Working Holiday Maker visas
subclass 417 and 462 · Official name: Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
Australia's Working Holiday Maker program lets young adults from partner countries holiday and work in Australia for 12 months, with a second and third year possible after doing 3 or 6 months of specified work (for example in regional farming or construction). Subclass 417 is for passports such as the UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan and Korea (ages 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 for some). Subclass 462 is for passports such as the USA, India, China, Indonesia, Brazil and Spain (ages 18 to 30) and adds education, English and sometimes a government support letter; China, India and Vietnam use a ballot. The first visa costs AUD840.00. Home Affairs says average processing is expected to be around three months.
1 entry rule for Australia based on recent travel
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Health screening after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list) in the last 6 days
Travellers over 1 year entering Australia within 6 days of staying overnight or longer in a yellow fever risk country are asked for a valid yellow fever certificate; entry is not refused without one. Without one: not refused entry: may be referred to a biosecurity officer and given information/an action card; must promptly seek medical assessment if symptoms develop within 6 days of leaving the risk place.
Australian Government Department of Health: Yellow fever Australian Government: Yellow fever fact sheet (holds Australia's list of risk countries and areas) Australian Immunisation Handbook: Yellow fever WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia): Human health – advice to travellers Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Australia
Finance
3
Currency
Australian Dollar
AUD
Australian Dollar
Cost of living
94
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
15–45%
Income tax (national)
GST 10%
2026-27: first AUD 18,200 tax-free; 45% above AUD 190,000. Plus 2% Medicare levy.
Living
1
Happiness
#15 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
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Who it’s for
Young adults (18 to 30, or up to 35 for some 417 countries) from partner countries, without dependent children.
Eligibility
Passport (417)417
Sign in to check this route against your profileBelgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan (not official or diplomatic passports), United Kingdom (including BN(O)).
Age (417)417
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou must apply between age 18 and the age limit for your country, before midnight AEST/AEDT the day before your 31st (or 36th) birthday.
Age range at time of application (417)
- Canada, Cyprus, Denmarkalso Finland, France, Germany
- 18 to 35
- Ireland, Italy, Korea, UKRepublic of Korea; United Kingdom
- 18 to 35
- All other 417 countries
- 18 to 30
Official wording
At the time of application: 18 to 35 for Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom; 18 to 30 for the others. The application must be lodged before midnight AEST/AEDT the day before the 31st (or 36th) birthday.
Passport (462)462
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need a passport from a listed country and must be aged 18 to 30 (inclusive).
18 to 30
Age range (462)
- 30 countries are listed for the 462 visa
- Some countries need extra steps, such as a ballot or letter of support
Official wording
Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Uruguay, United States of America, Vietnam. Age 18 to 30 (inclusive).
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Official sources
- Home Affairs - Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Home Affairs - First Working Holiday visa (417): eligibility (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Home Affairs - Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Home Affairs - First Work and Holiday visa (462): eligibility (checked 30 Oct 2026)
