WORKING HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 417)

The Subclass 417 visa allows tourists aged 18 to 30 years (included) – as well as Canadian, French, and Irish nationals aged 18 to 35 years (inclusive) – to stay in Australia for an extended 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. 

Applicants who complete three months of designated work in regional Australia while on their first Working Holiday visa may be granted a second Working Holiday visa. A third Working Holiday visa may be awarded from July 1, 2019, if the visa holder meets further specified job 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 below: 

• Belgium 
• Canada 
• Republic of Cyprus 
• Denmark 
• Estonia 

• Finland 
• France 
• Germany 
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders) 
• Republic of Ireland 

• Italy 
• Japan 
• Republic of Korea 
• Malta 
• Netherlands 

• Norway 
• Sweden 
• Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport) 
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 

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 cultivation 
• fishing and pearling 
• tree farming and felling 
• mining; and 
• construction 

Voluntary work is not accepted as ‘work’ for the purposes of applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa. 

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

APPLICATION PROCESS

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.

Work and Holiday Visa

Subclass 462 Visa & 417 Visa Comparison