Moving to Australia? Working Holiday Visa Now Open to Age 35

The Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) offers young people the chance of exceptional life experiences across Australia’s captivating world. The visa enables you to live in and discover Australian culture while enjoying its natural beauty, and you can fund your stay through short-term work opportunities. Did you know that between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, 224,431 young people obtained a working holiday visa in Australia? That’s a massive number of people moving to Australia!

Personally, I moved from Spain to Australia in 2018 when I was 25, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Starting fresh in a new country came with challenges, but it also brought incredible opportunities for personal and professional growth. From finding work to building my own businesses, Australia has given me more than I ever expected—a great lifestyle, a strong job market, and an amazing community.

If you’re looking for a life change or better job opportunities, I highly recommend moving to Australia. With the recent update to the working holiday visa age 35, more people can now take advantage of this visa to work and travel here. To help you navigate the process, I’ve created this guide covering everything about the  working holiday visa 417.

The following article gives you a detailed explanation of Australian Working Holiday Visa applications along with proven methods to maximise its benefits. We will give you all the essential information about Australian adventure planning through the Working Holiday Visa, starting from basic requirements, up to studying and free international travel benefits. 

What is the Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)?

The Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) is a program designed for young adventurers seeking to explore the vast and fascinating country of Australia. This visa allows citizens of specific countries, such as Italy, France, Germany, among others, to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months (which you can extend up to 3 years!). The primary goal is to combine work experience with vacation enjoyment, enabling visa holders to finance their stay through temporary employment.

Subclass 417 is one of two visas that make up Australia’s Working Holiday program, the other being Subclass 462. Today we will focus in the 417 subclass:

Eligible Countries for Subclass 417 – Updated with New Age Limit (35 Years)

As you can see the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) allows young people from eligible countries to live, work, and travel in Australia for up to a year, with options to extend. Recent changes have increased the age limit to 35 for several countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, Italy, France, and Denmark, making it more accessible for those seeking new experiences and career opportunities. However, for many European and Asian countries, the age cap remains 30. If you’re considering a move to Australia, now is a great time to take advantage of this visa and explore the exciting opportunities it offers!

Requirements for the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

To obtain the Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417), you must meet several important requirements. Here are the details:

• Age: You must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application. However, for some countries, such as Italy and others, the age limit extends to 35 years.
• Nationality: The eligibility requirement for this subclass includes being a national of one of the approved countries.
• Health and Character: The Australian Immigration Department has health and character requirements for prospective immigrants. However, in most cases, they do not require medical exams. While health checks are mentioned as part of the process, they are only requested in specific situations. For the majority of applicants, this is not something to worry about.
• Financial Evidence: Your financial evidence must prove you have AUD 5,000 available to cover your first period of stay in Australia. With a screenshot of your bank account will be enough. 
• Health Insurance: It is mandatory to have valid health insurance for the entire duration of your stay in Australia. The cost is approximately $500 per year, and I recommend Allianz, as that’s the provider I used, and I had no issues!
• Application from Outside Australia: You must be outside Australia at the time of application and until the visa is granted.
• No Traveling with Children: You cannot travel with dependent children, as this visa is individual.
• No Previous Entry with Subclass 462 or 417: You cannot have previously entered Australia with a Subclass 462 visa or have had a previous Subclass 417 visa.

The official Australian Immigration Department website provides complete information about application requirements and procedures.

How to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

The application process for the Australian Working Holiday Visa is simple and entirely online. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Create an Account in the Australian Immigration System

The initial requirement involves users to establish an account through the Australian government’s ImmiAccount portal. You can start by accessing the official Australian Immigration website where you will find the account creation option. Creating an account on ImmiAccount requires you to enter your name, email address and phone number. Users should establish a username and password for their account while answering security questions for protection. Account verification by email is sent to users after their ImmiAccount is created.

2. Choose the Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa Option

After activating your account, login to access the “New Application” section. A list of available visas exists in that section. Use the “Working Holiday Maker” option followed by selecting “Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)” from the list. Follow the instructions by accepting the terms and conditions to continue with the application process.

3. Attach Necessary Documents and Pay the Visa Fee

The application platform demands both individual existing information together with information about your intended plans in Australia. The required documents for submission must be colour-scanned and should include your passport together with financial evidence showing you have AUD 5,000 and any necessary supporting documentation. The total visa cost amounts to AUD 650 and must be paid through credit card at conclusion of the application process.

4. Wait for Approval

After finishing your application and submission you must wait until the processing is done. The approval notification arrives through email and contains your electronic visa together with all needed information.

Total Costs:

When applying for the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417), it’s important to budget for the total costs involved. The visa application fee is AUD 650, and you are required to have health insurance, which costs approximately AUD 500 per year. Additionally, you need to show financial evidence of at least AUD 5,000 in your bank account to cover your initial stay, though this is not a direct expense. If you don’t already have a passport, you may also need to factor in the cost of obtaining one.

Overall, the minimum upfront costs for this visa amount to around AUD 1,150, excluding any additional expenses such as flights, accommodation, or other travel-related costs.

Benefits of the Working Holiday Visa

The following details explain each benefit of the Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417):

Legal Work

This visa enables you to perform authorised work in Australia in your travel period, thereby enabling budgetary freedom to explore the country. The temporary job market welcomes applicants to work in agricultural fields, hospitality services and construction industries, along with others. Working more than six months with the same employer is prohibited on this visa which forces you to seek new job experiences in various parts of Australia.

