Depending on which country you are from, you may be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462) to live and work in Australia. The Working Holiday Visa (“WHV”) permits you to live and work in Australia for 12 months, with the possibility of extending your stay up to two more times, giving you a total of three years in Australia under the Working Holiday Visa stream.
If you’re over 18 years of age and under 31 years of age (or under 36 for citizens of Canada, France, Ireland), are interested in living and working in Australia and you meet certain eligibility criteria, you should be familiar with all of the requirements and conditions of this subclass, so that you can plan your work in Australia to maximize your time here. If you don’t qualify for the working holiday visa extension, this article details more options that may be available to you.
The Working Holiday Visa allows holders of the subclass 417 and 462 visa to:
- Remain in Australia for 12 months
- Work for the same employer for a maximum of 6 months
- Enter Australia within 12 months of the grant of the visa
- Leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like during the validity of the visa
- Study in Australia for up to 4 months
If you do not yet have your First Working Holiday Visa, you can find more information about this here
What’s the difference between Subclass 417 and Subclass 462?
Depending on the country you are from, you will need to apply for the specific subclass.
| Subclass 417 is for passport holders of: | Subclass 462 if for passport holders of: |
| 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 |
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 |
This article is for those who currently hold or previously held the First or Second Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462) and want to extend their stay in Australia.
Second Working Holiday Visa
Eligibility Requirements:
If you are currently on your First Year Working Holiday Visa and want to apply for your Second Year, you must:
- Be over 18 years of age and under 31 years of age (or under 36 years of age if from Canada, Ireland, or France) at the time of application; and
- Currently hold or have previously held the First Year Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462); and
- Complete 3 months (the equivalent of 88 calendar days) of “Specified Work” in a Regional Area before your First Year Working Holiday Visa expires.
Additional Eligibility Requirements:
- You can apply from inside or outside Australia. But if you apply from inside Australia, you must be inside Australia when your visa is granted.
- You cannot be accompanied by any dependent children.
- You have complied with all the conditions on your first Working Holiday visa
- You have enough money to buy a return or onward travel ticket at the end of your stay
- You need to meet other eligibility criteria, such as: education requirements, English language requirements, health and character requirements, and financial requirements.
How much work do I need to undertake?
Depending on whether you hold/held the subclass 417 or the 462 WHV, you will need to have completed 3 months (or 88 calendar days) of Specified Work in a regional area.
You must provide evidence that you have completed at least 3 months/88 days of Specified Work. The hours and days of work are what is considered a normal working day within the specific industry. Similarly, if you are on a piece agreement, the days you worked would be based on industry standards.
What is Specified Work?
To complete Specified Work, commonly called Farm Work, you must be paid the correct legal wage while working in a specified industry and your primary role must fall under certain activities
The industry, type of work and the location of the work will depend on whether you are on a subclass 417 or 462 WHV.
Subclass 417 WHV Holders
For Subclass 417 WHV Visa Holders, to be eligible for the Second Year WHV, you must have completed three months of Specified Work in the following industries, primarily performing prescribed activities in certain locations, while holding your First Year WHV:
| Specified Subclass 417 Work | ||
| Industry | Activities | Regional Areas and Postcodes |
| Plant and Animal Cultivation | · the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops
· pruning and trimming vines and trees
· general maintenance crop work
· cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts
· immediate processing of plant products
· maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce, including natural increase
· immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning
· manufacturing dairy produce from raw material |
New South Wales:
2311 to 2312 2328 to 2411 2420 to 2490 2536 to 2551 2575 to 2594 2618 to 2739 2787 to 2899 Note: Excludes Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong
Norfolk Island: All
Northern Territory: All
Queensland: 4124 to 4125 4133 4211 4270 to 4272 4275 4280 4285 4287 4307 to 4499 4510 4512 4515 to 4519 4522 to 4899 Note: Excludes the Greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast
South Australia: All
Tasmania: All
Victoria: 3139 3211 to 3334 3340 to 3424 3430 to 3649 3658 to 3749 3753 3756 3758 3762 3764 3778 to 3781 3783 3797 3799 3810 to 3909 3921 to 3925 3945 to 3974 3979 3981 to 3996 Note: Excludes Melbourne metro area
Western Australia: 6041 to 6044 6055 to 6056 6069 6076 6083 to 6084 6111 6121 to 6126 6200 to 6799 Note: Excludes Perth and surrounding areas
Note: *ACT is not classified as part of Regional Australia
*Construction Work may be able to be complete in Disaster Relief Areas |
| Fishing and Pearling | · conducting operations relating directly to taking or catching fish and other aquatic species
· conducting operations relating directly to taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell |
|
| Tree Farming and Felling | · planting or tending trees in a plantation or forest that are intended to be felled
· felling trees in a plantation or forest
· transporting trees or parts of trees that were felled in a plantation or forest to the place where they are to be milled |
|
| Mining | · coal mining
· oil and gas extraction
· metal ore mining
· construction material mining
· non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying exploration
· mining support services
|
|
| Construction | · residential building construction
· non-residential building construction
· heavy and civil engineering construction · land development and site preparation services
· building structure services
· building installation services
· building completion services
· other construction services |
|
Subclass 462 WHV Holders
For Subclass 462 WHV Visa Holders, to be eligible for the Second Year WHV, you must have completed three months of Specified Work in the following industries, primarily performing prescribed activities in certain locations, while holding your First Year WHV, and completed after 18 November 2016:
