Australia working holiday visa for Canadian citizens

This page is for Canadian citizens who want to apply for a working holiday in Australia. The program is the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). To be eligible, you must be a Canadian passport holder aged 18 to 35. The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months. The application fee for a first visa is AUD840.00. You will also need to have sufficient funds, which is specified as about AUD5,000 plus your return fare.

You can do short-term work, usually for no more than 6 months with one employer, and you can study for up to 4 months. You must apply for the visa from outside Australia and be outside the country when it is granted. You cannot include family members or bring dependent children. The government states the average processing time is expected to be around three months and advises against booking travel before the visa is granted.

Passport

Canada

Age range

18 to 35

Stay

Up to 12 months

Fee

AUD840.00 (first visa)

Funds

About AUD5,000 plus your fare out

Conditions for Canadian citizens

• No extra country-specific conditions are listed on the official page beyond the general rules below.

General rules of the program

• Up to 12 months from first entry; you must enter within 12 months of the grant date.
• Short-term work to help pay for the holiday; usually no more than 6 months with the same employer.
• Study for up to 4 months (17 weeks).
• Usually about AUD5,000 for the initial stay, plus the fare to leave Australia.
• Apply online from outside Australia; you must also be outside Australia when the visa is decided.
• You cannot include family members, and dependent children cannot accompany you.
• You must not have entered Australia before on a subclass 417 or 462 visa.
• 3 months of specified work can make you eligible for a second Working Holiday visa.
• Apply before midnight Australian Eastern time on the day before your 31st (or 36th) birthday.
• Home Affairs says the average processing time is expected to be around three months and advises against booking travel before the grant.

What stands out

Unlike some other working holiday programs available to Canadian citizens, the age limit for Australia is higher, extending up to 35. This is the same age limit as for New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland. The application fee of AUD840.00 is a key detail, as is the requirement to have about AUD5,000 plus the fare to leave Australia. Another important point is that you must apply and receive the decision while you are outside Australia. Finally, performing 3 months of specified work during your stay can make you eligible for a second Working Holiday visa.

How to apply, step by step

1. Check that your passport is on the list for this subclass and that you are within the age limit on the day you lodge.
2. Gather your passport pages, birth certificate, proof of funds and the other documents Home Affairs lists.
3. Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia and pay the visa application charge.
4. Wait for the decision outside Australia; Home Affairs advises not to book travel until the visa is granted.
5. Enter Australia within 12 months of the grant.

Other programs open to Canadian citizens

From the programs in this directory. Status is shown only where the official page stated it.

Full list: working holiday visas for Canadian citizens.

All passports for this program: Australia working holiday visas: subclass 417 and 462.