Working Holiday Visa Australia 2026: Complete Guide for Backpackers
G'Day Backpacker Jobs
Published 1 July 2026 · Updated 27 July 2026
Australia's Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is one of the most popular travel visas in the world — and for good reason. It lets you live, work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months, and if you put in the regional work, you can extend to a second or even third year. This guide covers everything: who can apply, how much it costs, what you can and can't do, and how to make the most of your time on the road.
What is a Working Holiday Visa?
A Working Holiday Visa is a temporary visa that allows young people from eligible countries to holiday in Australia while funding their trip through short-term work. There are two subtypes:
Subclass 417
For citizens of: UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Malta, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada and more.
Subclass 462
For citizens of: USA, China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Turkey, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Poland and others. Subject to annual quotas for some.
Both visas allow you to stay up to 12 months, work for any employer for up to 6 months, study for up to 4 months, and travel in and out of Australia multiple times.
Who is eligible?
To apply for the WHV subclass 417, you must:
- ✓Hold a passport from an eligible country
- ✓Be aged 18 to 30 at the time of application for most nationalities (18 to 35 for a smaller group of countries — see note below)
- ✓Have a genuine intention to holiday in Australia
- ✓Have sufficient funds to support yourself (generally AUD $5,000)
- ✓Meet health and character requirements
- ✓Not have previously held an Australian WHV
- ✓Not be accompanied by dependent children
Age limit note: For most partner countries the upper age limit is 30 (you must be 30 or younger on the day you apply). Citizens of Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, South Korea and the UK (including BNO passport holders) can apply up to age 35 — Cyprus, Finland, Germany and South Korea were only raised to 35 from 1 July 2026. Always check the Department of Home Affairs country list for your specific country, as limits can change.
How to apply — step by step
Check eligibility
Visit the Department of Home Affairs website and confirm your nationality and age qualify for either the 417 or 462 visa.
Create an ImmiAccount
All Australian visa applications are made online through ImmiAccount. Create your account at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Complete the online application
Fill in your personal details, travel history and answer the character and health questions. Have your passport details ready.
Pay the visa application charge
The application charge is AUD $840 for a first Working Holiday/Work and Holiday visa (from 1 July 2026), rising to AUD $1,000 for a second or third visa. Fees are indexed and change — check the official Visa Pricing Estimator before you pay. Payment is by credit or debit card.
Upload supporting documents
Usually just your passport bio page. Some nationalities may need to provide a police check, health insurance or proof of funds.
Wait for the grant
Processing typically takes a few days to a few weeks. You'll receive a visa grant notice by email. You can travel to Australia once your visa is granted.
How much does a WHV cost?
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee (first visa, from 1 July 2026) | ~$840 |
| Visa application fee (second or third visa) | ~$1,000 |
| Health insurance (recommended, per month) | ~$50–90 |
| Flights to Australia (varies by origin) | ~$800–2,500 |
| Recommended funds on arrival | ~$5,000 |
Visa fees change periodically. Always confirm the current fee on the Department of Home Affairs website before applying.
What work can you do on a WHV?
On a Working Holiday Visa you can legally work for almost any employer in Australia — casual, part-time or full-time — as long as you don't stay with the same employer for more than 6 months. Popular work types include:
Farm & harvest work
Fruit picking, vegetables, pruning
Hospitality
Bars, restaurants, cafes, hotels
Hostel work
Reception, cleaning, kitchen
Construction & trades
Labouring, scaffolding
Agriculture
Livestock, dairy, wool shearing
Cleaning & housekeeping
Resorts, hotels, offices
Tourism & adventure
Tours, diving, ski resorts
Warehouse & logistics
Picking, packing, delivery
The minimum wage in Australia is among the highest in the world. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is AUD $26.44 per hour (indexed annually). Farm work is often paid piece-rate (per kilogram or bin), which can be higher or lower than the hourly rate depending on the crop and your speed. Check advertised rates with the backpacker Pay Checker.
How to get a second (and third) year
The most common question from WHV holders is: how do I stay longer? The answer is regional work.
Second-year WHV
Complete 88 days (3 months) of specified regional work during your first year visa. Eligible work includes fruit and vegetable picking, farm work, fishing, construction and more — but only in approved postcode regions. Once complete, apply for the second-year visa online.
Third-year WHV
Complete 6 months (double the second-year requirement) of specified regional work while holding your second visa — not another 88 days. UK passport holders applying with a UK passport from 1 July 2024 do not need to meet any specified work requirement for a second or third visa. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for your specific country.
Announced but not yet in force: on 17 September 2026 the Government announced a plan to move second (45,000 places) and third (5,000 places) year visas to a capped ballot instead of an automatic grant. This has no confirmed start date and was not active as of late September 2026 — the 88-day / 6-month rules above still apply. Check the official WHM program news page for updates.