The Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is a temporary visa that lets eligible young people from partner countries travel and work in Australia. It is designed for people who want to holiday in Australia and fund their travels through temporary employment — not for people seeking to work full-time in a career role throughout their stay, though it does allow genuine employment.
The 417 is one of two working holiday visa types available for Australia — the other being the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), which is available to passport holders from a different set of countries and has somewhat different eligibility requirements. If your passport country is not on the 417 partner country list, you may be eligible for the 462 — or you may not be eligible for either working holiday option.
Partner Countries for the Subclass 417
The subclass 417 is available to passport holders from countries that have a Working Holiday Arrangement with Australia. The list below reflects long-established partner countries — always confirm your country is currently on the list and check your age limit on the DoHA website, as arrangements and age thresholds can change.
Eligibility Requirements
You must hold a passport from a country with a Working Holiday Arrangement with Australia. The arrangement must be in place at the time of application — confirm the current list on the DoHA website.
You must be aged 18 to 30 inclusive at the time of application (or 18 to 35 for nationals of certain countries). The relevant date is the date the application is lodged — you cannot lodge if you have already turned 31 (or 36 for eligible countries) even if you were under the age limit at some earlier point.
You must not have any children accompanying you during your stay. The 417 is not designed for people travelling with dependent children. If you have dependent children, you will need to consider a different visa pathway.
The 417 is a working holiday visa — not a work visa. Your primary purpose in Australia must be holiday and travel, with work as a means of funding that travel. People whose primary purpose is full-time employment throughout the stay are not the intended applicants, though the visa does allow genuine employment.
You must meet the standard health and character requirements that apply to all Australian visa applications. Health checks (medical examination) are not always required for the 417 but may be requested by the Department in some cases. You must not have any criminal convictions that would raise character concerns.
A first Working Holiday (417) visa can generally only be granted once. A second or third 417 visa requires completion of the relevant specified regional work — these are separate criteria. You cannot simply reapply for the 417 as a way to extend your stay in Australia without meeting the regional work requirements.
Work Rights on the Working Holiday (417) Visa
The subclass 417 grants full work rights in Australia — you may work in any industry and for any employer, without requiring a specific employer to sponsor you. However, several conditions apply to how long you can stay with a single employer and what activities are allowed.
Second and Third Year Working Holiday Grants
The Working Holiday (417) visa can be extended for a second and then a third year if you complete the required specified regional work in Australia. The regional work requirement ensures that holders spend time working in regional areas that have genuine labour needs in qualifying industries.
| Grant | Required regional work | Key notes |
|---|---|---|
| Second 417 visa | 88 days (3 months) of specified regional work completed on the first 417 visa | UK passport holders are currently exempt from the specified work requirement for a second year — confirm conditions on DoHA. |
| Third 417 visa | 6 months of specified regional work completed on the second 417 visa | Available to most eligible nationalities. Confirm current eligibility on DoHA. |
How to Apply and What It Costs
Confirm your passport country is on the eligible partner country list, that you are within the age range, and that you meet the other eligibility requirements (no dependent children accompanying you, genuine temporary entrant intention).
The 417 application is lodged online through ImmiAccount. You must be outside Australia at the time of application, or inside Australia on a current valid visa (in which case you must be outside Australia at the time the visa is granted).
Pay the current government application charge (~AUD 650 — confirm on DoHA). Some nationalities are required to provide biometrics. Check the DoHA website for current biometric requirements for your country.
Many 417 applications are granted within a few days to a few weeks. Processing times vary by country and application volume. Monitor your ImmiAccount for correspondence from the Department.
On arrival in Australia, you may work for any employer. Note the 6-month limit per employer and the 4-month study limit. Keep records if you plan to complete specified regional work for a second or third year grant.
| Item | Approximate amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First 417 visa (all nationalities) | ~AUD 650 | Per application — confirm on DoHA |
| Second 417 visa | ~AUD 650 | Same charge applies — confirm on DoHA |
| Third 417 visa | ~AUD 650 | Same charge applies — confirm on DoHA |
Working Holiday (417) Questions Answered
This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.
Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.
Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Information current as at August 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.