Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) · Visitor visas · Stream of Work and Holiday
Third Work and Holiday visa
For eligible passport holders aged 18 to 30 who want to combine travel and work in Australia. Vietnamese applicants should check the pre-application ballot, registration dates and current education, English and financial requirements before applying.
This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) who currently hold, or who have held, a second Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa, have a third working holiday in Australia.
- Stay
12 months
- Government charge
AUD1,000.00
- Visa type
Temporary
Notice from the Department
We are prioritising onshore Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa applications. Therefore, offshore applications may take several months. Do not book flights or make travel commitments until your visa has been granted.
Official information from the Department of Home Affairs
The material below reproduces English-language information from the Department of Home Affairs about this visa. Requirements may have changed since it was added to this website. Use the source link to check the latest information; I can explain relevant provisions in Vietnamese or English during a consultation.
Overview
Stay
12 months
Government charge
AUD1,000.00
Cost concession
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Papua New Guinea passport holders who lodge a valid third Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa application. See About this visa.
To work out what your visa will cost, use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the other costs.
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
We are prioritising onshore Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa applications. As a result, we may take several months to decide some offshore WHM visa applications. Do not book flights or make travel, work or study commitments until we grant your visa.
With this visa you can
- do short- term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday
- study for up to 4 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
You must
- have previously held 2 subclass 462 visas in Australia. If you haven’t, see the first Work and Holiday visa or second Work and Holiday visa
- if in Australia, hold a substantive visa or your last substantive visa expired less than 28 days ago
- have a passport from an eligible country
- be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive)
- have undertaken 6 months of specified subclass 462 work
- not be accompanied by dependent children
- apply on your own. You can’t include family members in your application.
Help with your visa
If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.
About this visa
With this visa, you can
- do short- term work in Australia to help pay for your holiday
- study for up to 4 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
Work
You can do any kind of work on this visa.
Usually, you can only work for the same employer for 6 months.
If the main purpose of your stay is to work, consider a work visa.
Study
You can study for up to 4 months (17 weeks).
If the main purpose of your stay is to study, consider a Student visa.
How long you can stay
This depends on your circumstances when we grant the Work and Holiday visa. Your grant notification will tell you how long you can stay in Australia. You can check your visa details and conditions using VEVO.
You are in Australia on your second Work and Holiday visa or a bridging visa
The bridging visa must be the one you were granted after your second Work and Holiday visa expired.
You can stay in Australia for up to 12 months from the date your second Work and Holiday visa expired or would have expired.
You are in Australia on a different visa
You can stay in Australia for 12 months from the date we grant the Work and Holiday visa.
If you are in Australia on an Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) subclass 408 visa, you can stay on your third Work and Holiday visa for up to 12 months from when your Pandemic Event visa expired or would have expired.
Time spent outside Australia after your third Work and Holiday visa starts does not extend the visa period of stay in Australia.
You are outside Australia
You can stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you enter Australia.
You must enter Australia within 12 months of the date we grant the visa. We cannot extend or defer this timeframe.
If you have dual citizenship and hold more than one passport, you must enter Australia on the passport linked to your Work and Holiday visa grant.
You must only apply for a Work and Holiday visa once you are ready to enter Australia on that visa.
Once we grant your Work and Holiday visa and you travel to Australia and are immigration cleared at the border, the 12-month visa period of stay will automatically start upon entry, regardless of the purpose of your visit.
Stay longer
You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. If you want to stay in Australia longer, apply for another visa.
You cannot get a fourth Work and Holiday visa if you have already held three Work and Holiday visas in Australia
To stay longer in Australia, explore your visa options.
Stay longer on a visitor visa
Generally, we don't grant a Visitor visa after you have been in Australia on a Work and Holiday visa.
If you want to apply for a Visitor visa to stay longer in Australia and the Visitor visa would result in you staying longer than 12 consecutive months in Australia, you must show there are exceptional circumstances.
For this visa, exceptional circumstances might be that a close family member in Australia has died or is seriously ill, and you are required to stay in Australia to provide assistance or support.
Include family
You cannot include family members in your application.
