目錄
Introduction
The Australian Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) is a temporary visa designed for young people aged 18 to 30 (not yet 31) from eligible countries. This visa offers holders the opportunity to travel in Australia while working to support their journey. With this visa, you can engage in various types of work, such as helping with fruit picking on farms, working as a waiter or cook in restaurants, doing cleaning or reception work in hotels, and even working in schools or daycare centers.
The 417 visa has become a popular choice among young people from Hong Kong due to the excellent opportunity it provides for self-exploration and broadening one’s horizons. It allows individuals to travel and work simultaneously, enjoying a unique experience that combines employment with tourism. Through the Australian Working Holiday Visa, young people can try different jobs during their travels, gaining valuable work experience while also getting an in-depth understanding of Australian culture and lifestyle.
This article will cover the requirements, necessary documents, application process, processing time, and renewal conditions for the Australian Working Holiday Visa. We hope this guide provides useful information to help you organise and obtain your Australian Working Holiday Visa.
How To Apply Subclass 417?
Eligible Countries:
Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong (including British National Overseas passport holders), Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Eligibility Criteria
Location: Must be outside Australia when applying.
Previous Visa: Must not have previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (Temporary) visa.
Passport: Must hold a valid Hong Kong SAR passport or a British National Overseas (BNO) passport.
Passport Copy: Provide a copy of the personal information page of the passport at the time of application.
Age Requirement: Must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application (not yet 31; for Canadian, French, and Irish nationals, the age limit is 35).
Financial Proof: Must demonstrate sufficient funds to support initial stay (approximately AUD 5,000).
Return Ticket: Must have enough funds to purchase a return or onward travel ticket at the end of the stay.
No Dependent Children: Must not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during the stay.
Health and Character Requirements: Must undergo a medical examination and provide a police clearance certificate.
Australian Values Statement: Must sign an Australian Values Statement, agreeing to respect Australian values and obey Australian laws.
Required Documents for Application
Passport Copy:
Copy of the personal information page showing personal details, passport issuance, and expiration dates.
Birth Certificate or Equivalent Document:
Document showing the names of both parents, which can be substituted with a family book, government, or court-issued document.
Proof of Financial Capacity:
Evidence of sufficient funds to cover living costs, approximately AUD 5,000.
Return Ticket or Proof of Funds for Return Travel:
Evidence of funds to purchase a return ticket.
Medical Examination Report:
Health examination report completed at a designated clinic.
Police Clearance Certificate:
Provide a police clearance certificate if requested by Australian authorities.
Application Process
The process of applying for a WHV417 visa is relatively simpler compared to the WHV462 visa.
Register or Log in to ImmiAccount:
Visit ImmiAccount to register or log in to your account on the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Submit Documents and Pay Application Fee:
Upload the required documents, which mainly include:
Passport page showing your name, personal information, and passport issuance and expiration dates.
Birth certificate copy showing the names of both parents.
Bank account statement showing sufficient funds to cover living costs and a return ticket, or additional funds for return travel expenses.
Pay the application fee.
Please submit documents according to the specific requirements on the website.
Complete Medical Examination:
After submitting your application, undergo a medical examination at a designated clinic as instructed.
Wait for Approval:
Await notification from the Australian authorities regarding the decision on your Working Holiday Visa application.
Processing Time and Fees
Processing TimeMost applications are processed within 14 days. However, if you fail to fill out the online form correctly or forget to attach the required documents, it may take longer.
Application FeeThe application fee for the Australian Working Holiday Visa is AUD 650 (approximately HKD 3,418.91).Additional costs may arise for health checks, police certificates, or biometrics.
Second and Third Renewal Conditions
Applying for the Second Working Holiday Visa
You have met all the conditions on your first Working Holiday Visa.
You have worked for at least 3 months in a specified industry while holding your first Working Holiday Visa.*
You still meet the age requirement.
You must apply individually; family members cannot be included in the application.
Applying for the Third Working Holiday Visa
You have previously held two 417 visas in Australia.
You have met all the conditions of the first 417 visa.
You have worked for at least 6 months in a specified industry.*
You still meet the age requirement.
*Note: For details on how to calculate the work duration, please refer to: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/specified-work-conditions/specified-work-417.
