Working Holiday Visa

Must be between age 18 and 31

(or 36 for citizens of France, Ireland, or Canada)

In order to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 and 462), at the time of application, you must be:

• Over 18 years of age; and
• Under 31 years of age*

If you are a citizen of Ireland, France or Canada, you must be under 36 years of age

If you do not meet the age requirement of the WHV, you may still be able to live, work and study in Australia on a Student Visa, which has no age limits.

No previous WHV subclass 417 or 462

If you have previously held or currently hold a WHV, you may be eligible to extend your time in Australia on a Second or Third Year WHV if you completed certain Specified Regional Work. You can learn more here.

Even if you already had a First Year WHV and do not qualify for the Second or Third Year WHV, you may still be able to live, study and work in Australia on a Student Visa.

Must be outside of Australia

In order to apply for the First Year Working Holiday Visa, you must be outside of Australia at the time of application and at the time of grant.

If you are already in Australia and looking for ways to extend your stay, you may want to consider a Student Visa , which you can apply for from inside Australia.

Must have enough money

In order to be granted a WHV, you must have enough money to:

• Support yourself for your initial stay in Australia, usually around $5,000; and
• Purchase a departure ticket out of the country.

Meet the health requirement

Depending on your home country or your travel history or if you have a medical condition or special circumstance, you might have to undertake a health examination before your visa is granted.

It is recommended that you have health insurance for your time in Australia.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has more information regarding the Health Requirement.

Meet the character requirement

In order to visit or live in Australia, you must meet the character requirements to show you are of good character and will abide by the laws and values of Australia. In some cases, you will be required to provide evidence, such as:

• Police checks
• Military certificates
• Explanations

You can learn more about the character requirement from the Department of Home Affairs’ website here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/character

Meet other criteria

In order to visit or live in Australia, you must meet the character requirements to show you are of good character and will abide by the laws and values of Australia. In some cases, you will be required to provide evidence, such as:

• Police checks
• Military certificates
• Explanations

You can learn more about the character requirement from the Department of Home Affairs’ website here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/character

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

You will need to supply certain documents and evidence to support your application. Here is a general list of documents you may need to provide:

• Identity Documents
  • You must provide:
    • Passport Bio Page
    • Full Birth Certificate, showing parents’ names
  • You may need to provide:
    • Evidence of Name Change, if applicable, such as:
      • Marriage or Divorce Certificate
      • Deed Poll
      • Official documentation of name change
• Evidence of Sufficient Funds
  • • Bank Statement
    • Line of Credit
  • Character Documents
    • You may be required to provide:
      • Police Checks for Australia
        • This is usually requested if you’ve committed a crime and have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16)
      • Overseas Police Checks
        • This is usually requested if you’ve committed a crime. A police check is required for each country where you’ve resided for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years, since turning 16
      • Military Service Records
        • This is usually required if you’ve previously served in the military or if you are from a country that has mandatory military service.
  • Documents Specific for Subclass 462
  • Education Documents
  • English Language Documents
  • Letter of Support from Government

*All documents must be translated to English by an accredited translator. The evidence must be organized, clear, in colour, and under 5MB (if submitting the application online).

Depending on your individual circumstances, you will need to require specific documentation and evidence. If you are unsure of what is required, we may be to assist you.

Step 3: Complete the Visa Application

Most Applicants will be required to apply online.

How to Apply Online:

• Login or create an ImmiAccount.
• Complete the Online Application Form
• Attach the Documents

How to Apply on Paper:
Please note: Paper applications will not be accepted from Applicants who are eligible to apply online.

All Subclass 417 Visa Applicants must apply online
Subclass 462 Visa Applicants from the following countries must apply online:

Argentina, Austria, Chile, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam

If you hold a passport from the People’s Republic of China, you are required to apply in person at an Australia Visa Application Centre.

Tips for Completing the Visa Application Form
Be truthful

• Do not lie on the Application.
• Providing false or misleading statements or information that conflicts with previous visa applications can result in delays in processing or a refusal.

Be thorough and accurate

• Provide all information requested on the Application.
• Providing insufficient or inadequate information may delay the processing of your application

Review the Application before submitting

• Ensure your name, passport number, date of birth, and all other biographical information is accurate.
• Providing incorrect information may cause issues with the validity of your visa

Step 4: Pay the Visa Application Fee

As of 1 July 2019, the fee for the Working Holiday Subclass 417 and 462 Visa is: $485 AUD.

This fee is subject to change. Please check the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

Online Applications

• You will be able to pay online at the end of the Application.
• You can pay via: Credit Card, PayPal, UnionPay, or BPAY (fees may apply)
• Your application will not be processed until you pay the Application Fee

Paper Applications

• If you apply in person, you can pay at the time of application.
• If you mail the application, Immigration will send an invoice.

Step 5: Check for Correspondences and Notify Immigration of Any Changes

If you are required to provide more information or undertake a medical examination or biometrics collection, Immigration will notify you or your nominated agent.

If you made a mistake on your submitted application, if there have been any changes in your circumstances or if you want to change or nominate an agent, you must inform immigration.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

Processing Time of Working Holiday Visa Applications

Subclass 417
On average, it takes between 17 and 30 days to process a WHV subclass 417 Application

Subclass 462
It takes anywhere from 46 to 62 days to process most WHV Subclass 462 Applications.

How to Speed-Up Processing of My WHV Application

• While you cannot speed up the processing of your WHV application, you can take certain measures to ensure it is not delayed. Here are some tips to follow to avoid delays in processing:
• Make sure you are eligible for the visa
• Apply for the correct subclass
• Provide accurate, thorough and truthful answers to your visa application
• Provide all required documentation and evidence
• Provide clear, colour images of your documents
• Make sure all documents are in English and translated by an approved translator
• Undertake your health exams and/or biometrics collections before requested by immigration if you know you will be required to do so
• Provide correct contact information and update immigration if these details change
• Check your “Spam” folder in your email for any electronic correspondences
• Seek assistance from a professional if you are unsure of the application process.
• In general, we advise against booking your travel to Australia before your visa is approved.