The Australian Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) are the two main options for anyone who wants to experience Australia while also working.
Australian tourist visas and Australian student visas have restrictions on working rights. So, if working and earning money while in Australia is one of your main priorities, you will need to apply for one of these two working holiday visa options.
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Difference Between Subclass 417 & Subclass 462 visas
The subclass you apply for depends on your home country.
While most of the conditions and restraints you will be subjected to while in Australia are the same for each visa, the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) has more stringent eligibility requirements when compared to the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417).
For example, subclass 462 has education and English language requirements which must be met. Subclass 417 does not.
Eligibility for each of these Working Holiday visa for Australia is further explained here.
Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)
Stay: Maximum 12 months. Leave and enter Australia as many times as required over the period.
Eligible Age: 18-30 (or up to 35 if a citizen of France, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom)
Financial capacity requirement: Usually at least A$5,000 in a personal account and money for a return flight
Education Requirement: None
English language test: None
Application: Apply online via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal
Cost: AU$650
Processing time: Varies (1 week – 3 months)
Available on to citizens and passport holders of 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)
Working and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)
Stay: Maximum 12 months. Leave and enter Australia as many times as required over the period.
Eligible Age: 18-30
Financial capacity requirement: Usually at least A$5,000 in a personal account and money for a return flight
Education Requirement: Requires proof of tertiary education. Requirements cary based on home country. See overview here.
English language test: You must demonstrate competency in the English language through tests such as IELTS or TOEFL (unless a citizen of USA)
Application: Apply online via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal
Cost: AU$650
Processing time: Varies (1 week – 3 months)
Available on to citizens and passport holders of the following countries:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Brazil
- Chile
- China, People’s Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Vietnam
Australian Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417): Step-By-Step Guide For the Perfect Application
The Australian Working Holiday Visa subclass 417 is perfect for young working travellers, aged between 18 to 35.
With this visa, you can travel, study for up to 4 months, and do short-term work. This visa is open to people from 19 countries and jurisdictions. Visit this link to see if your nationality makes you eligible for this visa. After the age and nationality check, you must also have around AU$5,000 upfront, meet health requirements, have no substantial criminal record, and not have entered Australia on the same or similar visa.
After tackling all the requirements, a lot of people still have their visas rejected or receive a delayed response.
The main reason behind this is not your eligibility, but your application.
A good visa application is important to make sure that you receive your visa and that too in a timely fashion.
So, I have compiled a complete step-by-step process for the perfect Australian Working Holiday Visa application.
Here is a step-by-step guide for you to follow to ensure that you submit a perfect application for your visa. Keep in mind that ultimately, the outcome of the visa depends on your eligibility, the authenticity of the information in your application, and your documents. Let’s get started:
Step 1: Collect Supporting Documents & Schedule Health Examinations
This is the most important step in applying for an Australian visa. For your application, you will need to attach a whole lot of documents. These documents will include your identity documents, your visit purpose, and basically, any document that will make your visa case strong.
Make sure that each of your documents is scanned from the original document and can be read. If your documents are in any other language than English, make sure to attach the English translations with your documents. A key tip here is to get your translations notarized as well before attaching them.
Documents required:
- A copy of your passport.
- Passport-sized photographs.
- Evidence of sufficient funds.
- Health insurance policy (recommended).
The second part of this step is to schedule health examinations. As a part of your application, you will need to provide health reports. In every country, there are designated clinics that do health reports for visa purposes so look for one that is near you. Make sure that you schedule your appointment so that the clinics can send your results in time.
Step 2: Create an IMMI Account
For your next step, you will need to create an IMMI account. You can do that by going to this link. You will need to provide your details while creating your IMMI account. Make sure all your details match with whatever is written in your documents. Make sure to double-check your date of birth and name.
The immigration office will communicate to you via this account so make sure you remember the account login details and also keep them safe.
Step 3: Fill Visa Application Online
Finally, after creating the IMMI account, fill in the visa application. Select the right subclass for your visa which is subclass 417. Carefully fulfill each of the mandatory fields in the application. Make sure to give consistent information throughout the application which also coincides with the documents that you will attach. After completing the application and attaching the documents, make sure to give it a read twice or more just to make sure that everything is in order.
