Working Holiday visa: the age limit rises to 35 for Germany, Korea, Finland and Cyprus

Since 1 July 2026, passport holders from Germany, the Republic of Korea, Finland and Cyprus can apply for Australia's Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) up to and including age 35, instead of 30. If you thought you'd missed your chance at 31, you now have up to five more years.

Published 20 October 2026 · Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Key points

18–35

New age range for German, Korean, Finnish and Cypriot passport holders since 1 July 2026 (was 18–30)

Day before 36

Last day to apply, until 11:59 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

840 AUD

First visa fee since 1 July 2026

4 countries

Germany, Republic of Korea, Finland and Cyprus

What changes

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has raised the age limit for four countries: Germany, the Republic of Korea, Finland and Cyprus. Since 1 July 2026, passport holders from these countries can apply for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa if they are 18 to 35 years old, inclusive.

What counts is the day you apply: you can lodge your application until 11:59 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on the day before your 36th birthday. At 35, you can still apply.

These four countries join others already on the 35 limit, such as Canada, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Over-30s are a growing group: in 2025–26, 7.1% of Working Holiday visas went to people over 30, up from 0.4% in 2018–19.

Who benefits

You're 31 to 35 and have never had an Australian Working Holiday visa: you can now apply for your first one.
You had a first visa and did 88 days of specified work during it, such as farm work in an eligible regional area: you can now apply for a second visa up to age 35.
A third visa requires 6 months of specified work during your second visa. The 35 limit applies here too.
You had a first visa but didn't do the 88 days: you can't get a new first visa. Everyone gets the first Working Holiday visa only once.
With a few years of work experience, you can often find better jobs than the classic backpacker roles. On a Working Holiday visa you can usually work for the same employer for up to 6 months.

What's different for each country

Germany: there's no health care agreement with Australia, so no Medicare and no cover from German statutory health insurance. You need private health insurance for your whole stay.
Republic of Korea: men aged 25 or over who haven't completed military service need an overseas travel permit from the Military Manpower Administration before leaving. Korea has no health care agreement with Australia either.
Finland: Finland has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, which gives you access to Medicare for medically necessary care in the public system. It doesn't cover everything (no ambulance, no dental, no repatriation), so travel insurance is still recommended.
Cyprus: there's no health care agreement with Australia, so plan private health insurance for your whole stay.

Watch out: ballot for the second and third visa

On 17 September 2026, the government announced that second and third Working Holiday visas will be allocated by ballot: 45,000 places for a second visa and 5,000 for a third. The 88 days and 6 months of specified work are still required, but they no longer guarantee a visa. The start date and details haven't been published yet. The first visa isn't affected.

How to apply

Create an ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs online portal, and choose Working Holiday (subclass 417).
For a first visa, you must be outside Australia when you apply and when the decision is made.
The fee is 840 AUD for a first visa and 1,000 AUD for a second or third visa since 1 July 2026, paid by card.
Plan enough money to get started: around AUD 5,000, plus a return ticket or the money for one.
No English test is required for subclass 417.
Once granted, you have 12 months to enter Australia. Your year starts on your first entry.

Frequently asked questions

Does my age count when I apply or when the visa is granted?

When you apply. According to Home Affairs, you can lodge your application until 11:59 pm (AEST) on the day before your 36th birthday.

I'm 34. Can I still get a second visa?

Yes, if you did 88 days of specified work during your first visa and you apply before your 36th birthday. Once the ballot starts, you'll also need to be selected in the ballot.

Does this apply to the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)?

No. Germany, the Republic of Korea, Finland and Cyprus are subclass 417 countries, and the new limit applies to that visa.

Do I need an English test?

No. Subclass 417 doesn't require an English test.