Studies

Working Holiday Visa holders can pursue academic studies for four months throughout their stay. This opportunity to study perfectly suits people who wish to develop their English skills, or discover courses about Australian culture. Working Holiday Visa holders can enrol in specialised educational programmes at institutions that will maximise their educational experience during their travel.

Multiple Entries and Exits

Another great benefit of this visa allows unlimited entry and exit from Australia while the visa remains valid. You can make brief visits to neighbouring nations (New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia etc) along with visits home while your visa is valid.

Cultural Experience and Travel

With the Working Holiday Visa you can experience Australian culture while enjoying study and work opportunities alongside unique natural exploration. The Great Barrier Reef and Uluru are among numerous iconic destinations Australia offers travellers during their stay.

Opportunity for Extension

The extension of your visa becomes possible if you work in agriculture or livestock fields for three months or longer. The extension allows you to maintain your stay in Australia while you discover more of the country.

Extension of the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

The Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) provides the chance to stay in Australia for up to three years if applicants fulfil their work obligations. To extend the visa for a second year, you must have completed at least 88 days of work in specific sectors, such as agriculture, livestock, fishing, mining, forestry, construction; and since February 2020, this also includes repair and reconstruction work in disaster-affected areas. These jobs must be performed in designated regional areas nominated by the Australian government.

For a third extension, the requirements are similar, but you must have completed a total of six months of work in the same sectors during your second extension. It is not necessary to demonstrate financial funds for extensions, as this was done when applying for the initial visa. The extension costs AUD 650, same as the cost of the original visa. 

It is important you meet all requirements and perform the main work in valid sectors for your application to be recognised for the extension.

Eligible Jobs for the Working Holiday Visa (Age 35) Extension

The following table lists the industries and types of work that qualify as specified work for the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) extension. Completing eligible work in these industries allows visa holders to apply for a second or third year, provided the work is performed in designated remote or very remote areas. This table provides an overview of the sectors where specified work can be undertaken, helping applicants plan their employment accordingly:

Industry	Work Type	Examples of Eligible Jobs
Tourism & Hospitality	Accommodation & Food Services	Chef, Tour Bus Driver, Guest Service Agent
Plant & Animal Cultivation	Farming & Agriculture	Fruit Picker, Dairy Processing, Horse Breeder
Fishing & Pearling	Fishing & Aquaculture	Fisherman, Pearl Diver
Tree Farming & Felling	Forestry & Logging	Tree Planter, Logger, Transporting Logs
Mining	Mining & Quarrying	Coal Miner, Quarry Worker, Mining Support Services
Construction	Building & Construction	Scaffolder, Painter, Fence Installer
Bushfire Recovery	Disaster Recovery & Wildlife Care	Wildlife Carer, Fence Rebuilder, Land Clearer
Natural Disaster Recovery	Disaster Recovery & Community Support	Flood Recovery Worker, Construction & Cleanup Crew, Admin Support for Disaster Relief

The jobs listed above qualify as specified work for extending your Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) to a second or third year, as long as they are performed in remote or very remote areas of Australia. To ensure your work meets the visa extension requirements, it must be undertaken in eligible postcodes. Below, we provide a table with all the qualifying remote and very remote postcodes where this work must be completed:

My Experience Finding Work and Extending My 417 Working Holiday Visa

Even though I now run one of the best removalist companies in Melbourne, my journey in Australia started like any other backpacker arriving on a 417 Working Holiday Visa—with no connections, no job, and a ticking clock to secure regional work to extend my stay. I had heard plenty of stories about people struggling to find farm jobs, so I knew I had to start my search early.

At first, I tried looking for jobs through Backpacker Job Board and Gumtree, thinking it would be easy to find something. I sent out messages, called employers, but either got no response or was told the positions were already filled. I then turned to Harvest Trail Jobs, hoping to secure seasonal farm work, but still had no luck landing a confirmed role.

Realizing I needed help, I contacted Work N Holiday, a recruitment agency that specialized in placing backpackers in rural jobs. They quickly found me a role picking strawberries at Costa Berry Farms, which met the visa extension requirements. The work was tough—early mornings, long hours, and unpredictable weather—but it allowed me to apply for my second-year visa.

Looking back, finding regional work wasn’t as easy as I expected, but using the right platforms and agencies made all the difference. If you’re planning to extend your 417 visa, I highly recommend starting early, using multiple job platforms, and networking. When I applied, the visa age limit was 30 and it stressed me a lot, but now it has been extended to 35, making this an incredible opportunity for more people. If you’ve ever thought about working and traveling in Australia, now is the perfect time!

Looking for Work? Join Our Team!

If you’re a working holiday visa (subclass 417) traveler looking for work in Australia, at North Removals we have job opportunities available. We are always looking for offside workers and even truck drivers, if you have an Australian driving license (or a legal driver license from your country) contact us today an join our team today!

Join the best removalist company in Melbourne, a business founded by someone who not too long ago, was also a 417 working holiday maker, starting out just like you. I better than anyone understand the challenges of finding work and building a future in Australia so my company is here to offer you a great opportunity. And also remember that in case you are traveling to Canberra we are also top rated Canberra removalists and we have positions available for you! 

And don’t forget, now you can apply for the 417 visa even if you are 35 years old. If you’ve ever thought about working and traveling in Australia, this is your chance!