The Australian government offers Working Holiday visas that allow young people from eligible countries aged 18-30 years to come to Australia and work while traveling. There are two main types:

• Subclass 417 Working Holiday visas
  
• Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visas
  

For passport holders from certain countries – namely Canada, Denmark, France, Republic of Ireland, Italy, and recently the UK – the eligible age limit is 18-35 years.

To be eligible for a second or third visa, you must complete a certain number of months of ‘specified work’. Specified work includes jobs in industries like agriculture, mining, construction, and tourism, as well as recovery work in natural disaster affected areas.

Last year, changes were made so that UK passport holders can apply for a Working Holiday (Subclass 417) visa between the ages of 18-35 years inclusive. From 1 July 2024, additional benefits will come into effect:

• UK passport holders will be able to apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa without meeting any specified work requirements. Currently they must do 3 to 6 months of specified work like farming or construction to qualify for additional Working Holiday visas.
  
  
• UK passport holders will be able to stay in Australia for up to 3 years total across multiple visas. They won’t have to stay for three years in a row.
• Applicants can lodge applications for second and third Working Holiday visas in or outside Australia.
  
  
• If a UK passport holder has already spent one or two years in Australia on a Working Holiday visa before the new rules start, they can apply for the remaining visa(s) under the new rules from 1 July 2024. This will allow them to access the maximum of three years in Australia.
  
  
• Other existing rules like only being allowed to work for the same employer for a maximum of 6 months stay the same unless an exception applies.
  

From 1 July 2024, UK backpackers will have a much easier time extending their stays in Australia. You can learn more about these changes on the Department of Home Affairs website.

On 2 February 2024, the government expanded the types of disaster recovery work that can count as specified work. Previously, backpackers could only count work in bushfire or flood recovery zones. The change expands this to include recovery work in relation to cyclones, storms, and other natural disasters since 31 December 2021. Eligible recovery work includes cleanup, reconstruction, and providing services to support communities in disaster zones.

This change gives backpackers more options to stay for a second or third year in Australia while doing meaningful recovery work in communities that need assistance after natural disasters