Working Holiday Maker Visa Present Government Position

The Government has announced that Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) who arrive in Australia from 19 January 2022 to 19 April 2022 can apply for a refund of the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for their WHM visa.

Working Holiday Maker visas cannot be extended. But, if you have completed 3 or 6 months of ‘specified work’ in Australia, you may be able to apply for a second or third WHM visa.

See specified work conditions for more information.

Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) can now count critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors undertaken anywhere in Australia after 31 January 2020 as ‘specified work’ to apply for a 2nd or 3rd WHM visa. For further information see latest news.

If you are not eligible for a second or third WHM visa and you are not working in a critical sector for COVID-19, you should apply for another visa. This will allow you to remain lawful until you are able to return to your home country. Agriculture, food processing, healthcare and medical, aged and disability care and childcare are critical sectors for COVID-19.

To be granted a new visa, you must meet the requirements for that visa, including any age limits, English language, health and character requirements.

Applying for a Second or Third WHM Visa

You may be eligible for a second or third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply on the Department’s website:

• Second Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa
• Third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa
• Second Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa
• Third Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa

You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You may be able to be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a decision is made on your visa application.