Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462 and 417)
Work and Holiday Visa
(Subclass 462/417)
Discover Australia While You Work and Travel!
Want to explore Australia’s vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and laid-back lifestyle while earning money?
The Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) is perfect for young adults aged 18 to 30. It allows you to live, travel, and work in Australia for up to 12 months, giving you the freedom to fund your adventures through short-term employment.
Work and Holiday Visa
The Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462/417) is intended for young travelers from eligible countries who want to enjoy an extended stay in Australia, with the option to work and support their travel expenses.
What You Can Do with This Visa:
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Stay in Australia for up to 12 months.
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Leave and re-enter Australia multiple times.
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Study short-term courses for up to 4 months.
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Work with one employer for up to 6 months.
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Apply for a Second Work and Holiday visa after completing 3 months of specified work in regional/northern Australia in sectors like tourism, hospitality, farming, or forestry.
Eligibility:
First Work and Holiday Visa
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Aged 18 to 30 (or 35 for some nationalities).
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Hold a valid passport from an eligible country.
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Be outside Australia when applying.
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Holiday is the main purpose; work is secondary.
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Meet health, character, and education requirements.
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Show Functional English proficiency.
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Provide a government letter of support (except for China, Israel, USA).
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Have at least AUD 5,000 in savings and funds for a return/onward ticket.
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No dependent children during your stay.
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Must not have held a Subclass 417 visa before.
Second Work and Holiday Visa
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Must have met all conditions of your first 462 visa.
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Completed 3 months of specified work in eligible areas/sectors.
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Must not have held more than one 462 or 417 visa.
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Be under 31 (or 35 depending on nationality) when applying.
Visa Class
Australia offers a variety of Visitor visas tailored for different purposes, including tourism, business, family
Eligible Countries for Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
Eligible Countries for Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) Visa:
Applicants must hold a passport from one of the following countries:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Brazil
- Chile
- China, People’s Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Vietnam
Note: China, India and Vietnam passport holders must participate in a visa pre-application process (ballot) and be randomly selected to apply for a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.
Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) Visa
The Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) Visa is a similar program but available to citizens of different countries, including:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
- 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 (including British National Overseas passport holders)
Health & Character Requirements
To qualify for the Work and Holiday visa, you must meet Australia’s health and character standards. This may include:
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Completing medical exams if requested by the Department of Home Affairs.
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Providing police clearance certificates from any country you’ve lived in for 12+ months over the past 10 years since turning 16.
Education Criteria
Education requirements vary depending on your country of citizenship. Generally, you will need to show proof of having completed secondary education or hold a tertiary qualification.
Functional English Requirement for First-Time Applicants
First-time applicants must demonstrate Functional English through one of the following test results (taken within 12 months of applying):
IELTS: Band score of at least 4.5/PTE Academic: Overall score of 30/Cambridge (CAE): Overall score of 147+/TOEFL iBT: Score of 32+
OR, you may qualify if you have:
Completed 5 years of secondary or higher education in English, or Completed 2 years of full-time tertiary study in English.
Health Insurance
Visa holders are responsible for their own medical expenses while in Australia. As you are unlikely to be covered by Australia’s Medicare system (unless your country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement), it’s strongly recommended that you purchase private health insurance.
Get a quote and purchase the best Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) plan for your visa with EDUAbroad Guru.
Bringing Family Members
Dependent children are not permitted on this visa.
Your partner/spouse may travel with you but must apply for their own visa.
Ready to Begin Your Australian Journey?
Book a consultation today with one of our expert advisors at EDUAbroad Guru and take the first step toward your Australian adventure!
Disclaimer: This information is intended as general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, please refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/
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