Australia working holiday visa for Hong Kong passport holders

This page shows the main requirements for Hong Kong passport holders who want to apply for Australia’s Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). The program is for people aged 18 to 30. If granted, you can stay for up to 12 months from your first entry into Australia. You must enter the country within 12 months of the visa grant date.

To apply for your first visa, the fee is AUD840.00. You will also need to have sufficient funds for your stay and departure, which is stated as about AUD5,000 plus your fare out of Australia. The visa allows for short-term work, usually for no more than 6 months with one employer, and you can also study for up to 4 months.

Passport

Hong Kong

Age range

18 to 30

Stay

Up to 12 months

Fee

AUD840.00 (first visa)

Funds

About AUD5,000 plus your fare out

Conditions for Hong Kong passport holders

• Hong Kong SAR passports.

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

When applying for this visa, you must be outside Australia, and you must also be outside Australia when the decision is made. The average processing time is expected to be around three months. The government advises against booking travel before the visa is granted. Note that you must not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 417 or 462 visa.

You can become eligible for a second Working Holiday visa by completing 3 months of specified work during your stay. Unlike some other programs for Hong Kong passport holders, this visa does not allow you to include family members in your application, and dependent children cannot come with you.

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 Hong Kong passport holders

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

Full list: working holiday visas for Hong Kong passport holders.

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