Subclass 417 — Working Holiday visa

Who the Working Holiday visa (417) is generally for

General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. The subclass 417 Working Holiday visa is, in broad terms, a temporary visa that lets eligible young travellers from a defined group of partner countries combine a holiday in Australia with the ability to work, usually for a period of up to around twelve months from first entry. In general terms, the program is built around a few core ideas rather than a long list of conditions: - Passport country. The visa is typically open only to passport holders from countries and jurisdictions that have a reciprocal working-holiday arrangement with Australia. The set of eligible countries is defined by the Department and can change, so the official page is the place to confirm whether a particular passport qualifies. - Age. The program is aimed at younger applicants and applies an age range with an upper limit. The exact ages — and the fact that some partner countries are treated differently — are published officially and are not reproduced here; check the official page for the current range. - One applicant at a time. As a rule, each person applies in their own right; family members are generally not added to a single application the way they can be on some other visa types. - Standard requirements. Applicants are typically expected to meet Australia's usual health and character requirements and to show they can support themselves on arrival. - Outside Australia for a first visa. A first Working Holiday visa is generally applied for and granted while the applicant is outside Australia. Extensions are a defining feature of this visa: in general terms, completing a defined period of eligible "specified work" (often regional or in particular industries) during one stay can open the door to a further Working Holiday visa. The rules about what counts as specified work, where it must be done, and how long it must last are detailed and change over time — these are exactly the kind of specifics to confirm on the official page, and a registered practitioner can advise on how they apply to an individual's circumstances. Eligibility is assessed by the Department against the rules in force at the time of application.

What it typically costs

General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) carries its own Visa Application Charge (VAC), which is a government charge set by the Department of Home Affairs. The amount is published on the official Home Affairs page and is adjusted from time to time, so rather than quote a figure that may be out of date, the reliable approach is to check the official visa pricing estimator for the current charge before applying. A few cost ideas to keep in mind, in general terms: - The base charge. There is a primary applicant charge for the visa itself. Because this visa is generally applied for individually, the additional-applicant charges that apply to family-based visas usually are not relevant here; if any additional-applicant charge could apply in a particular situation, the official estimator will show it. - Ancillary costs beyond the VAC. Many applicants also incur separate, third-party costs — for example obtaining police or character certificates from relevant countries, any required health examination or medical check, document translation or certification, and optional health insurance. These are not part of the VAC and vary widely by country and personal situation. - Government charge vs platform/practitioner fees. The VAC is a charge payable to the Australian Government. It is entirely separate from any fee charged by this platform or by a registered practitioner you choose to engage. Government charges and any service fees are always distinct, and a practitioner's fee for advice or assistance is never a substitute for the government charge. For the current VAC, any additional-applicant amounts, and the official cost breakdown, check the official Home Affairs pricing estimator. A registered practitioner can help estimate the full cost of an application based on an individual's circumstances.

Common questions about the Working Holiday visa (417)