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Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417 and 462)
Reviewed by Mohammad Saghir Khan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1170510)Last reviewed:
The Working Holiday Maker program lets young adults holiday in Australia for up to 12 months and work to fund the trip. Passport holders from 19 countries and jurisdictions use the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). Passport holders from 30 partner countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, use the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). You must be 18 to 30 (35 for some 417 countries), apply from outside Australia for your first visa and have about AUD 5,000. Completing 3 months of specified work can make you eligible for a second visa, and 6 months for a third.
Working Holiday Visa (417 & 462) at a Glance
| Visa type | Temporary, 12 months per visa (up to 3 visas) |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 30 at application. 18 to 35 for some 417 passports, such as Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Korea and the UK |
| ASEAN countries (462) | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam |
| Ballot | China, India and Vietnam (462). Indonesia is moving to a ballot, with registrations expected later in 2026 |
| Work | Any work, but usually no more than 6 months with one employer (condition 8547) |
| Study | Up to 4 months (17 weeks) |
| Funds | Usually about AUD 5,000, plus money for your departure fare |
| Government charge | AUD 840 for a first visa, AUD 1,000 for a second or third visa (from 1 July 2026) |
| Processing | Home Affairs says most WHM applications are expected to take around 3 months on average |
417 or 462: Which Visa Is Yours?
Your passport decides the subclass. You cannot choose.
- Working Holiday (subclass 417): Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom (including BN(O) passports).
- Work and Holiday (subclass 462): Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Uruguay, the United States and Vietnam.
From 1 July 2026, Cyprus, Finland, Germany and Republic of Korea passport holders can apply for a 417 up to age 35. Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy and the UK were already in the 35 age group. Everyone else must apply before turning 31, measured in Australian Eastern time.
Work and Holiday 462 for ASEAN Passport Holders
| Passport | Annual cap (first visas) | How you apply | Extra documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 5,000 | Moving to a ballot. Home Affairs expects registrations to open later in 2026 | Letter of support from the Directorate General of Immigration |
| Malaysia | 1,100 | Apply directly while the cap is open | Good Conduct Certificate (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
| Singapore | 2,500 | Apply directly while the cap is open | No letter of support needed |
| Thailand | 2,000 | Apply directly while the cap is open | Letter of support from the Department of Children and Youth |
| Vietnam | 1,500 | Ballot only. 2026-27 registrations closed on 25 June 2026 | 12-digit national ID card for the ballot |
Cap status can change from open to paused or closed during the program year (1 July to 30 June). Caps apply only to first 462 visas, not second or third visas. The Philippines signed a Work and Holiday arrangement in September 2023, but Home Affairs has not yet announced a start date. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar passports are not eligible for either visa.
Requirements for a First Visa
- Location: you must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.
- No dependent children can come with you, and you apply on your own.
- Funds: usually about AUD 5,000, plus enough for a ticket out of Australia.
- Extra 462 requirements: an education requirement (for example, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam require a tertiary qualification or 2 years of undergraduate study; Malaysia accepts degrees, graduate diplomas and graduate certificates but not diplomas), functional English, and a government letter of support for some countries. Check your options with our English score converter.
- Health and character requirements.
The 462 Ballot
China, India and Vietnam passport holders must register in a pre-application ballot in ImmiAccount and pay a non-refundable AUD 25 fee. If you are randomly selected, you have 28 days to lodge your first 462 application from outside Australia. Selection does not guarantee a visa. For 2026-27, selections continue until registrations expire on 30 April 2027.
Second and Third Visas Through Specified Work
To get a second visa you need at least 3 months (88 calendar days) of specified work on your first visa. For a third visa you need 6 months (179 calendar days) on your second visa. The work must be paid correctly under Australian law, and part-time work counts on a pro rata basis.
- 417: plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining and construction in regional Australia, plus tourism and hospitality in Northern or Remote and Very Remote Australia.
- 462: plant and animal cultivation and construction in Northern Australia and other specified regional areas, fishing and pearling and tree farming in Northern Australia only, plus tourism and hospitality in Northern or Remote and Very Remote Australia.