You cannot be accompanied by dependent children while you are in Australia on this visa.
Cost
AUD1,000.00 (concessions apply in limited circumstances)
Cost for eligible Work and Holiday Maker Visa applicants from Papua New Guinea
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Papua New Guinea passport holders who lodge a valid third Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa application.
We will charge eligible applicants the lower visa application cost during the application process in ImmiAccount. We will recognise eligible applicants by the valid passport from the specified countries used in the application when they apply.
You might also have to pay for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
Apply from
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa. You must select your current location at the time you apply.
If you apply when you are in Australia, you must be in Australia when we grant your visa.
If you apply when you are outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when we grant your visa.
If you change location after you apply
You must declare your current location correctly on your Work and Holiday visa application form.
We can only grant you an associated bridging visa if you were in Australia when you applied for your Work and Holiday visa.
We cannot grant you a bridging visa associated to your Work and Holiday visa application if you apply outside Australia then enter Australia on another visa before we decide your application.
If you select the wrong location you will need to amend the information on your application. This may delay processing of your application.
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
Your application might take longer to process if:
- you do not fill it in correctly
- you do not include all the documents we need, or we need more information from you
- it takes us time to verify your information
Your obligations
You must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
See the conditions for this visa.
Tax
When you work in Australia on this visa you must pay taxes.
Superannuation
Australia has compulsory superannuation - a retirement savings scheme. Your employer must pay superannuation into your superannuation fund if you earn over a certain amount.
When you leave Australia, you can access your superannuation.
Learn more about compulsory superannuation.
Health insurance
We strongly recommend you take out health insurance to cover any unforeseen medical treatment you might need in Australia. You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Insurance can help limit your financial liability.
See what we consider adequate health insurance.
Learn more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Travel
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is in effect.
The time you spend outside Australia after your visa commences does not extend the visa period of stay in Australia.
Visa record
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Eligibility
You must meet all eligibility criteria.
Have this passport
You must be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Brazil
- Chile
- China, People's Republic of
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland (from 1 Jan 2022)
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- Uruguay
- USA
- Vietnam
Current or previous visa
You must:
- hold or have previously held a second Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) in Australia or a bridging visa that came into effect when your second Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa expired
- if in Australia, hold a substantive visa or your last substantive visa expired less than 28 days ago
- have complied with all the conditions on your previous Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas
Have enough money
You must have enough money to:
- support yourself while you are in Australia
- leave Australia at the end of your stay
This is usually about AUD5,000 for your initial stay, plus the fare to where you are going after leaving Australia.
If you are applying in Australia, you don’t need to provide evidence. If you are applying outside Australia and don’t attach evidence to your application, processing may be delayed if we need to contact you to request further information.
Specified subclass 462 work
You must have completed 6 months of specified subclass 462 work.
Be this age
You must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) when you apply.
** You must apply for your visa before you turn 31 years old in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)/Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (AEDST). The deadline to lodge an application is midnight AEST/AEDST the day before your 31st birthday. This time applies even if you are applying from outside Australia.
Note that AEST/AEDST will be different to when your birthday ends in your country due to time differences between countries.
*** Avoid submitting your application on your birthday, if possible.
We can still grant you the visa if you apply for it at 30 but turn 31 years old before we make a decision. You must still meet all other requirements.
Meet the health requirement
You must meet our health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
You must meet our character requirement.
Pay your debts to the Australian Government
If you or any family members (including those who don't apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused
We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.
In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia.
If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.
If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.
Step by step
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for this visa.
1Before you apply
Organise health exams
You might need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait and have them if we tell you to.
Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them if you want to have them before you apply.
Get help with your application
Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:
You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.
2Gather your documents
Identity documents
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.
Also provide a copy of your birth certificate showing both your parents’ names. If you don’t have a birth certificate and you can’t get one, provide a copy of the identification pages of one of these:
- a family book showing both your parents’ names
- government-issued identification
- a court-issued document that verifies your identity
If you have changed your name, provide proof such as:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by
Enough money for your stay and to leave
Provide evidence you have enough money for your stay in Australia. This is usually AUD5,000.
