Want to explore Australia while working? The Working Holiday Visa in Australia (WHV) is a perfect choice for you! This blog will inform you about the Working Holiday Visa, the differences between WHV subclass 417 and WHV subclass 426, the requirements and application process, the risks of rejection, and popular job options. Keep reading and find out more!
What is the Working Holiday Visa Australia?
The Working Holiday Visa Australia, also known as WHV (subclass 417 or 462, depending on your country) allows individuals aged 18 to 35 to live, work, and travel in Australia for 1 to3 years. Eligible participants can take short-term jobs to fund their stay, with work limited to 6 months per employer (extended to 12 months in specific industries like agriculture). The visa promotes cultural exchange and requires applicants to meet health, character, and financial requirements. Countries like the UK, Canada, and France qualify for the 417 visa, while the US, China, and others fall under the 462 visa, which may have additional conditions like English proficiency.
With the working holiday visa, you can legally:
Do short-term work
Study for up to 4 months
Travel freely in Australia
And there is no limit to the number of candidates, anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can apply. One thing need to note is that you can’t bring family or children with you to Australia.
What is the Australia Work and Holiday Visa?
The Australia Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
The Australia Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
They are both designed for young adults to live, work, and travel in Australia, but they differ in eligibility, conditions, and participating countries.
| Aspects | 417 Visa | 462 Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Countries | UK, Canada, France, Germany.. | USA, China, Argentina, Chile… |
| Language Requirements | No formal language requirements | Requires proof of English proficiency and minimum education level |
| Age Limitation | 18-30 | 18-35 |
| Visa Extension | Can extend to 2nd and 3rd year | Allow extensions, but specifics vary by county |
Is Australia Currently Accepting Working Holiday visas?
Yes! The working holiday visa Australia is currently accepting. However, this can change, so always check official documents before applying.
Requirements for Applying the Australia WHV
Who is this visa for?
The Australia working holiday visa is aimed at young people making their first trip to Australia. It’s for people who want to stay a while, but need to be able to work so that they can fund their travels. Basically, you’ll need to meet the requirements:
- Have at least AUD $5,000 upfront, to support yourself for your initial stay and pay for your return journey back home.
- Meet the minimum health requirement
- No substantial criminal record
- Not have entered Australia previously on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 or 462), or have ever had a visa application refused.
Working Holiday Visa Australia Age Limit
If you are from one of the 19 countries, including the UK, Canada, France, and Japan, etc, then the age limitation is 18-30; however, if you are from the USA, China, Argentina, Indonesia, or other countries, the age limitation is 18-35.
How Long Can I Stay in Australia with the WHV?
if your visa is approved, you can legally stay in Australia for 12 months.
Can I Extend the Australia WHV?
Technically, you can’t extend your current working holiday visa, but you can apply for a second or even a third working holiday visa. Usually you need to complete three required months of specified work. This would make you eligible to apply for further visas, but now UK citizens no longer need to complete any specified work.
Cost of Australia Working Holiday Visa
First, the main cost is the base application fee, which is AUD $635 (approximately 425USD), you must pay this fee when submitting your application, it’s non-refundable, even if your application is rejected.
Except for the application fee, you may also face additional potential costs, such as health examinations about AUD $300-$500; Biometrics, around AUD $30-$100; police clearance certificates (if needed) and travel insurance.
And don’t forget, you must have at least AUD $5,000 savings to support your initial stay. Because when you are in the country, there will also be expenses on rent, daily costs, healthcare, etc.
What Documents do I need?
- Identity documents, including a valid passport and birth certificate.
- Evidence you are capable of affording your costs in Australia, such as a recent bank statement.
- Character documents, such as a police certificate.
- Health examination documents, if applicable.
(All the documents must be in English)
How to Apply for an Working Holiday Visa Australia?
There are several steps involved in applying for a working holiday visa, follow our guide to help you apply for the visa efficiently.
- Check if you need to have health examinations
Before applying, you need to have a closer look at the Australian government website to see if you’ll need to do any health checks. If so, it’s better to complete those before starting your application.
- Gather your supporting documents
Double-check and gather all the necessary documents needed, including your proof of ID and character documents.
- Create an online ImmiAccount
You’ll need to create an online ImmiAccount to help you apply for your visa online. If you already have an account, you can simply sign in.
- Apply online
Click New Application, Visa pre-application registration, Registration-Working Holiday Visa, complete your application, by filling in all personal and required details. You’ll also attach your supporting documents.
