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You are here: Home » Essentials » Visas » Working Holiday Visa Australia

Working Holiday Visa Australia

30 or under? Here’s what you need to know about a working holiday visa Australia and how to apply for one. If you don’t need to work, go to Chefs plying their trade at Mamak, possibly on a working holiday visa Australia

Get cooking! There’s always a demand for chefs in Sydney

If you’re between 18 and 30 and hold a passport from one of these countries, this is the working holiday visa for you (subclass 462).

  • Bangladesh
  • Chile
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • United States of America


If your country is not on this list, then have a look at Australia working holiday visa (subclass 417) as different arrangements exist with different countries.

And if you have a European passport and would prefer a straight holiday with no work, you can apply online for free. See eVisitor Australian visa

Main Purpose Test

Enjoying a drink with a friend: Working holiday visa Australia
Your main purpose must be holiday, not work

Your main purpose in coming to Australia must be holiday and travel.

Once you meet that test then you can do any kind of temporary or casual work while you’re here.

But you cannot work for any one employer for more than six months.

Some volunteering is ok.

You can also study, or undertake training, for up to four months.

Working Holiday Visa Australia Requirements

To be eligible for this holiday and work visa for Australia you must

  • hold a passport from a country listed above
  • be aged 18-30 (inclusive) on the date you apply
  • be outside Australia both when you apply and when the visa is granted
Girl with stop sign directing traffic: working holiday visa Australia
Nice work if you can get it
  • meet educational requirements
      Non-USA
    • have tertiary qualifications, or
    • have completed or been approved for 3rd year undergraduate studies
      USA only
    • have graduated from high school or completed an equivalent qualification
  • have functional English (not required for USA) defined as:
    • IELTS 4.5 average
    • TOEFL 133 (computer-based), 450 (paper based), 45-46 (internet based)
    • Occupational English Test, or have a
    • similar level under various other tests
  • have a letter of support from your government, home ministry or ministry of foreign affairs (not required for USA applicants)
  • not be accompanied by dependent children
  • not have previously entered Sydney, or anywhere else in Australia, on a 417 or 462 visa
  • meet character, health and evidence of funds requirements.

Support for Your Australia Visa Application

You will need a letter of support from your government to apply for this working holiday visa Australia (except for applicants from the USA who do not require this). Here is each relevant body that issues such letters.

  • Bangladesh: Ministry of Home Affairs
Person asleep in front of a computer: working holiday visa Australia
Get that government support for your working holiday visa Australia!
  • Chile: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Indonesia: Directorate General of Immigration
  • Malaysia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Thailand: Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups in Bangkok
  • Turkey: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
      Note: The Turkish Government has extra educational requirements you need to satisfy to get the letter of government support.

More Australian Working Holiday Requirements

Health requirements for the holiday and work visa for Australia will vary with your country of origin. See health requirements, Australia visitors visa for details.

You might be asked for a Penal Clearance Certificate, or Police Clearance Certificate, to support your application.

A " work in progress" sign: Working holiday visa Australia
A working holiday visa Australia will take time
Do not provide this unless you are requested to do so.

You will need a return or an onward ticket from Sydney or elsewhere, or enough money with you to buy one.

And you will need to have enough to pay for the first part of your holiday, until you find work.

You should be able to show that you have around AUD$5,000 available to you to use.

Work Travel Visa Australia Guidelines

You must arrive within 12 months of the date that the holiday and work visa for Australia is granted.

You can stay for 12 months from the date you arrive in Sydney, or elsewhere. You can leave and
re-enter as often as you like during that time, but you must leave Australia at the end of the 12 months.

When your year is over you cannot extend this visa, nor can you apply for a second 462 working holiday visa Australia.

Jackaroos on horse and motorbike: working holiday visa Australia
Traditional and modern Jackaroos

It may be possible to extend your stay if your Work and Holiday visa does not have an 8503 ‘No Further Stay’ condition (advised in your visa grant letter). But you can apply for only a very limited number of other visas from within the country.

As a practical matter you should work on the basis that your stay will be for one year only. If you want a longer stay then you need to look at different visas.

You cannot include partners or family members on this holiday and work visa for Australia. It is strictly personal. Your partner will need to apply for his or her own visa if required.

You cannot use a holiday and work visa for Australia to travel here with children. If you want your children to come with you then you will need to apply for a different kind of visa.

Working Holiday Visa Annual Limits

Most countries have a limit on this working holiday visa Australia (subclass 462) of 100 per year. Exceptions are Thailand (500 per year), Chile (1500 per year) and the USA (unlimited).

The countdown starts on 1 July each year and ends on 30 June the following year.

To find out the current status of the visa ceiling at any time, contact the Australian Embassy or High Commission in your country.

Apply for Holiday and Work Visa Australia

Woman with pens in her hair: working holiday visa Australia
Yes, this could be work
There is a visa application charge which needs to accompany your application. It is not refunded if your application is unsuccessful. These fees are reviewed on 1 July each year, but may be changed at any time.

There is no online application for this holiday and work visa for Australia (except for USA passport holders). You can lodge your paper application by post, courier or in person at the places shown below. Click the links for more contact details.

  • Bangladesh: Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) in Dhaka or Sylhet, Bangladesh, or the Australian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Biometric data (fingerprint scan and facial photograph) will be required

  • Chile: Australian Embassy in Santiago
  • Indonesia: Australian Embassy in Jakarta
  • Malaysia: Australian Visa Application Centre or the Australian High Commission, both in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Thailand: Australian Visa Applications Centre, or the Visa and Immigration Office in Bangkok
  • Turkey: Australian Embassy in Ankara
  • United States of America: Any Australian immigration departmental office outside Australia

    USA passport holders can start an online working holiday visa Australia application here.

Filed Under: Visas Tagged With: Character, Checks, Health, Passport, Requirements, Under 30s, Work

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