How to apply for the Australian working holiday visa, step by step

The short version

You apply online through the Department of Home Affairs, using an ImmiAccount, from outside Australia. You pay the application charge, answer health and character questions, upload your documents and wait for a decision. Home Affairs says the average processing time is expected to be around three months.

Don’t book flights or make work or study commitments until your visa is granted. That is Home Affairs’ own advice.

Step 1: check you’re eligible

• You hold a passport from an eligible country. Your passport decides if you need the 417 or the 462.
• You’re within the age limit when you apply: usually 18 to 30, or up to 35 for some countries.
• You haven’t entered Australia on a 417 or 462 before (for a first visa).
• You have enough money, usually about AUD 5,000 plus your onward fare.
• You meet the health and character requirements and have no unpaid debts to the Australian Government.
• You’re not travelling with dependent children.

Step 2: 462 extras and ballots

If you’re applying for a 462, you also need to meet an education requirement and show functional English. Some countries need a letter of support from their government. The rules differ by country, so read the table for your passport.

China, India and Vietnam passport holders must first register in a ballot (AUD 25) and be randomly selected before they can apply for a first 462. If you’re selected you have 28 days to apply. Indonesia is due to move to a ballot too, with registrations expected to open later in 2026.

Step 3: gather your documents

You’ll need your passport details at the least. Depending on your country and situation you may also need police certificates, health checks, biometrics or, for the 462, education and English evidence. The step-by-step page on Home Affairs lists what applies to you.

Give accurate information. Mistakes or missing documents slow things down.

Step 4: apply and pay

Apply only through the official Home Affairs site. Be wary of anyone who offers to guarantee a visa or asks for payment to “fast-track” it. Home Affairs has a page on who can legally help with your application.

Check the current application charge on the Home Affairs site when you apply. The deadline for age is midnight AEST/AEDST the day before your 31st (or 36th) birthday, so avoid leaving it to the last minute.

Step 5: after the grant

• Save your grant email. Your visa is linked to your passport digitally, so there’s no label in it.
• You must enter Australia within 12 months of the grant. Your 12 months starts the day you arrive.
• If you have two passports, enter on the one linked to your visa.
• Don’t apply for another visa, such as an eVisitor, after your grant. It can end your working holiday visa.

Always check Home Affairs

Always check the Department of Home Affairs for the latest rules before you apply. Visa settings, fees and country lists change, and this guide is general information, not migration advice.