Australia Working Holiday Visas (Subclass 417 & 462)
Australia offers two Working Holiday visas, subclass 417 and subclass 462, allowing young adults to travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months. Each visa has different eligibility requirements depending on your nationality, education level and age. This page outlines the key differences, approved countries and requirements for both visas.
Work and Holiday Visas are available for people aged 18 to 30** (in some cases 35) who wish to travel Australia and supplement their income with work rights.
The table below shows which countries are eligible for each Working Holiday visa subclass.
| 462 Work and Holiday Visa | 417 Working Holiday Visa |
|---|---|
| Relevant Passports: | Relevant Passports: |
| Argentina | Belgium |
| Austria | Cyprus |
| Brazil | Estonia |
| Chile | Finland |
| China | Germany |
| Czech Republic | Hong Kong |
| Ecuador* | Japan |
| Greece* | Malta |
| Hungary | Netherlands |
| India | Norway |
| Indonesia* | Republic of Kores |
| Israel | Sweden |
| Luxembourg* | Taiwan |
| Malaysia* | **Applicants from countries listed below may be aged 18 to 35 |
| Mongolia* | Canada |
| Papua New Guinea | Denmark |
| Peru* | France |
| Philippines* | Ireland |
| Poland* | Italy |
| Portugal | United Kingdom |
| San Marino* | |
| Singapore | |
| Slovak Republic | |
| Slovenia* | |
| Spain | |
| Switzerland | |
| Thailand* | |
| Turkey* | |
| United States of America | |
| Uruguay | |
| Vietnam |
*Applicants from these countries must have evidence of support from their Government.
Educational Qualifications for 462 Work and Holiday Visa
Subclass 462 visa has educational qualification restrictions depending on the citizenship of the applicant.
| Educational Qualifications: | Applicant Passports: |
|---|---|
| tertiary qualifications; or successful completion of at least 2 years of undergraduate university study | Argentina, China, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Uruguay, Vietnam |
| tertiary qualifications; or satisfactory completion of at least 2 years of undergraduate university study | Turkey |
| tertiary qualifications; or successful completion of at least 2 years of higher education | Austria, Ecuador |
| tertiary qualifications; or satisfactory completion of, or approval to undertake, a third year of undergraduate university study | Chile |
| successful completion of at least 2 years of tertiary education | Czech Republic |
| secondary school qualifications and completion of military service or a legal exemption from completing military service | Israel |
| successful completion of at least 2 years of post-secondary study | Brazil |
| successful completion of at least 2 years of undergraduate university study | Papua New Guinea |
| qualifications considered to be at tertiary level in Singapore or successful completion of the equivalent of 2 years full-time tertiary study | Singapore |
| successful completion of at least 2 years of higher education | Spain |
| tertiary qualifications | Thailand |
| secondary school qualifications | United States of America |
| successful completion of at least 2 years of study following compulsory schooling | Switzerland |
* Please note that the information provided herein is of a general nature only and is not individual legal advice. Contact Us to assess your circumstances.
FAQs
No, you can only apply for the visa that matches your passport country.
Generally 18–30 years old, but some countries allow up to 35.
Some applicants must show functional English depending on their country.
The main difference between the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is eligibility. The subclass 417 visa is available to passport holders from countries such as the UK, Canada and Ireland and does not require formal education or English testing. The subclass 462 visa is available to applicants from countries such as the United States, China and Indonesia and may require applicants to meet education and English language requirements.
