Japanese workers applying for Working Holiday Makers (subclass 417) visa
What can a Working Holiday visa holder do in Australia?
The Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa will allow participants to engage in cultural exchange and tourism. In addition, the visa allows the holder to:
- stay in Australia for 12 months from their date of first arrival
- work for the 12 month duration of their stay and
- study for up to four months.
What are the visa's eligibility requirements?
General eligibility requirements for Working Holiday visa applicants are:
- hold a valid Japanese passport
- be at least 18 but have not turned 31 years of age at the time an application is lodged
- will not be with a dependent child while in Australia
- have enough money for support while on a working holiday (about AUD5,000)
- have enough money to buy a return or onward travel ticket at the end of their stay in Australia
- have not previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
- meet character and health requirements and
- be a genuine visitor.
Further information can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website at Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa.
How much money should I have?
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.
Who can help with my application?
Only certain people can help you with your visa application.
We call this help ‘immigration assistance’.
What is immigration assistance?
Immigration assistance is when a person uses knowledge of, or experience in, migration procedures to assist with visa applications or other visa matters by:
- preparing, or helping to prepare a visa application or other document
- advising about a visa application or visa matter
- representing in, or preparing for, proceedings before a court or review authority in relation to a visa matter.
If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance, they must be:
If you appoint a representative to provide you with immigration assistance and lodge a visa application on your behalf, you must be aware of the information and documentation your representative submits with your application.
Be aware of fake migration agents. In Australia, migration agents need to be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Can I lodge my own application?
Yes, you do not need to engage a migration agent to apply for a Working Holiday visa.
You can lodge your own application for a Working Holiday subclass 417 visa through your ImmiAccount by accessing the online 417 application form under the ‘New Application’ link on the main landing page.
What kind of work can a Working Holiday visa holder do?
Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa holders are not required to work at all, but are allowed to work for the entire duration of their stay in Australia, in any location, industry and role they choose, including tourism and hospitality and agriculture.
It is important to know the specified work and conditions that apply on your visa. You can check your visa conditions with VEVO.
All workers in Australia have the same rights and protections at work, regardless of citizenship or visa status. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is an independent statutory agency that monitors, investigates and enforces compliance with Australia’s workplace laws.
How can I find work in Australia?
You can find work available across Australia the same way you would find other job vacancies. This includes employment pages in newspapers, the internet, social media, and job placement service providers. Vacancies can also be found on the Australian Government’s Workforce Australia jobs board.
What may happen if I provide false or incorrect information with my visa application?
As a visa applicant, you must prove your identity and provide true information with your application.
We might refuse your visa application if:
- you did not comply with visa conditions
- you did not meet our character requirements
- you provided false information on your visa application.
If you are in Australia or immigration clearance, we will usually notify you of our intention to consider cancelling your visa. We will give you the opportunity to put forward reasons why we should not cancel your visa.
You can read more on how you can meet our requirements by providing accurate information.
What would happen to me if my visa is cancelled
Cancellation of your visa might bar you from making further visa applications to Australia. It may prevent you from being granted certain visas to travel to, enter or stay in Australia.
If you are in Australia without a valid visa, you could face serious consequences including immigration detention and removal from Australia.
If your visa has expired, you need to apply for a Bridging visa E (BVE) immediately in order to become lawful. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets you remain lawful while you make arrangements to leave Australia.
You can read more about the reasons why we may cancel your visa before your submit your application.
How can I make sure the information provided in my application form is correct?
You are responsible for giving accurate information in your application.
You can also appoint a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person to provide you with immigration assistance and lodge a visa application on your behalf, you must be aware of the information and documentation your representative submits with your application.
What happens if I cannot find a job in Australia?
You can use your money to support yourself while you make arrangements to leave Australia.
Some criminals in Australia and around the world use scams to promise work or permanent residency in Australia as a way to exploit people and steal money.
It is important you understand your rights and your employer’s obligations to make sure you protect yourself from work visa scams. You can visit our website to read more about visa scams and what you need to know.
Do I need to speak English to find a job in Australia?
The Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa does not require Japanese applicants to demonstrate they have a functional level of English in order to be granted a visa. However, we recommend that your English language level is sufficient for you to function in Australian culture and society.
We want to be fair to all applicants, so we process applications in date order, with older applications finalised before more recently lodged ones.
But we also understand that sometimes circumstances change and/or people may need to travel urgently. In those circumstances, we can process applications quicker.
