New Age Limits and Visa Flexibility for UK Citizens applying for Working Holiday Visas

Australia and the UK have forged ahead with transformative changes in the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and Youth Mobility Scheme, sparked by the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (Australia-UK FTA), which took effect on May 31, 2023.

New Age Limits and Visa Flexibility:

From July 1, 2023

The eligible age for UK applicants was increased to 35, allowing them to submit Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa applications until the day before their 36th birthday.

From July 1, 2024

UK passport holders are able to be granted up to three Working Holiday visas without having to meet the specified work requirements.

Eligibility and Passport Criteria:

These benefits are exclusively available to applicants holding passports issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The term 'UK or British passport' encompasses various categories, including the British National (Overseas) passport.

Dual National Dynamics:

Under the existing legislative framework, individuals with dual nationality are limited to three Working Holiday visas in their lifetime, regardless of the eligible passport used.

Three-Year Maximum Stay Continues:

While the maximum stay for Working Holiday visa holders remains three years, the pivotal change from July 1, 2024, is the exemption of UK passport holders from having to meet the specified work requirements for second and/or third Working Holiday visas.

Flexible Application Choices:

UK passport holders gain the freedom to apply for their first, second, and third Working Holiday visas at any time within the eligible age range. Continuous residency in Australia for three years is no longer mandatory.

Opportunities for Previous Visa Holders:

For UK passport holders who've already spent one or two years in Australia on a Working Holiday visa before the new arrangements, and have either left Australia or hold a different visa, from 1 July 2024, they will be able to apply for the remaining visa(s) and maximise their stay, a rule that extends to UK passport holders with a prior entry on a Working Holiday visa.

For more information refer to the Department of Home Affairs website here.