Which Countries Have Working Holiday Visas For Australia?

There are over 50 countries around the world that can get Working Holiday Visas for Australia! From Europe, to Asia, to the Americas and more, lots of eager travellers can apply to spend a year Down Under. 

A Working Holiday Visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to a year. You can work while you’re there to help fund all your adventures, and you can potentially stay for up to 3 years if you complete the necessary regional work. It’s a truly amazing opportunity. 

Let’s take a closer look at which countries can get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia, as well as break down some of the requirements. 

Which countries are eligible for a working holiday visa in Australia?

Before we list all the countries that can have Working Holiday Visas in Australia, you have to understand the two different types of visas. These include the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462). 

The main difference between the two is just nationality. Each visa has a specific list of nationalities that are eligible for that visa. The only other difference between the 417 and the 462 is a slight variation in regional work requirements. 

Once you have determined which Working Holiday Visa applies to you, you can find a detailed list of the application steps and requirements on the Australian Home Affairs Website. 

Countries eligible for the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)

• Belgium
• Canada
• Republic of Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
• Republic of Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including British National Overseas passport holders)

Countries eligible for the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

• Argentina
• Austria
• Brazil
• Chile
• China, People's Republic of
• Czech Republic
• Ecuador
• Greece
• Hungary
• India
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Mongolia
• Papua New Guinea (PNG)
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Türkiye
• Uruguay
• United States of America
• Vietnam

Note: China, India and Vietnam passport holders have to complete a visa pre-application process (ballot) and be randomly selected to apply for a Work and Holiday visa.

Other Working Holiday Visa requirements for Australia

Besides nationality, there are several other requirements for a Working Holiday Visa in Australia. Most of them are the same for the 417 and 462 visas. 

Age limit

You can only be between the ages of 18-30 when your Working Holiday Visas are granted. However, the age limit extends to 35 years for those from Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, and the UK.

You must also not be accompanied by any dependent children, and the visa does not include family members. It’s only for young, solo travellers!

Visa cost and money in savings

There are a few financial requirements for a Working Holiday Visa as well. First of all, you also have to be able to pay the $670 fee for the visa. You’ll pay for this online when you submit your application.

You also have to provide proof of at least $5,000 AUD in savings (or the equivalent in your home currency). This shows the Immigration office that you have funds to pay for your trip, including a return flight home at the end of your visa term. 

Study

A Working Holiday Visa also allows you to study for up to 4 months! If studying is your main priority, you may prefer to opt for a student visa. But if you just want to do a short course, and have time to work and travel, a Working Holiday Visa is a great option. 

Overseas travel

Many travellers in Australia choose to combine their adventures with trips to nearby places like New Zealand or Southeast Asia. Flights to these beautiful areas are very cheap from Australia, so it makes sense to take advantage!

On a Working Holiday Visa, you have unlimited travel to and from Australia. However, the 12 month visa period doesn’t pause when you leave the country. So keep that in mind when planning overseas travel from Australia.

Extending your Working Holiday Visa

You can extend your Working Holiday Visa for a second year or even a third year! First, second, and third Working Holiday Visas all have the same requirements listed above. Just to recap, these include:

• Age limit of 18-30 years (max 35 years for certain countries)
• No dependent children or family
• Visa fee of $670
• Savings of $5,000 or more
• Stay of up to 12 months
• Study for up to 4 months

Additional requirements for second and third year Working Holiday Visas

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, there are some other factors that allow you to get a second or third year Working Holiday Visa. Here is an overview of those!

Clean record in Australia

To extend your stay in Australia, you must have a clean record for your first year here. That means no outstanding debts to the government and revenue offices, and no criminal record. 

88 days of regional work (second year)

To get a second year Working Holiday Visa, you must complete 88 days of regional work within your first year. This includes the classic backpacker jobs like fruit picking and farm work, though it also includes hospitality, construction, mining, tree farming and felling, and disaster work. Most regional work jobs have to be in very specific post codes though, so make sure you double-check that before you take a job. 

Find more details about the regional work in our second year WHV guide, or on the Australian Immigration website. 

6 months of regional work (third year)

Similarly, you can extend your stay for a third year if you complete more regional work during your second year Working Holiday Visa. To get a third year visa, you must complete 6 months of regional work on your second year.

This is a pretty large chunk of time, but it can be very rewarding if you find a job you love. So take your time on the job hunt! After 3 years of working hard in Australia, you may find other opportunities open up if you want to stay longer, such as work sponsorship. 

Once your visa comes through, start planning out your incredible Australian adventure. Check out our epic travel itineraries for ideas!

Or get in touch with one of our friendly travel experts and we’ll help you organise your perfect trip.

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