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417 Visa Fact Sheet

By 22 December 2013No Comments

Working Holiday Visa Programme – Fact sheet 49
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Australia’s Working Holiday visa programme establishes arrangements to encourage cultural exchange and closer ties between countries, by allowing young people to have an extended holiday, and supplement their funds with short-term employment. The programme has a special focus on helping employers in regional Australia to meet short-term employment needs.
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Working Holiday visa

The Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa is available to passport holders from Belgium, Canada, the Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
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Benefits of the programme

The Working Holiday visa programme enhances the cultural and social development of young people, promotes mutual understanding between Australia and other nations and is an important part of the tourism industry.
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The programme helps Australian regional employers by encouraging working holiday visa holders to seek short-term and casual work in specified industries in regional Australia.
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The reciprocal nature of the programme provides opportunities for young Australians to undertake working holidays overseas in arrangement countries.
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Basic requirements
To be eligible, applicants need to meet the following requirements:

aaaaaa – hold a passport issued by an eligible country or region
aaaaaa – be aged 18-30 (inclusive) at the time of applying
aaaaaa – not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during their stay in Australia
aaaaaa – meet health, character and financial requirements
aaaaaa – not have previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (462) visa
aaaaaa – not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (417) visa (unless applying for a second aaaaaaaa visa, see ‘Second Working Holiday visa’ below)
aaaaaa – be outside Australia when they apply and when their visa is granted (unless applying for a second aaaaaaaa visa, see ‘Second Working Holiday visa’ below)
aaaaaa – apply within 12 months of intended travel to Australia.
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Second Working Holiday visa

Applicants who have performed specified work in an eligible regional Australian area for a minimum of three months (88 days) while on their first Working Holiday visa may be eligible for a second Working Holiday visa.
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The requirements are the same as for the first visa — however applications can be made while the applicant is located either in or outside Australia. Applicants must have evidence of their specified work.
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What does this visa allow you to do?
Applicants who are granted a Working Holiday visa can:
aaaaaa – if applying outside Australia, travel to Australia at any time in the 12 months from the date the visa is aaaaaaaa granted (this cannot be extended or deferred)
aaaaaa – stay in Australia for up to 12 months from when they first enter Australia (a further 12 months stay is aaaaaaaa possible if applicants qualify for a second Working Holiday visa)
aaaaaa – leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid
aaaaaa – work in Australia for up to six months with each employer
aaaaaa – study in Australia for up to four months.
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How to apply
Working holiday visa applications may be made online or by filling out a paper application form. Online applications may be processed sooner than paper applications.
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More information

Statistical information regarding the Working Holiday visa is available in fact sheet 2 and on the department’s visitor visa statistics web pages.
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Fact Sheet 49. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Canberra.

Last reviewed November 2013.
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Purnima Kabra