Working Holiday in Australia, in numbers

Key figures

How many visas each year?

Between 2010 and 2019, Australia granted between 190,000 and 260,000 Working Holiday visas a year (subclasses 417 and 462 combined). Border closures during Covid brought that down to 39,586 in 2020-21.

Since reopening, the program has gone well past its pre-pandemic level: 321,116 visas in 2024-25, then 323,077 in 2025-26. Most of the growth comes from second and third visas.

First visaSecond visaThird visa

Show data table

Year	First visa	Second visa	Third visa	Total
2010–11	170,422	22,500	0	192,922
2011–12	192,491	30,501	0	222,992
2012–13	219,386	38,862	0	258,248
2013–14	193,642	45,950	0	239,592
2014–15	185,473	41,339	0	226,812
2015–16	178,319	36,264	0	214,583
2016–17	176,505	34,506	0	211,011
2017–18	174,289	36,167	0	210,456
2018–19	165,817	43,219	0	209,036
2019–20	112,127	34,444	2,678	149,249
2020–21	2,146	26,567	10,873	39,586
2021–22	85,716	3,401	8,242	97,359
2022–23	198,010	20,925	5,496	224,431
2023–24	179,657	47,338	7,561	234,556
2024–25	196,464	90,754	33,898	321,116
2025–26	195,142	79,588	48,347	323,077

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Where do Working Holiday makers come from?

Counting first, second and third visas, the UK leads in 2025-26 with almost one visa in four. France is second with 45,365 visas, well ahead of Italy and Ireland.

1. United Kingdom77,053
2. France45,365
3. Italy22,645
4. Ireland19,422
5. South Korea18,469
6. Taiwan17,160
7. Germany16,813
8. Japan15,844
9. Indonesia12,673
10. China8,098

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How the top countries have changed

Since 2010, the UK has doubled and France has more than doubled. South Korea and Germany, on the other hand, are well below their early-2010s levels.

The second and third-year boom

For years, about one Working Holiday maker in four extended their stay: in 2018-19, 43,219 second visas against 174,289 first visas the year before, or about 25%.

That rate has doubled: about 50% in 2024-25 and 40% in 2025-26. Since 1 July 2024, UK citizens no longer need to do specified work to get a second or third year, which explains much of the rise.

The third visa, only available since July 2019, is taking off: 48,347 granted in 2025-26, about half the number of second visas the year before.

Who goes on a Working Holiday?

It's a perfect split: 50% of 2025-26 visas went to women.

The age limit rose from 30 to 35 for several countries, including the UK, France, Ireland, Italy and Canada. As a result, 31 to 35 year olds made up 7.1% of visas in 2025-26, against 0.4% in 2018-19.

How much does the visa cost?

Since 2022, the first visa has gone up 65% and the second and third have almost doubled. Since 1 July 2026, extending your stay even costs more than the first visa. Working Holiday visa cost: from AUD 235 to AUD 1,000 →

Sources and method

Visas granted, countries, age and gender: Australian Department of Home Affairs, BP0017 "Working Holiday Maker visas granted" dataset on data.gov.au, and the BR0110 report of 30 June 2025.

Years are Australian financial years (1 July – 30 June). Figures include subclasses 417 and 462. The free replacement visas granted in 2021-23 to Working Holiday makers stranded by Covid are counted with first visas.

The second-year rate is an 88mates estimate: second visas in a year divided by first visas the year before.

Visa fees: Department of Home Affairs and official fee announcements. Only amounts confirmed by public sources are shown.

• Home Affairs — BP0017 Working Holiday Maker visas granted (data.gov.au)
• Home Affairs — BR0110 Working Holiday Maker visa program report, 30 June 2025
• Home Affairs — Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

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