Working Holiday Maker Visas (Subclass 417)

This visa is for people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested coming to Australia for a working holiday of up to 12 months. In order to be eligible, applicants must have turned 18 but not turned 31 at the time of the application.

This visa allows applicants to take up short term employment for the purpose of supplementing their holiday. The primary reason for travelling to Australia must be a holiday, with employment being secondary.

Applicants are eligible to apply for this visa if they hold a passport from one of the countries or regions participating in the Working Holiday Program.

Once granted this visa, applicants will be entitled to:

• enter Australia within 12 months of grant
• stay up to 12 months
• leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid
• work in Australia for up to 6 months with each employer
• study for up to 4 months.

In order to apply for a Working Holiday Visa, you must be able to show that:

• You are between the ages of 18 and 30 and are single or married without children
• That the main purpose of your stay is a holiday and that any work you undertake is ancillary to your holiday
• That you will easily be able to find temporary work in order to help fund your travels
• That you have a return ticket or adequate funds for a return ticket; and
• That you intend on leaving Australia at the end of your permitted stay.

Under this visa, applicants are permitted to take up any kind of temporary or casual work. This visa if granted for the primary purpose of a holiday and therefore applicants who are approved are not permitted to work for longer than three months with the same employer.

Since 1 November 2005, the Working Holiday Visa has been changed in order to assist growers to get the seasonal harvest labour they require. Working Holiday Makers who have completed a minimum of three months seasonal harvest work in regional Australia will be eligible to apply for a second 12 month Holiday Working visa.