred to as specified work. 

The period of specified work (either three months for a second Work and Holiday visa or six months for a third Work and Holiday visa) is defined as an evidenced period of paid, full-time equivalent work in regional Australia for a minimum of 88 calendar days (three months) or176 calendar days (six months). Postcodes are used to define ‘regional Australia.’ One day of full-time labor is regarded as the regular number of hours per day (or shift) for that industry and role. You have a few options for completing the assignment. 

An application for a second Work and Holiday visa, for example, must demonstrate: 

• Working full-time, five days a week, for a period of three months, including on a piecework rate arrangement OR 
• working less than five days per week in any combination of full-time, part-time, or piecework rate work that adds up to five days per week over three calendar months OR 
• Working fewer than five days per week for more than three months, including on a piece work rate arrangement. 

Work may be with one or more employers, and it may be spread out over the duration of your stay in Australia. Work may be with one or more employers, and it may be spread out over the duration of your stay in Australia. You can also work in regional Australia for longer than the requisite term if you do specific work. Sick days and paid public holiday leave are both counted as a day of specified work. Unpaid leave or holidays, as well as unpaid days due to inclement or seasonal weather, are not taken into account

PROCESS OF APPLICATION 

The visa application, along with any supporting documentation, is filed with the Department of Home Affairs (the “DOHA”). The most important condition is that you meet the prerequisites specified above. You must also have enough money to support yourself throughout the early phases of your vacation. You may also be asked to produce proof of health and/or travel insurance, as well as meet specific health and character standards. 

You must arrive in Australia within 12 months of receiving your visa. You can then work in any employment in any location in Australia, as long as you don’t stay with the same employer for more than six months unless an exemption exists. You may not study for more than four months at a time. 

Note that your subclass 462 visa may be subject to a ‘No Further Stay’ restriction, which means you won’t be able to apply for any additional visas while in Australia. Even if your visa does not have this restriction, you will be permitted to apply for a limited number of visas while in Australia. 

The amount of time it takes the DOHA to process your application is determined by its processing time service standards, but it may vary depending on a variety of other criteria, such as the complexity of your case, perceived risk factors, and processing priorities. Please contact us for the most up-to-date information on expected processing times for this type of application.