You must also show us you have enough money to buy a ticket to leave Australia at the end of your stay, or that you already have the ticket.
If you are applying in Australia, you don’t need to provide evidence. If you are applying outside Australia and don’t attach evidence to your application, processing may be delayed if we need to contact you to request further information.
Proof of specified subclass 462 work
Provide proof that you have completed 6 months of specified subclass 462 work on your previous WHM visa (or in other eligible circumstances). The proof must cover all periods you worked.
You can include any of the following:
- pay slips or other evidence of payment such as Australian bank statements
- piece rate agreement with your employer, if you were paid piece rates. The agreement must show the pay rate per piece and how it is measured
- group certificates
- payment summaries
- tax returns
- employer references
- a written and signed agreement setting out any lawful deductions in pay
We might contact your employer(s) to check your work claims.
If you have completed volunteer bushfire or flood recovery work, provide:
- a signed letter from your volunteer coordinator or host including:
- your personal details including passport number
- description of volunteer duties undertaken
- location of volunteer work including postcode(s)
- number of days you provided volunteer assistance
Character documents
We might ask you to provide:
- an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16. We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police. We do notaccept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police
- an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16
- military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country
We will let you know if you need to give us these documents.
Tell us you are getting help
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount if you applied online, or send with your paper application.
Prepare your documents
Translate
Have all non-English documents translated into English.
Provide original and translated documents in your application.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating
These details must be in English.
Note: You do not need to have any documents certified.
Scan or photograph
Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.
The scans and photos must be clear.
If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.
Attach
Attach a document only once, even if you are using it to show more than one thing.
Learn more about attaching documents.
3Apply for the visa
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.
Apply online
- Log in or create an ImmiAccount.
- Attach documents.
- Pay the application fee. We will not process your application until you pay the fee.
- Note the transaction reference number.
Applicants with dependent children
You can’t apply online if you are the parent of a child under the age of 18.
Work and Holiday visa holders cannot be accompanied by dependent children at any time during their stay in Australia. While it is possible to obtain a Work and Holiday visa if you have a child, your child cannot join you in Australia at any time while you are on your Work and Holiday visa – not even for one day.
4After you apply
See what you can and must do after you apply.
We will let you know when we have received your application.
Travel
You applied in Australia
Tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. We need to know because you must be in Australia when we decide your visa.
If you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid. Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.
You applied outside Australia
Do not arrange to travel to Australia until we let you know, in writing, that we have granted you the visa.
Biometrics
We might ask for biometrics. We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Health exams
If you didn't have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them.
Attach more information
If you didn't attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as you can in ImmiAccount .
We might also ask you to provide more information.
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.
Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers and attach it in ImmiAccount.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount if you applied online, or send to the office where you submitted your application.
For more information, see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Tell us if things change after you submit your application but before we decide your visa.
Things you need to let us know about include:
- you want to withdraw your application
- changes to your passport
- changes to your relationship status
- the birth of a child
5Visa outcome
We will let you know our decision in writing.
If we grant your visa, we will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions
Keep a copy of the decision notification with you when in Australia.
If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:
- why we refused the visa
- if you have a right to a review of the decision
When you have this visa
Outside Australia
Before you travel
You must only apply for a third Work and Holiday visa once you are ready to enter Australia on that visa. Once we grant your Work and Holiday visa, you can use the visa to enter Australia.
After we grant your third Work and Holiday visa you do not need to apply for another visa, such as an eVisitor (subclass 651), a Transit (subclass 771), or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) visa to enter Australia.
If we grant you an eVisitor or Transit visa after your Work and Holiday visa
If we grant you another visa (such as an eVisitor or Transit visa) after the grant of your third Work and Holiday visa, your Work and Holiday visa (and related work rights) will cease as soon as we grant that other visa.
If your third Work and Holiday visa ceased due to the grant of another visa, such as an eVisitor or Transit visa, and you entered Australia on that other visa, you may be able to apply for another third Work and Holiday visa while you are in Australia. You will need to pay the Visa Application Charge (VAC) if you apply again.
