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Working Holiday Visa allows young travelers and backpackers help fund and extended travel period in Australia.
You must have a valid passport, between ages 18-31, meet health & character criteria and have enough funds. (Age limit increased to 35 for Canadian’s, French and Irish)
There’s a 6 step process, which we have explained in detail down below. In case of questions don’t hesitate to contact us with follow up questions.
The Australian Government created the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) to allow young travelers and backpackers from eligible countries to help fund an extended travel period in Australia.
You can spend your whole time living in one location or travel cross-country, meet new people, learn about Australia’s culture, obtain new skills and explore the vastly diverse landscapes Australia has to offer.
If you undertake regional work you may be able to extend your working holiday visa. By extending your working holiday visa, you can stay up to 3 years, but with each year there are a few additional requirements that you’ll need to meet.
Check out the requirements down blow and if you have any questions then don’t hesitate to contact us.
We’ve put together a list of requirements with detailed information, but if you have any questions or concerns then don’t hesitate to contact us.
The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or subclass 462) is for citizens of certain eligible countries. Depending on the country you are from, you will need to apply for the specific subclass.
Subclass 417 is 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
Subclass 462 if for passport holders of:
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
In order to be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 and 462), at the time of application, you must be:
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.
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.
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.
In order to be granted a WHV, you must have enough money to:
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.
If you meet the criteria for the Working Holiday Visa, then you can apply now! Here are the Steps to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa
Check if there are any caps or limits on the WHV allotment for the year.
Immigration imposes annual limits for the number of First Year Working Holiday Visas available to certain countries each year. Once the limit is reached, no more WHV will be issued for that year. The limits reset every 1 July. You can check the status of the WHV caps here:
If the cap has been reached for your country, you may still be able to live, work and study in Australia on a Student Visa
Arrange Your Health Exams
Get Assistance with Your Application
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:
Most Applicants will be required to apply online.
How to Apply Online:
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
Be thorough and accurate
Review the Application before submitting
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
Paper Applications
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.
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
We have a ton of information on our site about various visa options and FAQs that answer most of our visitors’ questions, but if you’re still not sure where to start or you need a personalised step by step walkthrough, then schedule a call with one of our Registered Migration Agent.
Simply follow the link below and you’ll be able to pick the date & time that fits your schedule.
We’ve put together a list of commonly asked questions with answers. Hopefully you’ll find an instant answer to your question, but if your question is not listed here then feel free to get in touch with us.
Once your First WHV is approved, you may enter Australia anytime within one year from the date that your visa was granted.
Your WHV is “activated” as soon as you arrive in Australia. It will be valid for 12 months from the date you set foot in Australia. You should be sure to know the exact date that your WHV expires to avoid overstaying your visa, which can negatively impact your ability to apply for visas to Australia in the future.
Once you arrive in Australia, you will need to get a few tasks done before you begin working.
You can undertake any type of legal work in Australia, with certain rights and conditions. Please note, you cannot work for the same employer for longer than six months without permission from the Australian government.
You may be able to work for the same employer for more than six months without permission if:
Some other things to consider are:
If you want to apply for the Second Year WHV, you must undertake certain Regional Specified Work.
No matter what type of work you undertake, you are protected by certain rights and entitlements. Know your rights to avoid unfair wages or work conditions.
The requirements and eligibility criteria are different depending on whether you are applying for the First Year WHV or if you want to extend your WHV into the Second or Third Year.
This article is for travelers who have never before held a WHV. If you are looking to extend you Working Holiday Visa, you will need to meet additional criteria.
In order to apply for a Second Year WHV, you must complete 88 days (or three calendar months) of Regional Specified Work while on your First Year WHV.
Regional Specified Work, often called “Rural Farm Work” is certain types of work in certain industries undertaken in certain areas in Australia. The work and locations will depend on your WHV subclass. The industries are:
To learn more about what constitutes Specified Work and how to apply for the Second Year WHV,
Always be sure the work you are undertaking qualifies as Regional Specified Work. If you are unsure, contact us or book a consultation to speak with a Migration Agent.
There are countless options for undertaking regional specified work or seasonal farm work. If you are prepared, you can choose the type of work that is best suited to your preference of location and tasks. For instance, if you do not like the heat, avoid places like the Outback or Northern Territory in the summertime. If you don’t like manual labour, choose a task like fruit sorting, rather than fruit picking.
You can find specified work vacancies through employment pages in newspapers, through job placement agencies, and online job postings.Here are some links where you can search for possible farm work options:
Please be aware that not all jobs posted on the above website necessarily qualify as Regional Specified Work as required for the Second Year WHV.
You must undertake your 88 days/3 months of farm work before your First Year WHV expires. This means, at the very latest, you will need to begin your farm work after being in Australia for nine months.
You can undertake this work either at one place or multiple locations and it does not have to be completed consecutively.
We generally recommend that you complete your farm work at the beginning of your WHV. There are several thousand Working Holiday Makers in Australia at any given time, meaning the jobs for farm work fill up fast.
You cannot complete your eligible Farm Work on any other type of visa if you plan to apply for a Second Year WHV.
If you didn’t complete your Farm Work in time, there may still be options for you to remain in Australia, such as applying for a Student Visa.
In case of questions, feel free to reach out to one of our experienced Registered Migration Agents.
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info@studyandstay.com
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