Commonwealth of Australia · Processing time
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462): how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Working Holiday (417/462) typically resolves in 1–8 weeks; online lodgement is generally fastest.
How long does the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) take to process in Australia?
The typical published decision window is 7 days – 2 months from a complete application. Working Holiday (417/462) typically resolves in 1–8 weeks; online lodgement is generally fastest.
Verified against Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker on 1 June 2026.
Typical wait
7 days – 2 months
from complete application
Government fees
From AUD 650.
Last checked
1 June 2026
What is the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)?
Short-term work-and-travel visa for young people from participating countries.
Australia's Working Holiday Maker programme has two subclasses: 417 (Working Holiday) for countries under the longstanding arrangement (UK, Ireland, Germany, France, etc.) and 462 (Work and Holiday) for countries with newer agreements (USA, China, Vietnam, etc.). Up to 3 years possible with agricultural/regional work extensions.
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route does not lead to permanent residency.
- Typical permit length: 12 months per grant; up to 3 visas with qualifying specified work.
- Indicative government fees: From AUD 650.
How to read this estimate
The 7 days – 2 months window is the time Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker typically associates with the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.
- Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
- If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
- Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.
Official source
Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) take to process?+
The typical wait is 7 days – 2 months from submitting a complete application. Working Holiday (417/462) typically resolves in 1–8 weeks; online lodgement is generally fastest. These figures come from Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker and were last verified on 2026-06-01. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.
When does the 7 days – 2 months clock start?+
The clock starts when Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
Some Australia routes offer a priority or premium service for an additional fee. Check the linked primary source for current options — availability changes and varies by consular post.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.
When should I treat my Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) application as delayed?+
Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (7 days – 2 months) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, fees, and FAQs for the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462).
All Australia processing times
Compare decision windows across every Australia visa route.
Government fees breakdown
Full itemised fee schedule for the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462).
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.