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Third Year Working Holiday Visa – Complete Guide

Backpacker couple inside the car in the middle of Outback with the text Third Year Working Holiday Visa Australia Complete Guide for Backpackers

Do you want to spend more time in Australia longer after completing your second year visa? You’ve heard about a third year working holiday visa but not sure about the process?

Great, you’ve found yourself in the right place. 

In this complete guide, I will tell you everything you need to know as well as easy-to-follow steps to complete the application for the third year working holiday visa yourself.

As of 1 July 2019 Working Holiday Visa holders with Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 can apply for a Third Year Visa.

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1. Requirements

1.1 Age

You must be between the age of 18 – 30 to apply.

If you hold a passport from the following countries the age increases to 35 years old:

  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Italy

Important

The application date can be up to one day prior to your 31st or 36th birthday (if you’re from an eligible country). Although we suggest giving yourself more time.

If you turn 31 or 36 (eligible countries) while a decision is being made you can still be granted the third year visa.

1.2 Current or previous visa

To be eligible for a third year working holiday visa in Australia you must have completed the following:

1.3 Have Enough Money

If you are applying from within Australia you don’t need to provide evidence of funds.

If you are applying from outside Australia you need to provide evidence of $5,000 AUD to show you can support yourself and purchase onward travel when your visa expires.

This link shows you more details about the Approved Jobs that are eligible for the third year visa.

1.4 Specified Work

Have completed the 6 months of specified work. See Section 2 for more details.

1.5 Postcodes

Australia is a huge country that has a lot of Remote and Regional Areas. It is important to check the postcode to make sure they are eligible for the second year visa, this is especially important for subclass 462 as the postcodes are mostly in Regional Australia.

Here you can find the eligible postcodes for Subclass 417

Here you can find the eligible postcodes for Subclass 462.

(The difference Between 417 and 462 is that a 462 Visa requires and education component while 417 does not)

Here you can find the Eligible Postcodes for every eligible industry, be sure to check it before you relocate yourself to a new job or region.

1.6 Other Requirements

2. Specified Work

The Second year visa requires you to have completed a total of 3 months or 88 days in Regional Areas of Australia in specific industries. The areas are slightly different depending if you hold a Subclass 417 or Subclass 462 Visa

The most popular industries for Second Year Visa Jobs Australia for subclass 417 and 462 are:

The following are also eligible:

*The industries remain the same but the eligible areas differ for subclass 462 and are mostly limited to Northern or specific Regional Areas in Australia. Refer to the areas listed under Subclass 462 to ensure the area is eligible.

3. Costs

The cost to apply for the visa is $635 AUD. The application won’t be processed until this amount has been paid.

4. Application Process

The visa can be applied for inside or outside of Australia. It can be done by post but we strongly recommend that you do the process online.

Applying online is a relatively simple process, all relevant documents can be submitted online.

4.1 Required Documents

To make your application an easy and smooth process, get all your documents together. If you are submitting online, you can supply a clear colour photo or PDF.

Required Documents you will need are:

  • Current Passport

A second form of Identification, any of the following:

  • Birth Certificate showing both your parent’s names
  • Government-issued ID – Drivers Licence, National Identity Card

4.1.1 Proof of Funds

If applying outside Australia a bank statement showing $5,000 AUD of available funds. No requirement if you are applying within Australia

4.1.2 Proof of 6 months of eligible work

You will need to demonstrate you have completed 3 months of eligible work from the Approved Jobs subclass 417 and Approved Jobs Subclass 462

Evidence can be provided with the following documents:

  • Payslips
  • Australian bank account statements over the period of specified work
  • Piece rate agreement with your employer (if you were paid piece rate). The agreement needs to show the piece rate and how it was measured.
  • Group Certificates
  • Payment Summaries
  • Tax Returns
  • Employer References

Note: You may be asked for more information about your employment or checks may be made with your employer.

4.1.3 Character Documents

An Australian Police Certificate may be required. However, this will be requested if you are required to have one.