As a general rule, the circumstances need to be outside the applicant's control, and cannot be caused or brought about by the applicant's own actions.
What’s urgent?
We will consider ‘urgent processing’ in the following circumstances:
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Compelling and/or compassionate circumstances outside the applicant's control. For example:
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an immediate family member in Australia is critically ill or injured
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a sudden death in the family in Australia
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Australia’s interest. For example:
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a senior government official or delegation needs to travel to Australia to attend meetings with their Australian government counterparts
What’s not urgent?
We will not consider 'urgent processing' where the circumstances are the result of the applicant's bad planning. For example:
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Applicants should check the visa & citizenship processing times before they apply, and ensure that they apply with enough time to allow us to process their application within these processing times.
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Student visa applicants who enrol late in a course and ask for urgent processing to avoid missing the course commencement date will not be given priority.
I want to know about visa & citizenship processing times
I want to know where I can get health check / police certificate (search by country)
All documents not in English must be accompanied with its English translation.
English translation must be completed by a NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) translator or a professional translator accredited in Japan. The translation should be on company letterhead which includes the translator’s official company stamp/seal and their contact details.
You must provide an official document that can confirm your parents who hold custodial/parental rights over you. For example, if the applicant is Japanese, Koseki Tohon will show the name of your father and mother. Also it will show any change to the custodial/parental rights over the applicant(child). If the applicant is not Japanese and was born in Japan, Shussei Todoke Kisai Jiko Shomeisho is the acceptable official birth certificate. Please note that Resident Certificate is not an acceptable birth certificate.
Your parents must provide consent for you to travel to Australia. Please provide Form 1229 – Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years completed by both of your parents. Parents’ identification documents (for example, passport copy) should be accompanied with the Form 1229 so that the visa processing officer can verify the form was signed by the right person. If one of parents have lost his/her custodial/parental rights by divorce or other circumstances and therefore the consent from the parent is not required, please provide evidentiary documents to support that claim.
If you are travelling with or stay in Australia with someone other than a parent, Form 1257 – Undertaking Declaration must be completed by the guardian and provided. The guardian’s identification documents (for example, passport copy) should be accompanied with the Form 1257.
Please do not contact the Australian Embassy in Tokyo to make an appointment to submit your biometrics. The letter does not ask you to call the embassy, and the embassy does not have biometric collection facilities.
The letter you received is generated automatically because of the information you provided in your application. The case officer who assesses your application will decide if you need to submit biometrics and if you are required to do so, the officer will advise you.
You do not need to take any action until a case officer asks you to.
There is no minimum passport validity required to apply for an Australian visa or to enter Australia.
You must have a valid passport and valid visa when you board your flight and when you enter Australia.
However, as a general rule the travel industry recommends that your passport is valid for at least 6 months as some airlines and countries have a 6-month rule. You should check with your airline and any country you may be transiting on the way to Australia.
I want to notify change of circumstances
I want to check visa details & conditions - VEVO
I want to update my passport details
‘International Movement Records’ shows the specific dates for your movements in and out of Australia.
If you wish to get this document, please apply online directly via the Department of Home Affairs website.
It takes about 4 weeks to issue the International Movement Records. We will send you the issued document
by email. Please do not make multiple requests or contact the immigration office to check the progress within the processing time.
If you have any questions regarding obtaining your International Movement Records, please submit an enquiry to the Department of Home Affairs via the Australian Immigration Enquiry Form.
The Australian Embassy in Tokyo is unable to provide advice regarding International Movement Records.
I want to access my superannuation
I want to report fraud/visa scams
You can ask for your temporary visa to be cancelled, but not your permanent visa.
To ask for cancellation of your temporary visa:
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Log in to your ImmiAccount
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Click ‘My application summary’ and search by TRN number
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Click ‘Update us’ and use the link ‘Request to cancel a temporary resident visa’
Before asking for cancellation of your visa, please note:
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You do not need to cancel a visa to be granted a new visa. A new visa (other than an ETA) will usually cease any other visa you held.
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If you hold a Student visa and you stop or defer your study, you do not need to ask for your visa to be cancelled, but you must tell your education provider that you want to stop or defer your course.
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If you hold a Student visa but you want to travel to Australia for a visit (not for study), do not apply for an ETA because the ETA will not cease your Student visa. Please apply for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa because this visa will automatically cease your Student visa.
Please visit our websites before contacting us.
We will not answer emails or questions if the information is available on this website or the Department of Home Affairs website.
If the information is not available , you can Contact Us.