Working Holiday Subclass 417 Visa Changes for UK Passport Holders

Remember that time that Scomo took a quick trip to the UK mid pandemic, sunk a few pints at the pub, elbow tapped ol’ Boris and did it all under the guise of making a historic trade deal with the UK PM? In case you don’t, it was in June 2021 - a time when Australians were not even allowed to leave the country, Sydney was deep in lockdown and Melbourne was about to enter their third brutal lockdown. The irony right?!

Well this week (31 May 2023) that trade deal finally entered into force and with it came some details on the changes in relation to working holiday visas for UK passport holders.

Notable Changes to Visa Arrangements

Starting 1 July 2023, UK citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply for a Working Holiday visa.

From 1 July 2024, up to three separate Working Holiday visas can be granted without needing to fulfill specified work requirements (commonly known as regional work or farmwork).

This also means if a UK passport holder has previously held one or two working holiday visas, from 1 July 2024 they can apply for the remaining visa(s) provided they meet the age requirement.

All other WHM program provisions continue to apply to UK passport holders.