Working Holiday Visa Australia: Age Limit, Jobs, and How to Extend (2026)
Published 2026-02-14
What Is the Working Holiday Visa?
Australia offers two working holiday visa subclasses: the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). Both allow young people to live, work, and travel in Australia for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extending for a second and third year. The key difference is which countries are eligible for each subclass. These visas are designed for cultural exchange and holiday purposes, with work being supplementary — though in practice, many visa holders work throughout their stay. See our /visa/working-holiday-visa/ page for eligible countries.
Who Is Eligible?
For the subclass 417: you must hold a passport from an eligible country (including the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and others), be aged 18 to 35 (inclusive) at the time of application (18 to 30 for some countries), have no dependent children accompanying you, and not have previously held a 417 visa (unless applying for a second or third). For the subclass 462: eligible countries include the USA, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and others, with an age limit of 18 to 30 for most nationalities. Some 462 countries require a letter of government support or tertiary education.
How Much Does It Cost?
The visa application fee for both subclass 417 and 462 is $640 (2025-26). There is no additional fee for second or third year applications beyond the standard visa fee. You must also demonstrate access to sufficient funds for initial support — approximately $5,000 AUD — plus a return airfare or sufficient funds to purchase one. Medical examinations may be required depending on your nationality and planned activities, costing $300 to $500.
Can You Work Full Time on a Working Holiday Visa?
Yes, but with a restriction: you can only work for the same employer for a maximum of 6 months unless you obtain permission for a longer period. This rule is designed to encourage visa holders to move around and experience different parts of Australia. Exceptions apply for work in specified industries in regional areas (agriculture, mining, construction, etc.) where you may work for longer than 6 months with the same employer. There is no limit on the total amount of work you can do — just the duration with each individual employer.
How to Get a Second Year Visa
To be eligible for a second Working Holiday visa, you must complete 88 days (approximately 3 months) of specified work in regional Australia during your first year. Specified work includes: plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, construction, bushfire recovery, flood recovery, and certain critical COVID-19 work in healthcare and food processing. The work must be in a designated regional area (which excludes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, and their metropolitan areas). Keep detailed evidence of your specified work including payslips, tax records, and employer references.
How to Get a Third Year Visa
A third Working Holiday visa became available from 1 July 2019. To be eligible, you must complete an additional 6 months (179 days) of specified work in regional Australia during your second year. The same types of work and regional areas apply as for the second year visa. The third year extension makes it possible to spend up to 3 years in Australia on working holiday visas. Combined with the ability to work and the relatively low visa cost, this makes Australia's working holiday program one of the most generous in the world.
Pathways After a Working Holiday Visa
While the working holiday visa does not directly lead to permanent residency, it can be a stepping stone. During your time in Australia, you may find an employer willing to sponsor you for a subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, which can lead to permanent residency through the subclass 186. You may also gain Australian work experience and qualifications that improve your points score for skilled migration (189/190/491). Additionally, if you enter a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for a partner visa. Many working holiday makers use their time in Australia to explore long-term visa options — consult a migration agent if you want to stay beyond your working holiday.
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