What are the requirements for a Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa to Australia?
This post is about the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa only. For information regarding the Working Holiday (Subclass 417) visa, visit here.
Both the Working Holiday (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visas allow young people to work and holiday in Australia for up to 12 months. However, the two main differences are mainly in the qualifying criteria and the intake levels.
The eligibility criteria for the first Subclass 462 visa would typically be:
The applicant must be from an eligible country*
They must be between 18 - 30 years old at the time of lodgement of the visa application
They can show that they have sufficient funds to cover at least 3 month's stay, generally set at AUD$5,000
They can demonstrate a certain level of education
They meet the Functional English language requirement
They can provide a letter of support from their government (for applicants from certain countries)
Complete the health examination (for applicants from certain countries)
Subclass 417 visa applicants generally only need to meet the first three requirements, whereas Subclass 462 visa applicants need to meet all 7 requirements.
In addition to the differences in qualifying requirements, there is no cap on the Subclass 417 visa whereas the Subclass 462 visa is subject to one. This means that there is no limit on the number of Subclass 417 visa applications the Department will grant in any one year. So if you are from one of the Subclass 417 visa eligible countries, you are more than likely to be granted a visa around the time you apply.
On the other hand, the Subclass 462 visa is subject to an annual visa limit (except for applicants from the United States) and once this cap is reached, the Department will not grant any more visas until the new program year starts on 1 July. For example, between 2021 - 22, the Department issued 70,790 Subclass 417 visas to first time applicants, compared to 11,598 Subclass 462 visas**.
The number of places available also differs from one country to another, so depending on where you are from, the cap for your country may be reached much earlier than your peers from another country. For example, the annual cap for the current program year for Vietnam is 1,950 and at the time of writing, the Department is not taking any more applications due to a high volume of demand, whereas the cap for Indonesia is 5,766 and applications are still open, if you can get the Letter of Support, that is.
Needless to say, the Subclass 462 visa application process can appear to be more complex and time-consuming for some. Applicants have to meet additional qualifying requirements and deal with more bureaucracy as each government sets its own requirements on how to get a Letter of Support. In addition, the annual cap limit means applicants are competing with peers in their country for a limited number of places.
A migration agent can help ensure that the application is completed correctly the first time by taking care of the application process for the clients or guiding them through the complex process. This can be particularly beneficial for applicants who are busy with work or other commitments. If you think you need a bit of guidance on your Subclass 462 visa or are unsure about any of the requirements, feel free to contact us and see if we can help. We can review your visa application from just £75.
*Eligible countries include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, United States of America and Vietnam** Source: BR0110 Working Holiday Maker Visa Programme Report 30 June 2022Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is intended to serve as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as legal or professional advice. It is advisable to seek the guidance of a registered migration agent for tailored advice that is specific to your individual circumstances. We do not accept any liability for any reliance on the information contained on this website.