The working holiday visa subclass 417 allows you to gain invaluable work experience while enjoying the splendors of the Land Down Under. This temporary visa has lower tertiary qualifications and does not necessitate English language fluency, making it an excellent option for those from countries where English is not the primary language.
Working Holiday VS Work and Holiday Visa
Both the Working Holiday subclass 417 and Work and Holiday Visa subclass 462 are working holiday visas that allow you to work for at least six months per employer and study for up to 4 months. Each of them also allows you to stay longer with a Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa if you complete a certain amount of specified work.
However, 462 working holiday visas require you to have at least two years of tertiary education and functional English, while the 417 visa does not. They are also open to other countries: for example, the 462 visa is open to San Marino, the Slovak Republic, Peru, and Mongolia, while the 417-holiday visa is not.
Purpose and Benefits of an Australia Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417
The working holiday visa 417 enables you to enjoy an extended holiday in Australia for up to 12 months, during which time you can leave Australia and return as many times as you like. You can also complete voluntary work and study for up to 4 months, making it a great option for younger people seeking life experience.
Second Working Holiday Visa
Due to the high popularity of the first working holiday visa, the Australian government introduced the second working holiday visa in 2005 and eventually a third-holiday visa in 2019.
To qualify for a subsequent visa, you will have to perform at least three months of qualifying Working Holiday Maker employment during your time on your first visa. These are jobs that are meant to support the Australian economy, specifically in more remote areas of the continent.
Eligibility Requirements for the Working Holiday Visa
This working holiday visa, while it does not have all the same requirements of the 462 visa, does have some eligibility requirements, including age, nationality, financial capacity, and health checks.
Age Requirement
In most countries, only those between the ages of 18 and 30 can apply for a working holiday visa. Applicants from Canada, Denmark, France, the Republic of Ireland, or the UK can be up to 35 at the time of applying. If you turn 31 or 36 before the visa is granted, you may still be eligible.
Nationality Requirement
You can only apply for the working holiday visa if you have a valid passport from the following countries:
- 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)
If your home country is not listed here, you may be able to work in Australia on a temporary work visa or the Work and Holiday Visa Subclass 462.
Education Requirement
Unlike the 462 subclass visa, there is no explicit educational requirement for the 417 visa. However, this is a competitive visa, and it’s recommended that you have functional English language skills and at least two years of tertiary study to qualify.
Financial Requirements
While this visa enables you to work, the government wants to ensure you have money to pay for your airfare and sustain yourself if you’re not able to find a job. You should have at least AUD 5,000 in your account when you apply for a working holiday visa, which will cover your travel, stay, emergency expenses, and departure. You can prove this through bank statements and credit limits.
Health and Character Requirements
All applicants must be free of infectious diseases like tuberculosis or HIV, and they should also not have chronic health conditions that could prove a strain on the Australian medical system. All applicants should have health insurance or be from a country that has a reciprocal health insurance agreement with Australia.
Additionally, you must meet the Good Character Requirement, which means that you will uphold all Australian laws. You may be asked to receive police certificates from anywhere you have resided for more than 12 months.
Other Requirements
You will be asked to show that you intend to leave Australia, such as by demonstrating your departing travel arrangements. You cannot bring dependents into Australia with you on this visa, and you cannot have previously held a Working Holiday visa, either subclass 417 or 462.
Working Holiday Subclass 417 Visa Application Process
The program year for the working visa opens on 1 July every year, meaning you should prepare to apply as soon as possible. You can apply for this visa online by opening an ImmiAccount and uploading all the required documents.
Required Documents
The most crucial form of the document is your valid passport from a qualifying country. This will include your photo, personal details, and the passport issue and expiry dates. The passport’s expiration date should be after your intended departure date. You should have more than one page empty for stamps and visa stickers.
You will also need your birth certificate showing your current name. If you don’t have one, you can provide a copy of the identification pages of one or more of the following:
- Family book showing both of your parents’ names
- Government-issued identification
- A court-issued document verifying your identity
If you have changed your name, you will need to prove this through change-of-name documents like a birth certificate or court order.
You will also need to demonstrate your financial capacity through bank statements, credit card limits, or other accounts you have access to. This is typically AUD 5,000.
Lastly, you must provide your health and character documents and agree to uphold Australian values.
Visa Application Fees
When you apply, you will pay AUD 615; the government will not start processing your application until the fee has been paid. You may have to pay additional costs for biometric appointments, translation services, police certificates, and medical exams.
Processing Times
Approximately half of all working holiday visas are processed within one day, with 90% processed within 40 days.
Working in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa
The working holiday visa enables you to complete gainful employment and develop your professional skills while abroad. You can work in any sector you choose, including manual labor or retail, and you can also complete courses and travel throughout Australia.
Work Rights
You have the right to work for any employer in any sector, including retail, hospitality, or farm work. You can work for up to six months with the same employer.
As a note, your employer will pay superannuation on your behalf, which is a separate financial account meant to help cover pensions after Australian workers retire. You can apply to have this paid to you upon leaving the country.
Study Rights
While on your visa, you can complete up to four months of study at an institution of vocational or higher education. If you want to do an entire academic year at an Australian university, a student visa would be better suited for your needs.
Visa Extensions
It is possible to get a second or third working holiday visa if you complete at least three months of approved Working Holiday Maker (WHM) employment. This requires that you work in certain regional areas, including Northern Australia and very remote regions.
The Working Holiday Maker Specific Work includes tourism in Northern Australia and Very Remote Australia, plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, construction, bushfire recovery work, recovery in disaster zones, and COVID-19 work anywhere in Australia.
For your second visa, you must have carried out at least 88 calendar days of qualifying work, while for a third visa, you must have at least 179 calendar days of WHM work. This work should have been completed during your previous visa, though if you apply for a bridging visa while waiting for your application to be completed, it may still qualify.
Travel Conditions
You may leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like during your visa. However, time spent outside of the country still qualifies as time on the visa and will not extend the visa’s expiration date.
Common Reasons for Working Holiday Visa Refusals
Common reasons that your Australian working holiday visa may be refused include the following.
- Country Cap: Only a certain number of visas are granted per year. If you apply late, the program may be full, and you may be denied.
- Incomplete Documents: You must provide everything required on the application.
- Missing or False Information: Small spelling errors or missing dates can lead to a refusal.
- Invalid Passport: Your passport must be valid for the entire time you will be in Australia.
- Insufficient Funds: You should have at least AUD 5,000 available when your visa is granted.
- Poor Character: Previous criminal convictions or misdemeanors may lead to a denial.
- Health Issues: You cannot have any infectious diseases or chronic health issues that may impose a burden on the Australian health system.
Tips for a Successful Working Holiday Visa Application
To ensure you have the best possible chance of success at getting your visa, consider the following tips.
- Work with an immigration expert: You can authorize an immigration lawyer to help prepare your application, helping you avoid common mistakes that could cause an issue.
- Apply early: These visas are very popular, so you should get your application ready to apply as soon as the program opens on 1 July.
- Gather your documentation: Have everything prepared, including medical exams and police clearances, so that you have it ready should it be required.
- Double-check your application: Make sure that all names are spelled correctly, all dates are correct, and the scans of your ID are clear.
Save up: Make sure that you have adequate funds to sustain yourself while abroad and that you provide compelling evidence of your financial capacity through bank statements.