Not all working holiday visas are created equal. Depending on which passport you hold, you could get five extra years of eligibility, skip farm work entirely, or face a competitive ballot with only 1,000 places. Australia runs two separate working holiday programmes - Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 - and the terms vary dramatically by nationality.
This guide breaks down the key differences country by country, so you can see exactly what your passport entitles you to - and where someone else's might have the edge.
417 vs 462: What's the Difference?
Before diving into country-specific terms, here's the fundamental split:
| Feature | Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) | Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | 19 countries (mostly European + East Asian) | 30+ countries (broader mix) |
| Application fee | $640 AUD | $670 AUD |
| Age limit | 18-30 (or 18-35 for select countries) | 18-30 |
| Government support letter | ❌ Not required | ✅ Required (some countries) |
| Annual cap | No cap (most countries) | Capped (varies by country) |
| Ballot | ❌ No ballot | ✅ Ballot for China, India, Vietnam |
| 2nd/3rd visa | Available with specified work (88/176 days) | Available with specified work |
Both visas let you stay for 12 months per grant, work for any single employer for up to 6 months, and study for up to 4 months. The differences are in who can apply, how, and the hoops you jump through to extend.
Subclass 417 Countries: The Full List
The 417 Working Holiday visa is available to passport holders from 19 countries. Six of these countries enjoy an extended age limit of 35 (marked ★ below):
| Country | Age Limit | 2nd/3rd Visa | Specified Work Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom ★ | 18-35 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (from 1 Jul 2024) | Best deal - see below |
| 🇨🇦 Canada ★ | 18-35 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland ★ | 18-35 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇫🇷 France ★ | 18-35 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇮🇹 Italy ★ | 18-35 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark ★ | 18-35 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | Includes BN(O) holders |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 18-30 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (88/176 days) | Not official/diplomatic passport |
🇬🇧 The UK Deal: Best in Class
Thanks to the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA), UK passport holders now enjoy the most generous working holiday terms of any nationality:
- Age 18-35 (effective 1 July 2023)
- No specified work required for 2nd or 3rd visa (effective 1 July 2024)
- Up to 3 years in Australia without ever picking fruit or working on a farm
- No annual cap on visa grants
For more on the specified work rules that apply to other nationalities, see our detailed guide on Second & Third Year WHV: 88 Days Specified Work.
This is a significant advantage. A 34-year-old from the UK can apply for three consecutive working holiday visas and spend up to three years in Australia doing any work they choose. A 31-year-old German passport holder, by contrast, is already ineligible.
Subclass 462 Countries: Caps, Ballots, and Extra Requirements
The 462 Work and Holiday visa covers a broader range of countries (30+), but comes with more restrictions. Most 462 countries have annual caps on places, and some face an additional government support letter requirement or mandatory ballot system.
| Country | Age Limit | Annual Cap | Ballot? | Extra Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 18-30 | Uncapped | ❌ | - |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇨🇳 China | 18-30 | 5,000 | ✅ Yes | Gov. support letter + ballot ($25 fee) |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇮🇳 India | 18-30 | 1,000 | ✅ Yes | Gov. support letter + ballot ($25 fee) |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | Gov. support letter |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇸🇲 San Marino | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 18-30 | Capped | ❌ | - |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 18-30 | 1,500 | ✅ Yes | Gov. support letter + ballot ($25 fee) |
China, India, and Vietnam applicants must enter a mandatory pre-application ballot before they can even apply. For the 2025-26 program year, registrations opened in June 2025 and random selections run through April 2026. Being selected does not guarantee a visa - you must still meet all criteria and lodge a full application.
Who Gets the Best (and Worst) Deal?
Here's how different passports stack up, ranked by overall advantage:
🏆 Tier 1: Premium Access
| Passport | Why It's Advantaged |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | Age 35, no farm work ever, no cap, 3 years hassle-free |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Age 35, no cap, but still needs specified work for 2nd/3rd |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Age 35, no cap |
| 🇫🇷 France | Age 35, no cap |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Age 35, no cap |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Age 35, no cap |
🥈 Tier 2: Standard 417 Access
| Passport | Why It's Solid |
|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, etc. | Age 30, no cap, no ballot - just apply and go |
🥉 Tier 3: Restricted 462 Access
| Passport | Why It's Harder |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇪🇸 Spain, etc. | Age 30, capped places, higher fee ($670 vs $640), some need gov. support letter |
❌ Tier 4: Most Restricted
| Passport | Why It's Hardest |
|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | Age 30, 5,000 cap, mandatory ballot, gov. support letter, English requirement |
| 🇮🇳 India | Age 30, 1,000 cap, mandatory ballot, gov. support letter |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Age 30, 1,500 cap, mandatory ballot, gov. support letter |
Taiwan vs China: A Side-by-Side Comparison
This comparison is particularly relevant for our Taiwanese and Chinese readers:
| Feature | 🇹🇼 Taiwan (417) | 🇨🇳 China (462) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa subclass | 417 Working Holiday | 462 Work and Holiday |
| Age limit | 18-30 | 18-30 |
| Application fee | $640 AUD | $670 AUD |
| Annual cap | ❌ No cap | 5,000 places |
| Ballot required? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes ($25 registration fee) |
| Gov. support letter | ❌ Not required | ✅ Required |
| English requirement | ❌ Not required | ✅ Functional English |
| 2nd & 3rd visa | ✅ Available (88/176 days specified work) | ✅ Available (specified work) |
| Processing | Apply directly anytime | Must win ballot first |
Taiwanese passport holders can apply for their 417 visa at any time with no cap and no ballot - making the process significantly simpler. If you're planning a working holiday, you can look up visa conditions like Condition 8547 (the 6-month work limit) using our free tool.
What About Countries Not on Either List?
If your nationality isn't listed above - for example, if you hold a passport from the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or many African nations - you are not eligible for either working holiday programme. Australia only offers these visas to countries with a bilateral agreement in place.
Alternative options to work in Australia include:
- Student Visa (Subclass 500) with work rights
- Employer Sponsored Visa if you have a job offer
- Skilled Migration (189/190/491) if your occupation is on the skills list
Already in Australia on a WHV and thinking about staying long-term? Read our complete roadmap from 417 backpacker to permanent residency for a step-by-step plan. You can also explore our full suite of free migration tools to help plan your next move.
What You Should Do Now
- Check your eligibility: Confirm your country is on the 417 or 462 list, and whether you meet the age limit
- Understand your conditions: Use our Visa Condition Lookup to understand restrictions like the 6-month employer rule
- Plan for extensions: If you want to stay 2-3 years, research what specified work (if any) your nationality requires
- Budget accordingly: The 417 costs $640 AUD, the 462 costs $670 AUD - plus health insurance, flights, and proof of funds (approximately $5,000 AUD)
- Get professional advice: If your situation is complex - especially if you're a 462 applicant facing a ballot - talk to a registered migration agent
Application fees are current as of March 2026. Fees typically change on 1 July each year. The next fee adjustment is expected on 1 July 2026.
How First Migration Can Help
Whether you're a UK passport holder weighing up three years in Australia, a Taiwanese applicant planning your 417, or an Indian national trying to navigate the 462 ballot - we've helped hundreds of working holiday makers understand their options and plan ahead.
Our team of registered migration agents can advise on eligibility, help you understand specified work obligations, and guide you through extensions or transitions to longer-term visas like employer sponsorship or skilled migration.
Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice.
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