Specified Industries and Sectors*
From June 22, 2021, tourism and hospitality in northern or remote and very remote areas of Australia
Plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia
Fishing and pearling activities in regional Australia
Tree planting and felling in regional Australia
Mining in regional Australia
Construction in regional Australia
Bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire-affected areas after July 31, 2019
Recovery work in areas affected by natural disasters after December 31, 2021
Critical healthcare and medical sectors across Australia responding to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 31, 2020
To support the government's ongoing efforts to address labor shortages in Australia, the department is temporarily flexible with specific work requirements and has placed increased emphasis on certain industries. This means that work supporting the ongoing operation of specified industries in eligible postcodes may be accepted.
*For detailed information, please refer to the official website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/specified-work-conditions/specified-work-417
Can a Working Holiday Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?
While most people apply for a working holiday visa with the primary aim of travelling and working temporarily, many Hong Kong residents are concerned about whether this visa provides a pathway to permanent residency (PR). Although the working holiday visa (WHV) is primarily a measure to address short-term labor shortages and does not have a direct route to PR
there are still several pathways for those wishing to stay in Australia long-term:
1.Extend Your WHV: Continue renewing your working holiday visa until you have exhausted the available extensions.
2.Transition to Student or Skilled Migration Visas: Move from a WHV to a student visa or a skilled migration visa, depending on your qualifications and career goals.
3.mployer-Sponsored Migration: Seek an employer-sponsored visa if you have a job offer from an Australian employer willing to sponsor your permanent residency.
4.Partner Migration: Explore migration options through a partner visa if you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Recommendations for Applicants Transitioning from WHV to PR
For those looking to transition from a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) to Permanent Residency (PR), Alison’s team offers the following sincere advice:
The WHV can enhance your chances of applying for other types of work visas, making it essential for Hong Kong residents aiming to immigrate to Australia to plan and prepare early. To maximize the benefits of the WHV, consider how it can directly or indirectly lead to Australian permanent residency. If you have work experience, assess your skills, qualifications, and English proficiency to determine your potential value for immigration. Check if your previous work experience aligns with the skilled occupation lists maintained by the Australian immigration authorities. You may find a similar occupation on the immigration list, positioning yourself as a potential skilled migrant.
Additionally, focus on improving your English. While the WHV does not require a specific language level, obtaining Australian PR requires meeting a minimum English proficiency standard, which is an IELTS score of 6. This requirement cannot be waived or substituted. Though there are various migration pathways, mastering English significantly increases your chances of successfully immigrating to Australia. Within Australia, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) is often considered easier to score well on compared to IELTS due to its extensive question bank. With diligent preparation, you can achieve a desirable PTE score.
Conclusion
The Australian Working Holiday Visa offers Hong Kong youth a valuable opportunity to explore themselves and broaden their horizons. It allows applicants to gain rich workplace experience while traveling and to deeply understand Australian culture and lifestyle. This unique experience of combining work and travel not only expands one’s perspective but also creates many unforgettable memories. Despite some challenges along the way, taking the first step courageously will make this journey incredibly worthwhile.
If you have any questions or need assistance with applying for a Working Holiday Visa, Alison's professional team is always ready to provide consultation services.
Alison’s Story
Born in Hong Kong an moved to Australia, I have been associated with real estate all my life. As the plane slowly landed on the runway of Melbourne Airport, my life and career also changed to another runway. I changed from a Hong Kong real estate agent to an Australian real estate agent, and successfully obtained the Australian lawyer qualification.
When I was working in a law firm, I was surrounded by highly educated professionals. Even though their wages are very well, and they are absolutely the elites in society, but their lives are full of hard labor, and it’s hard for them to get rich through buying properties.
So I spend all my time and effort on learning financial and real estate investment knowledge, hoping to achieve financial freedom as soon as possible, and let my parents who have worked hard for many years live a good life.
Now I will share with you the knowledge and experience of investing in Australian real estate, and embark on the road to financial freedom together.
Alison Australian real estate information platform
The original intention of Miss Alison to establish investwithalison.com is to provide neutral Australian real estate information through this platform and help investors establish the most suitable investment strategy.
👉Website: investwithalison.com
👉Email: hello@investwithalison.com
👉Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/alisonwongaustralia/
Comments