| Specified Subclass 462 Work | ||
| Industry | Activities | Regional Areas and Postcodes |
| Plant and Animal Cultivation | · the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops
· pruning and trimming vines and trees
· general maintenance crop work
· cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts
· immediate processing of plant products
· maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce, including natural increase
· immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning
· manufacturing dairy produce from raw material |
New South Wales:
2311 to 2312 2328 to 2411 2420 to 2490 2536 to 2551 2575 to 2594 2618 to 2739 2787 to 2899 Note: Excludes Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong
Norfolk Island: All
Northern Territory: All
Queensland: 4124 to 4125 4133 4211 4270 to 4272 4275 4280 4285 4287 4307 to 4472 4474 to 4482 4486 to 4498 4510 4512 4515 to 4519 4550 to 4678 4680 4694 to 4695 4697 4699 to 4707 4709-4728 4730 to 4733 4735 to 4746 4750 to 4751 4753 to 4754 4756 to 4757 4798 to 4800 4801 to 4812 4814 to 4825 4828 to 4830 4849 to 4850 4852 4854 to 4861 4865 4868 to 4888 4890 to 4892 4895
Note: Excludes the Greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast
Western Australia: 0872 6041 to 6044 6055 to 6056 6069 6076 6083 to 6084 6111 6121 to 6126 6207 to 6537 6556 to 6640 6642 6646 6701 6705 6707 6710 to 6714 6716 6718 6720 to 6722 6725 to 6726 6728 6731 6733 6740 6743 6751 6753 to 6754 6758 6760 6762 6765 6770 |
| Fishing and Pearling | · conducting operations relating directly to taking or catching fish and other aquatic species
· conducting operations relating directly to taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell |
Northern Territory: All
Queensland: 4472 4478 4481 to 4482 4680 4694 to 4695 4697 4699 to 4707 4709 to 4714 4717 4720 to 4728 4730 to 4733 4735 to 4746 4750 to 4751 4753 to 4754 4756 to 4757 4798 to 4800 4801 to 4812 4814 to 4825 4828 to 4830 4849 to 4850 4852 4854 to 4856 4858 to 4861 4865 4868 to 4888 4890 to 4892 4895
Western Australia: 0872 6537 6642 6646 6701 6705 6707 6710 to 6714 6716 6718 6720 to 6722 6725 to 6726 6728 6740 6743 6751 6753 to 6754 6758 6760 6762 6765 6770 |
| Tree Farming and Felling | · planting or tending trees in a plantation or forest that are intended to be felled
· felling trees in a plantation or forest
· transporting trees or parts of trees that were felled in a plantation or forest to the place where they are to be milled |
Same as Fishing and Pearling |
| Tourism and Hospitality | · work in a range of positions where the primary purpose is to directly provide a service to tourists, including tourist guides and operators, outdoor adventure or activity instructors, tourist transport services
· gallery or museum managers, curators or guides
· hospitality workers, including a range of positions in hotels or other accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars and casinos
· conference and event organisers |
Same as Fishing and Pearling |
Third Working Holiday Visa
Eligibility Requirements:
If you are on your Second Working Holiday Visa and want to apply for your Third Year, you must:
- Be over 18 years of age and under 31 years of age (or under 36 years of age if from Canada, Ireland, or France for 417 WHV Holders only) at the time of application; and
- Currently hold or have previously held the First and Second Year Working Holiday Visas (subclass 417 or 462); and
- Complete 6 months (the equivalent of 88 calendar days) of “Specified Work” in a Regional Area before your First Year Working Holiday Visa expires.
How much work do I need to undertake?
Depending on whether you hold/held the subclass 417 or the 462 WHV, you will need to show evidence that you have completed 6 months (or 179 calendar days) of Specified Work in a regional area.
The hours and days of work are what is considered a normal working day within the specific industry. Similarly, if you are on a piece agreement, the days you worked would be based on industry standards.
Work can be in one block with one business, or in separate blocks with one business or a number of businesses. Blocks of work may be in different kinds of specified work.
What is Specified Work?
Specified Work for the Third Year WHV is the same as for the Second Year WHV. Please see above.
Tips When Seeking Specified Work:
- Speak with the employer about your expected work hours/days/piece work, and pay rates before accepting employment and get this in writing.
- Ensure the type of work and the location of work will qualify as Specified Work
- Keep your pay slips, tax returns, bank statements showing wages earned, employer contact details, payment summaries, employer reference letters, and any contracts of employment (such as piece-rate agreements)
- You may also be required to submit an Employment Verification Form <<link to pdf>>. It’s a good idea to print this in advance and keep record of it throughout your work period.
- Give yourself ample time to complete the required duration (begin as soon as possible)
Applying for the Second or Third Year WHV
Tips for Planning Ahead
If you are on your First Working Holiday Visa and know you will want to eventually apply for the Third Working Holiday Visa after your Second Year, you may be able to begin accruing working days towards your Third Year requirements. As soon as you apply for your Second Working Holiday Visa and once your First Working Holiday Visa expires, you may begin working towards your six months of required Specified Work, even before your Second Working Holiday Visa is approved.
Possible Timeline:
- First Year Working Holiday Visa Granted/Enter Australia to Activate
- Complete 3 months of Specified Work under First WHV
- Apply for Second Year WHV
- Once your First Year WHV expires, you can begin undertaking the 6 months of specified work on the Bridging Visa, even if your Second Year WHV has not yet been granted.
- Complete 6 months of Specified Work while on a Bridging Visa and/or during your Second Year WHV
- Apply for Third Year WHV
Where Do I Apply?
You can apply for the Second or Third Year WHV either online or via hard copy. You can find the online application here
To check visa conditions such as the progress of your visa application you can check through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. You will need to have your Transaction Reference Number available or the password for your application. If your visa is refused you will receive a letter from the DIBP advising you and your rights to appeal.
If you would like to learn more about the WHV and how you can extend your time in Australia, feel free to contact Pathway to Aus:
- Online
- E: info@pathwaytoaus.com
- P: +61 7 55 265 900
- Whatsapp: +61 481 812 092
- Or comment below