417 First Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	First Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
Purpose	Extended holiday with short-term work
Stay	Up to 12 months
Cost	AUD840.00
Apply/grant location	Outside Australia
Entry deadline	Within 12 months of grant
Eligibility age	18–30 or 18–35, by passport
Work rights	Any work; usually six-month employer limit
Study	Up to four months
Travel facility	Multiple entries during visa period
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health insurance	Strongly recommended; personal costs apply
Second visa pathway	Three months specified work
Family sponsorship	No family members included
Dependent children	Cannot accompany visa holder
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Longer than usual
Extension	Cannot extend this visa

---

Purpose

The First Working Holiday visa allows eligible young people to take an extended holiday in Australia and do short-term work to help fund it.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be a citizen of, and hold a valid passport from, an eligible country or jurisdiction:
  • Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany
  • Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta
  • Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, or the United Kingdom
• Be within the age limit for your passport country when applying:
  • 18 to 30: Belgium, Estonia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Taiwan.
  • 18 to 35: Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.
• Apply before turning 31 or 36, as applicable, under AEST/AEDST. The deadline is midnight on the day before your 31st or 36th birthday.
• Apply online while outside Australia and remain outside Australia when the application is decided.
• Not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).
• Have enough money to support yourself and leave Australia—usually about AUD5,000, plus onward travel fare.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have repaid, or arranged to repay, Australian Government debts for yourself or relevant family members.
• Acknowledge the Australian Values Statement.
• Not be affected by immigration history, including a visa cancellation or refusal.

Stay and Travel

This is a temporary visa.

• Enter Australia within 12 months of visa grant; this timeframe cannot be extended or deferred.
• The 12-month stay begins on your first entry to Australia.
• Leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you wish while the visa remains in effect.
• Time outside Australia does not extend the 12-month stay period.
• Enter Australia using the passport linked to your visa grant, including if you hold dual citizenship.
• If you get a new passport, notify the Department; otherwise, you may face boarding delays.

Do not obtain another visa after your Working Holiday visa grant unless you understand the consequences:

• A later eVisitor or Transit visa grant will cause the Working Holiday visa and its work rights to cease.
• An ETA does not cease the Working Holiday visa, but entry to Australia starts the Working Holiday visa period.

Work, Study and Rights

You can:

• Take a holiday in Australia.
• Do any kind of work.
• Usually work for the same employer for no more than 6 months.
• Study for up to 4 months (17 weeks).
• Complete 3 months of specified work to become eligible for a second Working Holiday visa, if otherwise eligible.

You must pay Australian tax on earnings. Australian workplace laws protect you while working.

If you earn above the relevant threshold, your employer must pay superannuation into your fund. You may be able to access your superannuation after leaving Australia.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is strongly recommended. You are personally liable for healthcare costs in Australia.

Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. Check Services Australia for details.

Family Provisions

• You cannot include family members in your application.
• Dependent children cannot accompany you in Australia at any time on this visa.
• If you are the parent of a child under 18, you cannot apply online. Your child still cannot join you in Australia, even briefly, while you hold this visa.

Cost and Processing

The visa application charge is AUD840.00.

You may also need to pay for:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Biometrics

Processing times are longer than usual because of high application volumes. The processing-time guide is indicative only. Processing may take longer if the application is incomplete, documents are missing, further information is needed, or information requires verification.

Do not arrange travel until the Department confirms in writing that the visa has been granted.

Required Documents

Prepare clear colour scans or photographs of documents. Non-English documents must be translated into English and both original and translated versions must be provided. Documents do not need certification.

You may need:

• Passport pages showing your photo, personal details, issue date and expiry date.
• Birth certificate showing both parents’ names.
• If unavailable, a family book, government-issued identity document, or court-issued identity document.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Evidence of funds—usually AUD5,000—and onward-ticket funds or an existing onward ticket.
• Character documents if requested, including police certificates or military records.

Police certificates may be requested if, since turning 16, you spent 12 months or more in Australia or another country during the previous 10 years.

How to Apply

1. Create or log in to ImmiAccount.
2. Complete the online application accurately and declare your location correctly.
3. Attach required documents.
4. Pay the application charge; processing does not begin until payment is made.
5. Keep your transaction reference number.
6. Provide biometrics, health examinations, or further information if requested.
7. Tell the Department promptly about errors, passport changes, relationship changes, a child’s birth, or withdrawal requests.
8. Wait for the written decision.

If granted, keep the decision notification. It states your visa grant number, start date and conditions.

Obligations and Important Warnings

You must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. Check your conditions in your grant letter or through VEVO.

• You cannot extend this visa. Apply for another visa to stay longer.
• A Visitor visa after this visa is generally limited to a total of 12 consecutive months in Australia, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
• If applying for a Visitor visa would exceed 12 consecutive months, you must show exceptional circumstances, such as a close Australian family member being seriously ill or dying.
• Provide accurate information. Incorrect information or inability to prove identity can affect the application.
• Your visa is electronically linked to your passport; no passport label is issued.