Visa snapshot
Verified on 10 June 2026Work and study
- Work rights
- Any kind of work; usually max 6 months with the same employer. Tax + superannuation apply.
- Study rights
- Study up to 4 months (17 weeks)
Funds and health
- Funds required
- Approx. AUD 5,000 for initial stay + onward fare
- Health and insurance
- Must meet health requirements. May need to undergo a medical examination
- Health and insurance details →
Extensions
- Further stay
- Available, conditions apply
Quota or ballot
- Allocation
- No cap stated on official page; ballot only for CN/IN/VN
- No ballot
Reciprocal healthcare
- Agreement in place
- No
- Private health insurance needed
On this page
Eligibility at a glance
- Passport: This route is for American citizens, so you must apply on a valid American passport.
- Age: You must be aged 18 to 30 when you apply, not when you travel.
- Funds: Approx. AUD 5,000 for initial stay + onward fare
- Health: Must meet health requirements. May need to undergo a medical examination
Eligibility and conditions
Who can apply
Education: must have a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent (US-specific). English: US passport automatically satisfies Functional English. No letter of support needed for US. No dependent children; apply from outside Australia; health & character; no previous 417/462 entry.
- United States passport holder
- Aged 18 to 30 at time of application
- Sufficient funds: Approx. AUD 5,000 for initial stay + onward fare
General conditions
Per-country education requirement (US: Senior Secondary Certificate or equivalent); Functional English required (UK/US/CA/NZ/IE passports satisfy automatically); some countries need a letter of support (not US). China/India/Vietnam require a ballot (pre-application). Apply from outside Australia; no dependent children.
Visa program
US uses subclass 462 (Work and Holiday), NOT 417. This is a different program with different conditions.
Extra eligibility
- Education requirement: Senior Secondary Certificate or equivalent.
- Functional English required; a US passport satisfies this automatically.
Application rules
No letter of government support required for US applicants.
Specified work
2nd and 3rd 462 visas require 3 and 6 months of specified subclass 462 work.
Ballot
No ballot for US applicants.
Extensions
Second visa extension
2nd W&H: 3 months of specified subclass 462 work.
Third visa extension
3rd W&H: 6 months of specified subclass 462 work.
Important application rules
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the Australian Government's official visa portal. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks.
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Essential setup
Banking
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Mobile and connectivity
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