All about the working holiday in Australia!

Australia is the quintessential destination for backpacking and van life. Every year, more than 200,000 young people from around the world embark on the adventure of a lifetime there.

Wherever you are in the process of working holiday preparation, pvtistes.net provides free information and resources to help with your planning and big move.

Working Holiday Visa travel insurance.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalization, repatriation).

1 Eligibility requirements 2 General Information / FAQ

1 Eligibility requirements

Age limit

Between 18 and 30 years old (35 for some nationalities)

Valid passport

A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday.

Sufficient funds

At least AU$5000 or equivalent in another currency.

Qualifying citizenship

Must be a citizen of a partner country.

Health insurance (recommended)

Should cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.

Beat the quota

Apply before the annual quota is reached

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2 General Information / FAQ

01. What is the Australia WHV?

WHV is short for Working Holiday Visa. The WHV to Australia is available to young adults from 40+ countries. WHV holders can stay for up to a year, and freely travel and work in Australia during this period. Participants who work qualifying jobs can even extend their stay by two additional years.

02. Annual quota for the Australia WHV

There are two subclasses of WHVs: 417 and 462. Subclass 417 does not have an annual quota and is available to several nationalities, including Canadians, British, Irish, and Germans.

Citizens of many other countries are only eligible for the subclass 462 visa, which is subject to annual quotas. The cap, however, applies only to the first-time WHV applicants; individuals applying for a first or second renewal of their WHV are not subject to a quota.

03. The WHV application process

The application needs to be done on Australia's official website. After making an account, you can fill out the application form, provide proof of funds and a copy of your passport, pay the visa fee, and submit your application. Some applicants may be asked to do a medical exam if they lived more than 6 months in a country at high risk of tuberculosis.

Application for WHV subclass 417 (Canadians, British, Irish, Germans, Italians, Koreans, Taiwanese, Japanese...)
Application for WHV subclass 462 (Americans, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese...)

04. Required supporting documents

Documents must be in English:

ID pages of your passport
Proof of funds equivalent to AU$5000 + extra savings for an eventual return flight

Some applicants might be asked to provide the following:

Medical exam certificate
Police background check

05. Visa application fee

The application fee is AU$635.

06. Where to apply from

For your first WHV application, you can apply online from anywhere in the world except Australia. You cannot apply while on Australian soil.

Applications for extensions are allowed to be done from Australia.

07. Going as a couple or as a family

If you want to go to Australia on a working holiday as a couple or a family, each member must submit their own application. All applications will be processed independently.

08. Visa processing times

Generally, visa decisions are made within days or even minutes, although in some cases it can take up to a few weeks. We recommend waiting for approval before purchasing your flight.

09. Entry period for WHV activation

You must enter Australia within the 12 months following issuance of your WHV to activate it. If you miss this window, your WHV is no longer valid and you will need to re-apply.

10. Entry and departure rights with the WHV

Once you enter Australia on your WHV, you have 12 months of unrestricted movement in and out of the country. You can enter, leave, and re-enter as many times as you'd like.

11. Work restrictions with the WHV

While you can work for any employer you'd like, you can only work for the same employer for a maximum of six months.

12. Studying while on a working holiday

You can study for up to 17 weeks, excluding school holidays and possible orientation periods.

01. What are WHV subclasses 417 and 462 and which one should I get?

The different subclasses are determined by citizenship, so you will need to apply for the relevant subclass for your nationality. Check your eligibility: subclass 417 and subclass 462. You cannot take part in both categories.

There are slight differences between the eligibility requirements, for example some countries under the 417 WHV can apply up until the age of 35, whereas the 462 WHV is only available for 18-30-year-olds. Subclass 462 must also meet an education requirement, prove a certain level of English language skills and may have to provide a letter of support from their government.

02. Do work and travel authorizations differ for holders of subclass 417 and 462?

No, both subclasses of WHV entitle you to the same conditions, which are:

Do short-term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday (can only work for the same employer up to six months)
Study for up to four months
Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want during your 12-month WHV
Do three months of specified work to become eligible for a Second WHV (if you don't already qualify based on citizenship)

If you want to apply for a Second or Third WHV, the types of specified work you must complete will differ based on your subclass.

03. How do I beat the annual visa quota?

There are quotas for visa subclass 462. For the best chances, apply earlier in the program year, which starts on July 1 of every year. Check the official website of the quota status by nationality.

Subclass 417 is not subject to any quotas.

04. When should I apply?

You can apply anytime, as long as the annual quota hasn't been reached yet (applicable only to subclass 462). However, note that you will need to enter Australia within 12 months after your WHV is issued in order to activate it.

05. Could a WHV application be rejected?

Rejections are rare; more than 99% of applications are successful. In rare cases of rejections, reasons could be related to the medical exam or the background check.

06. What budget should I prepare?

As a part of the application, you are required to have at least AU$5000, or the equivalent in another currency. Unless you have already bought a return flight, you also need to show additional funds that would be sufficient to purchase one later on. We advise that, if possible, you arrive with even more than this so that you have a thicker cushion for upfront expenses such as housing and furniture. It may also take you a few weeks or months to start your first job.

07. In which city should I start my adventure?

Every Australian city is great in its own way! For some ideas, check out our article Which city should you start your Australian working holiday in?

08. Do I need health insurance? Which kind?

Thought private health insurance is not required by Australian authorities for the WHV application, it is still strongly recommended because otherwise even small incidents can lead to significant out of pocket cost. You should choose an insurance that covers medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation.

We have been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They've accompanied thousands of working holiday makers in their adventures.

09. Do I have to buy a round-trip flight?

No, as long as you can prove that you have sufficient funds to purchase a return flight later on. This amount is in addition to the AU$5000 that you should already have.

10. Can I drive in Australia with my licence?

You can drive with your home driving licence for a certain period of time in Australia. Your home country licence must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit if it is not written in English.

The period of time you can use your home licence for varies from state to state. Be sure to check the rules of the state you are in before driving.

11. What should I have with me on arrival in Australia?

For your arrival in Australia, make sure to carry with you:

Your passport
Your Working Holiday Visa
Proof of funds equivalent to at least AU$5000

Once you pass immigration, your WHV is officially validated for 12 months and you can start your adventure!

12. Can I bring tobacco or alcohol?

These are the limits for tobacco:

One unopened pack of 25 cigarettes (or 25 grams of tobacco)
One opened pack of cigarettes

As for alcohol, you can bring up to 2.25L.

13. Can I bring my pet?

It is possible, but there are steps involved with your vet, airline, and Australian authorities. Consult this official page to see all the steps and be aware that it can be a costly and lengthy process.

You may also struggle to find accommodation that is pet-friendly. Remember that many national parks do not allow dogs.

14. What are the important first steps to take once in Australia?

The most important initial steps are to open a bank account and obtain a TFN number.

It is very easy to open a bank account in Australia. Learn more.
The TFN (Tax File number) is a personal number that employers require in order to pay employees. It is free to obtain. Learn more.

15. Is it possible to renew my WHV?

Each WHV is a separate application process and fee, so you are technically not "renewing" your WHV. However, depending on your citizenship, you may be eligible to apply for a Second and Third WHV (meaning you could stay in Australia for up to 36 months).

For those citizenships that are not automatically eligible, you can complete specified work to become eligible. You need to complete three months of specified work during your First WHV to be eligible for a Second WHV. On your Second WHV, you need to complete six months of specified work to be eligible for a Third WHV.

For more info on specified work, see the conditions for Subclass 417 and Subclass 462.

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