Start with passport and age
Subclass 417 is a passport-based Working Holiday visa. The first visa supports a holiday of up to 12 months with work to help fund it. The application age range is 18–30 inclusive for some eligible passports and 18–35 inclusive for others. Check the age limit for the passport used in the application, rather than assuming one upper limit applies to everyone.
Eligible-country and passport conditions are published on the first-visa eligibility page. Do not use a subclass 462 country list as a substitute: the two visas have separate arrangements. The first 417 application must be lodged while you are outside Australia, and you must be outside Australia when the decision is made.
What changed on 1 July 2026?
Four more passport groups can apply up to 35
Cyprus, Finland, Germany and Republic of Korea passport holders became eligible at ages 18–35 inclusive from 1 July 2026. Home Affairs says these applicants may lodge up to 11:59 pm AEST on the day before their 36th birthday.
This is a change to age eligibility, not automatic permission to stay until 36, and not removal of all later-visa requirements. Use the current Home Affairs country-specific conditions when planning an application close to the upper age limit.
Prepare the application before making travel commitments
Create your own ImmiAccount and read the first-visa document checklist. Prepare your passport, identity details, evidence of funds and any health or character information requested. Use the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the fee at the time you apply; government charges, concessions and additional health or document costs can change.
Check that names, dates and passport details match across your application and documents. Keep a copy of your submission and grant notice. Do not buy non-refundable travel on the assumption a job offer guarantees a visa. Home Affairs warns applicants to wait for a written grant before committing to travel.
Understand your work conditions
Condition 8547 usually limits work with the same employer to six months, but Home Affairs lists exemptions. These include plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia and listed critical sectors including agriculture, food processing, tourism and hospitality. Read the exact current exemption and your visa conditions before extending a placement.
A six-month employer-limit exemption and eligibility for specified work are separate questions. A tourism job may be exempt from the employer limit but still fail the location rules for a second or third visa. The grant notice and VEVO are the starting points for the conditions on your own visa.
Sources: Home Affairs · six-month employer limitation and exemptions · Home Affairs · specified work for subclass 417
Plan the second or third visa separately
A later visa is a new application. Where the specified-work requirement applies, plan the three-month or six-month period, the correct activities and locations, and enough evidence to support it. The UK-passport exception applies to second or third 417 applications made on or after 1 July 2024 using a UK passport.
Keep your work dates and travel dates together, and use the 88-day guide before accepting a placement for visa purposes. A calendar, employer statement or tracker cannot guarantee a visa grant.
Common questions
Does every 417 applicant have an age limit of 35?
No. The upper age limit depends on the eligible passport. Cyprus, Finland, Germany and Republic of Korea moved to 35 on 1 July 2026; check the current first-visa eligibility page for your passport.
Does an employer-limit exemption make a job specified work?
No. Permission to work longer for one employer and the specified-work requirements are different rules. Check both separately.
Sources & last checked
- Home Affairs · first Working Holiday visa 417 ↗
- Home Affairs · 2026 Working Holiday Maker updates ↗
- Home Affairs · six-month employer limitation and exemptions ↗
- Home Affairs · specified work for subclass 417 ↗
Last checked: 8 October 2026. Visa rules, pay rates and recruitment dates can change; follow the linked official source for your circumstances.