Working Holiday and Work and Holiday Visas (Australia)

The Working Holiday Maker program has two main visas. The Working Holiday visa, subclass 417, is for people from certain partner countries who are aged 18 to 30 and want an extended holiday in Australia while working to help fund the trip. The Work and Holiday visa, subclass 462, covers other arrangements, and some countries need a government letter of support or a ballot.

Which visa you can use depends on your passport. The rules differ by country, so start with the list of eligible countries on the Home Affairs site.

The general age range for the 417 visa is 18 to 30. Several countries have higher limits.

For UK passport holders, the eligible age for the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa has been 18 to 35 inclusive since 1 July 2023. From 1 July 2026, passport holders from Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea can also apply for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa if they are 18 to 35 inclusive. They may lodge until 11:59 pm AEST on the day before their 36th birthday.

Check the age limit that applies to your passport before you plan, because it is checked on the day you lodge.

Visa condition 8547 limits you to a maximum of six months of work with any one employer, unless an exemption applies or you have written permission. The study limit for UK passport holders is four months. Plan your jobs with these limits in mind, and ask the department about permission before you extend a role.

Working Holiday visa holders from the UK can stay up to three years in Australia. The three years do not need to be taken in a row. UK passport holders can take their first, second and third visas at separate times.

For applications lodged on or after 1 July 2024 with a UK passport, the second and third visas do not require specified work. The UK arrangements took effect after the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement entered into force on 31 May 2023. Other nationalities may still have a specified work requirement, so check your own passport page.

Recent changes from Home Affairs include:

• From 1 July 2026, up to 1,500 first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas are available each program year to eligible Uruguay passport holders.
• From 3 June 2026, Luxembourg passport holders no longer need a Letter of Support with a subclass 462 application.
• A ballot will be introduced for Indonesian passport holders applying for their first subclass 462 visa, with registrations expected later in 2026. Holding a Government Letter of Support does not reserve a place.
• Registrations for the 462 ballot for China, India and Vietnam for Program Year 2026-2027 closed on 25 June 2026.
• The Philippines arrangement was signed on 8 September 2023 for up to 200 young people each year in each direction. No start date had been published when this page was checked.

If your country uses a ballot, do not miss the registration window, because there may be only one chance each year.

From 1 July 2026, the visa application charges for second and third Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462) applications rose by AUD 330, according to the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026. The first application charge is set separately, so use the Visa pricing estimator on the Home Affairs site for the amount that applies on the day you lodge.

Home Affairs says the average processing time is expected to be around three months. This is only a guide. Apply well before you plan to travel and avoid non-refundable bookings until you have the grant.

Think about the work you hope to do. The six month rule means you cannot stay with one employer for the whole year without permission, so a plan that moves between jobs or regions is safer.

Do not assume the age limit is 30 for every passport. Do not rely on an old article for the specified work rules, because they have changed for UK passport holders. Do not miss a ballot deadline. And do not overstay the six month limit with one employer without checking the permission rules.