How to apply for a 2nd or 3rd WHV to Australia (full guide)

Most applicants receive their e-visa within a few hours, or even a few days, but it may take longer if additional proof of specified work or a medical examination is required. Don’t forget to check your spam folder to make sure you don’t miss important emails!

So your second or third WHV may be issued as fast as the previous time or it could take several weeks to process your visa application:

• Because you’re asked to provide additional proof of specified work
• Because you have to take a medical exam

Past applicants report that it can take at least a month to receive their WHV after taking a medical exam or sending additional proof.

If you’re in Australia on a Bridging Visa, no worries. But if you’re still at home, don’t rush to buy your plane ticket!

What does the visa-granted email look like?

Hopefully, you will eventually receive the following email:

This is to advise that you have been granted a Working Holiday Visa, Subclass 417, on XX XXXX 20XX.

The visa grant number is XXXXXXXXXXXXX. This is the unique number assigned to the visa. You should keep this visa grant number with you, as you may have to provide it to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) during the life of the visa.

Print this email and take it with you to Australia.

Help, I didn’t get any email!

More and more applicants are not receiving their e-visa by email—maybe there’s a bug somewhere or too many applications. But don’t worry, this isn’t a big issue.

Log into your ImmiAccount to see if your “Grant letter” is there.

If your application is approved, you will see on the screen that your visa is “granted.” If you applied outside Australia, take a screenshot and print it out. You can show it, if requested, to an Australian immigration officer when you arrive in the country.

Normally, you don’t need to show your e-visa or this screenshot when you arrive in Australia, as your Working Holiday Visa is linked to your passport—this is the only document you really need to fly! That said, just in case, we recommend that you print out your e-visa or the screenshot from the Department of Home Affairs website, as it only takes a few seconds and might smooth things out with a fussy officer.

If you applied for your visa from Australia, you don’t have to do anything. Your second or third WHV is validated and starts directly at the end of your other WHV!

Still waiting after a few weeks?

If you still have no news of your visa after a few weeks (this happens more often with the second WHV than with the first), send an email to [email protected].

Always wait until you’ve received your e-visa or your visa is “granted” to buy your plane ticket and take out insurance.

A word of warning—some applicants seem to be contacted by visa assistance websites. These sites are built around the keywords “visa,” “immigration” or “national” and they may lead you to believe that using their services is a mandatory step. Well, absolutely not. You don’t need immigration “specialists” to apply for your WHV—this is why we’re offering this guide!