If we grant you an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) visa
If you enter Australia after the grant of your Work and Holiday visa, the 12-month period of stay on your visa will automatically start on that day.
The Work and Holiday visa period will start regardless of the purpose of your visit, even if:
- you just want to transit through Australia on your way to another country
or
- we have granted you an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601) visa.
An ETA grant will not cease your Work and Holiday visa
An ETA cannot be in effect at the same time as your Work and Holiday visa. When you enter Australia your Work and Holiday visa will commence. Your ETA will come into effect after the Work and Holiday visa ceases.
Check your travel documents are up to date
Your Work and Holiday visa will be linked to the passport you declared on your application. If you obtain a new passport after your visa is granted, you must tell us your new passport details. See how to tell us if your situation changes.
If you do not update your passport details, you will face delays at your overseas departure point and may not be permitted to board your flight.
You must:
- have a Work and Holiday visa that is in effect to enter Australia. You do not need a separate visa to enter Australia. We recommend that you keep a copy of your grant letter (electronic or paper) while travelling
- hold a valid passport issued by a Work and Holiday participant country
- enter Australia using the passport linked to your WHM visa grant. This applies even if you have dual citizenship and hold more than one valid passport.
At the border
Completing an Incoming Passenger Card
All people arriving in Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will be given this card on board.
Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport, if you have one. You may be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
In Australia
With this visa you can:
- have a holiday
- do any kind of work
- study for up to 4 months
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
Work
Usually, you can only work for the same employer for 6 months.
You can work another 6 months with an employer you worked for on your first and/or second visa.
To see your conditions for work, use VEVO.
You must pay taxes when you work.
You are protected by Australian workplace law. See information for migrant workers and your workplace rights and entitlements.
Superannuation
If you earn over a certain amount, your employer must pay superannuation into your superannuation fund. Australia has compulsory superannuation- a retirement savings scheme.
When you leave Australia, you can access your superannuation.
Study
You can study for up to 4 months (17 weeks).
To see your study entitlements use VEVO.
Travel
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is in effect.
Time spent outside Australia after your visa commences does not extend the visa period of stay in Australia.
How long you can stay
This depends on your circumstances when you applied and when we grant the visa. Your grant notification will tell you how long you can stay in Australia and you can also use VEVO to check your visa details and conditions.
You were in Australia on your second subclass 462 visa or a bridging visa
The bridging visa must be the one you were granted after your second Work and Holiday visa expired.
You can stay in Australia for up to 12 months from the date your second Work and Holiday visa expired or would have expired.
You were in Australia on a different visa
You can stay for 12 months from the date we grant the visa.
If you were in Australia on an Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) subclass 408 visa, you can stay on your third Work and Holiday visa for up to 12 months from when your Pandemic Event visa expired or would have expired.
You were outside Australia
You can stay for 12 months from the date you enter Australia on the visa.
You must enter Australia within 12 months of the date we grant the visa. We cannot extend or defer this timeframe.
To see when you must leave, use VEVO.
Time spent outside Australia after the visa starts does not extend the visa.
Stay longer
You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You cannot get a fourth Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa if you have held three Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas in Australia.
You must apply for a different visa if you want to stay longer.
See your visa options.
What you must do on this visa
You must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
See your conditions in your visa grant letter or VEVO.
Proving you have a visa
To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about include:
- changes to your passport
- changes to your relationship status
- the birth of a child
Leaving Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents.
You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.
At the border
Departures SmartGate
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You may be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
After you leave
Getting your superannuation
You are likely to have some money in a superannuation fund if you worked in Australia and you are:
- aged 18 years or older
- paid $450 or more before tax in a month
See how to access your super.
Proving you have been to Australia
Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.
All streams of the Work and Holiday
Official source: Department of Home Affairs, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Refer to the source website for its copyright and conditions of use.
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Next step
Have a visa question or need help getting started?
A 30-minute consultation gives us time to discuss your circumstances, consider initial options and identify the documents that need checking. Some matters require a further review of the records before I can give a complete assessment.