Step 4: Pay Visa Fee
The visa fee for the Australian Working Holiday visa is AU$650. You will need to pay this fee and then attach the receipt with your application. You can pay this fee online or via your bank. Just make sure to ask for the receipt so you can attach it later on.
Step 5: Wait For a Response
Lastly, after applying for your visa, all you have to do now is wait. The current processing times for any visa can be checked via this link. In the meantime, you can also decide on your accommodation and plan your trip. Make sure to include the beautiful outbacks of Australia in your itinerary.
Australian Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462): Step-By-Step Guide For the Perfect Application
If you are not a citizen of a country eligible for a subclass 417 visa, don’t worry! If you have some tertiary education, you could be on your way to Australia within weeks of submitting an application for a subclass 462 visa.
Step 1: Collect Supporting Documents & Schedule Health Examinations
This is the most important step in applying for an Australian visa. For your application, you will need to attach a whole lot of documents. These documents will include your identity documents, your visit purpose, and basically, any document that will make your visa case strong.
Make sure that each of your documents is scanned from the original document and can be read. If your documents are in any other language than English, make sure to attach the English translations with your documents. A key tip here is to get your translations notarized as well before attaching them.
Documents required:
- A copy of your passport.
- Passport-sized photographs.
- Evidence of education qualifications.
- Evidence of sufficient funds.
- Health insurance policy (recommended).
- Evidence of English exam.
Step 2: Create an IMMI Account
For your next step, you will need to create an IMMI account. You can do that by going to this link. You will need to provide your details while creating your IMMI account. Make sure all your details match with whatever is written in your documents. Make sure to double-check your date of birth and name.
The immigration office will communicate to you via this account so make sure you remember the account login details and also keep them safe.
Step 3: Fill Visa Application Online
Finally, after creating the IMMI account, fill in the visa application. Select the right subclass for your visa which is subclass 462. Carefully fulfill each of the mandatory fields in the application. Make sure to give consistent information throughout the application which also coincides with the documents that you will attach. After completing the application and attaching the documents, make sure to give it a read twice or more just to make sure that everything is in order.
Step 4: Pay Visa Fee
The visa fee for the Australian Working Holiday visa is AU$650. You will need to pay this fee and then attach the receipt with your application. You can pay this fee online or via your bank. Just make sure to ask for the receipt so you can attach it later on.
Step 5: Wait For a Response
Lastly, after applying for your visa, all you have to do now is wait. The current processing times for any visa can be checked via this link.
While you wait, it be worth thinking about preparing for Australia. Read Aussie Talk’s guide to what you need to do BEFORE you leave.
FAQs
What Is the Difference Between an Australian Working Holiday Visa and an Australian Work and Holiday Visa?
These visas are quite similar but the main difference between the Australian Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and the Australian Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) is that visa subclass 462 is available for people aged between 18 to 30 not 18 to 35 as is the case for visa subclass 417. Furthermore, UK nationals cannot apply for visa subclass 462 and there is also a requirement of a certain level of educational qualification depending on the applicant’s country. The visa subclass 417 has no minimum education qualification requirement.
Can I Study and Volunteer on a Working Holiday or Work and Holiday Visa in Australia?
Yes, you can study for up to 4 months and volunteer as much as you like on these visas. However, you cannot study full-time. If you intend to study, you will need to have a valid student visa based on your education level, a valid confirmation of enrolment from the university, and related funds. In case you do not have any of the mentioned requirements, you might not be able to study in Australia part-time or full-time.
How Many Times Can I Extend My Australian Working Holiday Visa or Work and Holiday Visa in Australia?
You cannot extend your Australian Working Holiday visa. These visas let you work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months at a time. If you do 3 months of specified work in regional Australia on your first working holiday visa, you can then apply for a second one, and then for a third one. The requirements for specified work can be viewed here.
What Are the Processing Times for an Australian Visa?
Currently, the normal visa processing time for subclass 417 or 462 is around 14 days but this depends on your application and your unique case. In some cases, application could take up to 3 months. You can check the estimated processing times for your application based on the date you submitted your application here.
Conclusion
The Australian Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) or the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) are great ways to enjoy Australia while earning money to support your travels.
Just make sure you study the eligibility requirements for each visa and follow the application processes closely to ensure you have the best chance of success.
Leave a comment below if you have any tips for fellow readers or questions.
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