- Pay your application fee
You’ll then need to pay online using a credit/debit card, PayPal, UnionPay Or BPAY. Different payment methods may charge different fees due to international transfer fees and exchange rates.
- Submit your application
Check all the details carefully and make sure everything is correct before submitting your application. Make a note of your transaction reference number in case you need it later. Make sure your application is successfully submitted, then wait for the results.
- Wait for a decision
You can sign in the ImmiAccount, check the status in “List of application”, “received” means successfully submitted. If your application is successful, you’ll be given a visa grant number and a date that your visa will start, and then you can begin to plan your trip to Austria. If you are rejected, you’ll be told the reason why and whether or not you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.
- Plan your trip to Australia
After your application is successfully confirmed, you need to spend some time planning your trip to Australia, this includes choosing the job you want to do, and finding the best place for your accommodation. uhomes.com offers a range of housing options for students and social individuals in various countries, and we have diverse housing choices in Australia to suit different budgets. Click the link to explore more!
How Long Does it Take?
The processing time for your working holiday visa can vary. The Australian government claims it processes up to 50% of applications within a day, and 90% within 22 days. Some cases may take longer if additional checks, and the accuracy of the application, low-demand periods are factors affecting the processing time.
The Risks
One thing you need to be aware of is that you have the risk of rejecting. The truth is that although the WHV opens freely for an unlimited number of applications, it has limited visa slots for some countries, for example, China’s WHV (subclass 462) has a 5,000 annual cap, and the application open in July, it’s extremely competitive, it’s better to apply as fast as possible.
Popular Australia WHV Jobs
After successfully arriving in Australia with the WHV, you need to hunt for a job for yourself. And the most common ways to find a job are through online platforms like Gumtree, Seek, and Indeed; or you can also look at Hostel Noticeboards and just walk-in; agencies are also another good way to find a job.
Jobs are available in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, etc. The popular jobs include:
| Areas | Positions |
|---|---|
| Tourism & Hospitality | Cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels… |
| Farm Work | Fruit picking, vegetable harvesting, cattle/sheep farming… |
| Plant Nurseries & Forestry | Propagation & Potting, tree planting, seedling maintenance… |
| Fishing & Pearling | Fishing deckhand, shellfish farming |
| Retail | Shop, supermarkets, fashion stores… |
| Au Pair & Childcare | Babysitter, Au Pair… |
| Adventure Jobs | Ski resorts, diving instructor, lifeguard on a beach… |
| Administration & Office Jobs | Receptionist, date entry clerk… |
| … | … |
FAQs:
People aged between 18-30(35 for some countries) who have their first extended holiday in Australia and work there to help fund their trip, they are eligible for a working holiday visa in Australia.
You will need at least AUD $5,635, with $635 for the application fee, and $5,000 for proof you are capable of covering your stay in Australia and flight ticket. But except for the $5,635 AUD, you may also face additional potential costs, such as the health examinations about AUD $300-$500; Biometrics around $30-$100, police clearance certificates (if needed) and travel insurance, etc. So, prepare your money as much as possible.
It’s easy if you meet the basic eligibility criteria. The application process is straightforward. Just go online, create an ImmiAccount and fill out the required documents, documents. But the potential challenge is the limited visa slots for some countries, for example, China’s WHV (subclass 462) has a 5,000 annual cap, and the application open in July, you need to fill as fast as possible.
Australia’s WHV is available to passport holders from 45 countries, with 19 countries under subclass 417, including Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, UK, etc. The other 26 countries under subclass 462, including Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, USA, Vietnam, etc.
The 417 visa targets people aged 18-30 from eligible countries and has fewer educational restrictions, while the 462 visa has a wider 18-35 age range and also requires functional English ability.
WHV holders in Australia can do almost any job. There are various jobs options ranging from farm work (fruit picking, vegetable harvesting, cattle/sheep farming); plant nurseries & forestry; fishing & pearling; mining & constructions, tourism & hospitality (cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels); retail (shop, supermarkets, fashion stores); au pair & childcare, adventure jobs (ski resorts, diving instructor, lifeguard on a beach); administration &office jobs, etc.
Yes! You can work in Australia without a working holiday visa (WHV), but you’ll need an alternative visa that permits employment, for example, if you are skilled or emloyer-sponsored, you can apply the work visa, temporary skill shortage (TSS) visa, skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (SESR) visa, Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS); you can also apply a student visa, work while studying.
It’s possible to transition from a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) to Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia, but it’s not a direct or easy process. You will need to meet specific requirements.
