Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
The Working Holiday visa allows eligible young passport holders to enjoy an extended holiday in Australia and undertake short-term work to help fund their travels.
The main purpose should be a holiday. Applicants must meet the age and passport rules and cannot be accompanied by dependent children during their stay.
What is the Subclass 417 Visa?
Subclass 417 is part of Australia's Working Holiday Maker program. A first visa can provide a 12-month stay with short-term work rights, up to four months of study and multiple travel while the visa remains in effect.
Eligible holders may later qualify for a second or third Working Holiday visa. Specified-work requirements depend on the passport and application circumstances, with separate arrangements applying to eligible UK passport holders.
What can you do with this visa?
Key eligibility considerations
For a first visa, you generally must hold a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction, be aged 18 to 30 or up to 35 for specified passports, apply online from outside Australia, and not have previously entered on a Subclass 417 or 462 visa.
You must have enough money to support your initial stay and leave Australia, meet health and character requirements, have no unresolved Australian Government debt, and acknowledge the Australian Values Statement. Family members cannot be included in one application.
How the Working Holiday process works
Check passport and age eligibility
Confirm the rules for your passport country and lodge before the applicable age deadline.
Plan funds and travel
Prepare evidence of initial support funds and onward travel funds or a departure ticket.
Gather documents
Prepare passport, identity, financial, health and character documents and certified translations.
Apply online
Lodge through ImmiAccount from the correct location and pay the applicable charge.
Plan compliant work and travel
After grant, check entry dates, employer limits, study conditions and any specified-work goals.
Work and study conditions
You can generally undertake any type of lawful work, but usually cannot work for the same employer for more than six months unless an exemption applies or permission is granted. Australian workplace laws, tax and superannuation rules protect and apply to visa holders.
Study or training is limited to four months, commonly described as 17 weeks. If employment or study is the main purpose of travel, another work or Student visa may be more appropriate.
Second and third Working Holiday visas
In many cases, three months of eligible specified Subclass 417 work can support a second visa, and six months of eligible specified work can support a third. The work must meet current industry, location, timing and lawful-payment rules.
UK passport holders applying with an eligible UK passport on or after 1 July 2024 do not need to meet the specified-work requirement for a second or third Subclass 417 visa. Other eligibility criteria continue to apply.
Important Subclass 417 Conditions
- Do not travel until the visa grant is confirmed in writing.
- Do not be accompanied by dependent children.
- Usually work no more than six months for one employer.
- Study or train for no more than four months.
- Keep accurate evidence of any specified work completed.
- Pay tax and follow Australian workplace laws.
- Check current conditions and visa dates in VEVO.
Stay, travel and health insurance
A first visa generally requires entry within 12 months of grant. The 12-month stay begins on first arrival; leaving and returning does not restart or extend it. Health insurance is strongly recommended because visitors may be personally liable for healthcare costs.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passport and identity records, birth certificate, recent bank statements, onward-travel evidence, police certificates, health examinations, military records where relevant, name-change documents and certified English translations.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can check passport and age eligibility, explain first, second and third visa requirements, review specified-work evidence and help prepare a complete Subclass 417 application.