4.1.4 Translation

work holiday visa application process infographic

All non-English documents must be translated into English using a translator that is Accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters

4.2 Applying Online

Once you’ve got all your documents follow these steps to apply:

  1. Log in or create an ImmiAccount
  2. Attach documents
  3. Pay the application fee (Here’s a guide on how to pay for online application)
  4. Take note of the Transaction Reference Number.

5. After you Apply What Happens?

You’ve submitted your application, well done! Now what happens? The visa processing times are relatively fast for the Third Year Working Holiday Visa subclass 417. As of July 2023, processing times are listed on Immigration Australia as:

If everything is in order you are highly likely to have your result in less than 2 weeks.

Processing times for subclass 462 are slightly longer and are as follows:

However, you will need to closely monitor your application to see if you are required to supply more information. Additional information that may be required is:

6. Tips/Important Bits

6.1 Travel after Applying

If you intend on traveling outside of Australia while your application is being processed you will need to let Immigration Australia know. If you applied within Australia you will need to be in Australia when the decision is made.

Important

Make sure you have a valid visa to return to Australia. The application you submitted for the third year working holiday visa does not count as a valid visa as the decision won’t have been made until you are back in Australia.

6.1.1 Applying outside of Australia

If you have left Australia even just for a holiday and you submit your application while you are outside Australia you will need to wait outside Australia until a decision is made before you return to Australia.

6.2 Payslips

other important tips for applying second or Third Year Working Holiday Visa

The best and easiest way to prove you have completed your eligible days for your third year visa is to have regular payslips from your employer and payment into an Australian Bank account. The pay slip should specify the pay period and even better if it specifies the days and hours worked.

You may come across some jobs (often farms and construction) where they suggest paying you in cash and/or don’t give you a payslip. We strongly advise against working in these jobs because not having a payslip or bank account deposit makes it very difficult to prove the number of days you worked. Also, it can be illegal and/or you are at risk of not receiving a fair pay rate.

Let’s face it, an employer who is willing to bend the rules and pay you cash and/or without a pay slip may not be very helpful in confirming your employment information or days worked when Immigration Australia calls.

6.3 Start Accumulating Your Days Early

Take the pressure off yourself, and start accumulating your days early into your second year visa. The amount of working holidaymakers we have encountered that were running around in the last few months or weeks of their visa trying to get their eligible days is too many to count.

Remember you have no control over the weather, sometimes you may not be able to work due to the weather or lack of work so allow for plenty of time to get your days.

We can help you with finding jobs that are eligible for your visa days. Just take a look at our Jobs Page.

6.4 Postcodes

We can’t stress this enough, make sure you are doing eligible work from the specified Approved Jobs with an Eligible Postcode for a third year visa.

This list has changed over the years, don’t just rely on the employer telling you it’s eligible, they may be desperate for a worker or not up to date with the rules. Always check yourself.

FAQ

Unfortunately no, unless you are paid for working that day, not working due to severe weather doesn’t count towards your days.

If you are paid for a public holiday or sick day as part of your contract it can be counted as an eligible day. If you are not paid it will not count towards eligible days.

 

If the variable shift work is normal for the industry and is a full-time arrangement, rest days will count. For example, if you work 14 days straight and then have 14 days off for rest all 28 days will count. Make sure you keep a copy of your employment agreement.

Note this is often not normal for farm work, hospitality or construction.

This is possible. However, you will need to let Immigration Australia know of your intended travel. If you apply in Australia you need to be inside Australia while a decision is made.

No, leaving the country for any length of time doesn’t change the visa expiry date.

Yes, not a problem you can leave and come back as many times as you like within your visa period.

Yes, you can return and work for the same employer for an additional 6 months on your second year visa.

The rule changed on 1 July 2019 allowing a third year visa for 417 subclass visa holders. You would need to have carried out 6 months of eligible work after 1 July 2019 to apply for a third year visa.

Yes, you can apply if you meet the requirements for the third-year Working Holiday Visa. Read our comprehensive guide to understand the needed requirements and eligibility.

It’s not really difficult, just make sure you meet all the requirements and more likely you will be approved.

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