Working Holiday Visa Australia 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) — For passport holders from: UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and more. Age limit: 18-35 (some countries 18-30).

Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) — For passport holders from: USA, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, and more. Age limit: 18-30. May require government support letter.

Both visas allow you to work for up to 6 months with each employer and study for up to 4 months.

You can get a second year by completing 88 days of specified work in regional Australia during your first year. This includes: - Farm work (fruit picking, harvesting) - Mining - Construction - Bushfire recovery - Aged care and disability work (COVID addition, now permanent)

For a third year, complete 6 months of specified work during your second year.

This means you can potentially live and work in Australia for 3 full years on a working holiday visa — more than enough time to explore pathways to permanent residency.

Many working holiday makers transition to longer-term visas:

1. Employer sponsorship — If an employer wants to keep you, they can sponsor you for a 482 visa
2. Student visa — Enrol in a course and switch to a 500 visa
3. Skilled visa — If you qualify on points, apply for 189/190/491
4. Partner visa — If you find an Australian partner

A migration agent can assess your options as your working holiday progresses.