Changes to Australia’s Working Holiday Maker visa program

If you know someone who’s already undertaken a working holiday in Australia with the WHM visa, they may have told you that you can stay for up to two years. This is true: a WHM visa only lasts 12 months, but if you meet certain criteria (including doing three months of eligible work, such as farm work, in parts of rural or northern Australia), you have the option to apply for another 12-month visa, which means you can stay in Australia for a total of two years. The new changes, however, have just made an Australian working holiday even better: from 1 July 2019, you will be able to extend your stay for a third year. If you’re from Canada or Ireland, you’re also now eligible for a working holiday visa from the age of 18, up until the age of 35 (previously only until age of 30).

How can I stay for up to three years?

There are a few conditions, but the most important is that you’ll need to complete six months of specified work during your second year to qualify. Previously, WHM visa holders were required to work in specific areas of Australia to qualify, but to make this easier to achieve, WHM visa holders are now able to work in a wider geographical area across Australia. You can also now stay with the same agricultural employer for up to 12 months (previously six months). This gives you the chance to experience Australia’s beautiful countryside – or experience an outback adventure – while getting to know the people in Australia’s incredible countryside at the same time.

Is my country eligible to apply for this visa?

WHM visas come in two categories:

Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

For visitors holding passports from Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, the USA and Vietnam.

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)

For visitors holding passports from Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK.

Do I have to pick fruit?

No – though you can if you want to! In your first year on a WHM visa, you can undertake any kind of work you like, and can usually stay with the same employer for up to six months. To qualify for a second (or third) year however, you must do specific kinds of work. Farm work, including fruit picking, offers lots of opportunities and is popular among backpackers. However, it’s not your only option. Depending which visa you are on, ‘specified work’ to qualify for a second (or third) year can also include roles in the fields of travel and tourism, mining, fishing and construction. 

Are there any other benefits I should know about?

Yes. A brief summary of these is below:

• Previously, if you were a holder of the 462 visa and wanted to stay for a second year, you were required to work in northern Australia to be eligible. From 5 November 2018, you can work in many more areas of Australia, including regional areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, and all of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania.
  
• Previously, holders of 417 and 462 visas could only stay with the same agricultural employer for six months. From 5 November 2018, you can now stay with them for 12 months, if you’d like to.
• A number of countries that participate in the subclass 462 visa program have also seen an increase in the annual number of visas available.
  
• Visa holders can also study for up to four months while here, and come and go from Australia as many times as they like.

What other criteria do I have to meet to get a visa?

You can only apply for your initial WHM visa from outside Australia. As well as being the right age and holding a passport from one of the countries listed above, you must also meet certain other criteria to qualify for a WHM visa. These vary depending on the visa type and which country’s passport you hold, but include health and educational requirements and a willingness to sign an Australian values statement. You’re not allowed to travel with dependent children and you must have enough money to support yourself for your entire stay (as well evidence that you can get yourself home again).

How much does a visa cost?

AUD$450 per visa.

Where do I get more information?

Seek out the most up to date information regarding visas and the WHM program on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs wesite.