417 vs 462: which working holiday visa is yours?
Same age, same 88-day path, different country lists. Find out which subclass applies to your passport.
Which working holiday visa applies to you?
Pick your passport to highlight the applicable subclass, or scroll straight to the side-by-side comparison.
| Attribute | 417 Working Holiday | 462 Work and Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Initial visa duration | 12 months | 12 months |
| Age range | 18–30 (up to 35 for select countries) | 18–30 |
| Application cost (AUD) | ~$650 | ~$650 |
| Second-year visa | 88 days of specified work | 88 days of specified work |
| Third-year visa | 6 months of specified work during year 2 | 6 months of specified work during year 2 |
| Same-employer cap | 6 months (extendable with approval) | 6 months (extendable with approval) |
| Study cap | 4 months | 4 months |
| English language test | Not required | Required for select countries |
| Tertiary education (2+ years) | Not required | Required for select countries |
| Letter of government support | Not required | Required for select countries |
| Annual cap per country | None | Yes (varies by country) |
| Eligible postcodes for specified work | 417 list | 462 list (different) |
- 417
- 12 months
- 462
- 12 months
- 417
- 18–30 (up to 35 for select countries)
- 462
- 18–30
- 417
- ~$650
- 462
- ~$650
- 417
- 88 days of specified work
- 462
- 88 days of specified work
- 417
- 6 months of specified work during year 2
- 462
- 6 months of specified work during year 2
- 417
- 6 months (extendable with approval)
- 462
- 6 months (extendable with approval)
- 417
- 4 months
- 462
- 4 months
- 417
- Not required
- 462
- Required for select countries
- 417
- Not required
- 462
- Required for select countries
- 417
- Not required
- 462
- Required for select countries
- 417
- None
- 462
- Yes (varies by country)
- 417
- 417 list
- 462
- 462 list (different)
417 — 19 countries
- Belgium
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
462 — 31 countries
- Argentina
- Austria
- Brazil
- Chile
- China
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vietnam
Australia’s working holiday programme runs on two visa subclasses: the 417 Working Holiday visa and the 462 Work and Holiday visa. They look interchangeable at first — same 12-month duration, same 88-day path to a second year. But they apply to different countries, with different additional requirements, and use different lists of eligible postcodes for that second-year specified work.
The single most common confusion: assuming the 417 rules apply to a 462 passport, or vice versa. Picking your passport above tells you which subclass you can apply for and surfaces the country-specific extras (an English test, a tertiary education requirement, a letter of government support, an annual cap).
For the broader path from arrival to second year, the second year visa pillar covers the full application process. The 88 days guide unpacks what qualifies as specified work, and the eligible postcodes lookup tells you whether a specific postcode counts.
Once you know your subclass, two things to lock in before you land: get a Tax File Number on day one so the ATO withholds 15% instead of 47%, and check the eligible postcodes list that applies to your visa before you accept your first farm contract.
If you’re on the 462 with a country-specific requirement (English test, tertiary education, letter of support), allow at least four to six weeks for the paperwork. Each of those is its own process and they don’t parallelise well.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch between the 417 and 462 visa?
No. Your passport determines which subclass you can apply for; the two lists don't overlap. If your passport is on the 417 list, the 462 rules don't apply to you, and the 462 country-specific extras (English test, tertiary education, letter of support) aren't relevant to your application.
My country isn't on either list. Can I still come work?
Not under WHV. The 417 and 462 lists are exhaustive — if your passport isn't on either, you'll need a different visa pathway. Common alternatives are the Student visa (with limited work rights), Temporary Skill Shortage visas if you have a sponsor, or the Working Holiday Maker Scheme reciprocal countries list (which is the same as 417/462).
Why does 462 have more requirements than 417?
462 is the more recent programme and was negotiated bilaterally with each partner country. Australia agreed to country-specific extras during those negotiations: an English language test, two years of tertiary study, a letter of government support, and annual caps. The 417 list grew historically from older mobility agreements (Commonwealth countries, key European partners) and never picked up those extras.
Do 417 and 462 use the same eligible-postcode list?
No, and this is the most expensive surprise in the WHV programme. The DHA publishes two separate postcode lists for second-year specified work — one for 417 holders, one for 462 holders. They overlap a lot but not entirely. Use our eligible postcodes tool to check the specific list that applies to your subclass before you accept a job.
I'm 31. Can I still apply?
It depends on your passport. The standard age cap is 30, but a handful of 417 nationalities have a cap of 35 (currently Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, and the UK). The 462 cap is 30 across the board. If you're over 30 with a passport that has the 35 cap, you can still apply — make sure to lodge before your 36th birthday.
How accurate is this comparison?
We compile from the Department of Home Affairs published programme pages and refresh quarterly. The country lists are stable but the country-specific requirements (especially the English test scores and annual caps) can be updated by Australia or by the partner country. For the most current details on your specific country, always verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before submitting your application.