Australian Working Holiday Visa 417

Travel Resources

Working Holiday Visa 417 Australia, Simplified. Updated 2019

January 2019

by Shaded Road

What Is A Working Holiday Visa

The Australian Working Holiday Visa 417 is a temporary visa that allows young people, usually between the age of 18-30 to work and holiday in a Australia. There are many different types of visas offered for Australia but this guide specifically concerns the 417 visa. The U.K has a reciprocal partnership with a few other countries; Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the EU (but this may change soon due to Brexit) where eligible citizens can apply for the scheme. EVERYBODY and I mean EVERYBODY should take part in this scheme. Not only does it allow you to work and earn money, but gives you the opportunity to explore and understand a people and their culture better. This is a quick guide to the Australia Working Holiday Visa process (more about my time in Australia coming soon).
Updated Nov 2018: Canadian and Irish applicants the age eligibility has changed to (18-35) inclusive.

Why Apply For A Working Holiday Visa

I did a Working Holiday Visa in Australia 2015 and lived and worked in in Sydney for one year. The visa is also offered as a two year stay, but then one must complete three months of agricultural work (fruit picking, working on a farm etc) to qualify. I wasn’t about that life, but throughout my time I had five jobs, did a few mini trips, and saved enough to travel South east Asia for a year.

Applying For A Working Holiday Visa 417

To apply for this visa, you must hold a valid passport from the country participating in the Working Holiday Program with Australia. Eligible countries are:

Belgium
Canada
Republic of Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
Republic of Ireland
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Taiwan
United Kingdom.

Australia Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) for UK citizens

Requirements:

Valid eligible passport
Need to be between the age of 18-30
No dependent children accompanying during your stay in Australia
Need $5,000 AUD (£2,500) in your bank account (to prove that you can support yourself)
Certain documents;
When applying for your first-year Visa you NEED TO BE OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA also while the visa is being processed (preferably in home country - as easy to collate personal papers)
When applying for the Second-Year visa, if applied while still in Australia need to be IN Australia when visa is granted. If applied while outside Australia, need to be OUTSIDE of Australia when it’s granted.
If you have served in the military – need to provide certified copies of discharge.
Check your individual country requirements as they may differ. I had a Spanish friend who’s visa only allowed her a one year stay.

Documents needed to be certified by a solicitor; 1) copy of biographical pages of passport – the pages with the photograph and personal information. 2) copy of birth certificate with both parent’s name on. Don’t worry too much if your birth certificate has only one parents name on it. If unable to provide a birth certificate you will need to provide certified copies of either a family book showing both parents name or identified document issued by the government or court-issued document verifying your identity

If your name has changed – certified evidence of name change.
Two recent passport size photos – with your name printed on the back.
Bank statement showing you have access to funds of $5,000 AUD (£2,500)
Currently the visa costs AUD $450 (£275) but this is a small price to pay for one of the best experiences you will have.

NOTE: The Government is considering options for expanding the upper age of eligibility from 30 to 35 years, including time frames, legislative requirements and engagement with partner countries. Reciprocity of arrangements for Australian citizens remains a key feature of the programme. The current age of eligibility (18 to 30) will remain in place for the time being. Updated Nov 2018: Canadian and Irish applicants the age eligibility has changed to (18-35) inclusive.

On Line Visa Application

Once you have procured all these documents you are good to go with your online application. It takes around forty minutes to complete, but you’re able to save and go back into your application at your convenience. My visa confirmation via email arrived within one hour of my application being sent. When I arrived at Sydney Airport I was expecting my documents to be purved over with a fine-tooth comb, but this wasn’t the case at all. I was left to my own devices to merrily skip through immigration – well kind of (more of this to come).

When To Move To Australia

I would recommend arriving in Australia at the beginning of their summer season – which starts from November. I say this because as it’s the start of summer plenty of jobs are available and it is also the start of the harvest trail – if looking to do farming work for fun, or to get the three months requirement out of the way if you already know you want to stay out there for two years.

More information can be found on the Australian Government website: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/417-

Look out for my survival guide to Australia for new arrivals part I coming soon.