- Both: bushfire and natural disaster recovery work in declared areas, including some volunteer work, and critical COVID-19 health work done after 31 January 2020.
Eligible areas are set by postcode on the Home Affairs specified work pages, which use different lists from skilled visa regional areas. UK passport holders applying on or after 1 July 2024 do not need specified work for a second or third 417.
The 6-Month Work Limit
Condition 8547 usually limits you to 6 months with one employer. Since 1 January 2024, you can work longer without permission in plant and animal cultivation, natural disaster recovery, and critical sectors such as agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, childcare, and tourism and hospitality. Work in different locations for the same employer, and some industries in Northern Australia, can also be exempt. The 6 months resets when a second or third visa is granted.
Avoid Cancelling Your Own Visa
Only apply once you are ready to travel. Your 12 months starts on the day you enter Australia. If you are granted another visa, such as an eVisitor, after your working holiday visa is granted, your working holiday visa ceases.
How to Apply
- Check your passport and ageConfirm whether your passport is a 417 or 462 country and that you will apply before the age deadline.
- Check the cap or ballotFor a 462, check the Home Affairs status of country caps page, or register in the ballot if your country uses one.
- Gather your documentsPrepare your passport, birth certificate, evidence of funds and, for a 462, education, English and any government letter of support.
- Lodge in ImmiAccount from outside AustraliaApply online, pay the charge and stay outside Australia until the visa is granted.
- Enter Australia within 12 months of grantYour 12-month stay starts on the day you first enter.
- Track specified work for a second visaKeep payslips and employer details for any specified work so you can apply for a second or third visa.
How Aussie ASEAN Can Help
We check whether a 417 or 462 suits your passport, review your education, English and funds evidence, and lodge your application. We also help working holiday makers plan what comes next, including specified work for a second or third visa, or a student or skilled pathway.
Free tools for this visa
Related visas
Every case is different. Talk to a Registered Migration Agent about your Working Holiday Visa (417 & 462) before you lodge.
Book a consultationSources: Home Affairs: Work and Holiday visa (462) · Home Affairs: Working Holiday visa (417) · Status of country caps · 462 visa pre-application process (ballot) · Specified work (417) · Specified work (462) · 6-month work limitation · WHM program latest news
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-English answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Can Indonesians apply for a Work and Holiday visa?
Yes. Indonesia is a subclass 462 country with an annual cap of 5,000 first visas. Home Affairs is introducing a ballot for Indonesian applicants, with registrations expected to open later in 2026, and a letter of support from the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration is currently required.
Can Filipinos get a Working Holiday visa?
Not yet. Australia and the Philippines signed a Work and Holiday arrangement in September 2023, but as of October 2026 Home Affairs has not published a start date.
What is the age limit for a working holiday visa?
You must be 18 to 30 when you apply. Some 417 passport holders, including Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Republic of Korea and the UK, can apply up to 35.
How much does a working holiday visa cost?
From 1 July 2026 the charge is AUD 840 for a first 417 or 462 visa and AUD 1,000 for a second or third visa. Vietnam, China and India applicants also pay a non-refundable AUD 25 ballot registration fee.
What is specified work?
It is paid work in certain industries and postcodes, such as farm work, construction in regional areas, or tourism and hospitality in Northern or remote Australia. You need 3 months (88 days) for a second visa and 6 months (179 days) for a third.
Can I work for one employer for more than 6 months?
Usually not, because of condition 8547. Exemptions apply for plant and animal cultivation, disaster recovery and critical sectors such as agriculture, health, aged and disability care, childcare, and tourism and hospitality, and you can ask Home Affairs for permission in other cases.
Can I apply for my first working holiday visa in Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply for and are granted a first 417 or 462 visa. Second and third visas can be lodged in or outside Australia.
Can I bring my partner or children?
No. You apply on your own and cannot be accompanied by dependent children. A partner would need to qualify for their own visa.
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