If you hold a Philippine passport and you’re between 18 and 30 years old, the Work and Holiday visa — subclass 462 — lets you spend up to 12 months in Australia, working along the way to fund your trip. Here’s what you need to know before you apply.
Basic eligibility at a glance
The Department of Home Affairs lists three core requirements for the subclass 462:
- You must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive)
- You must hold a passport from an eligible country
- You must not be accompanied by dependent children
The Philippines is among the eligible countries, so if you meet the age and passport requirements and you’re travelling without dependants, you clear the basic bar.
What the visa actually gives you
The first Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) grants you a 12-month stay in Australia. You can work while you’re there — that’s the point. The application fee is AUD 670.00.
One thing to plan for: the Department of Home Affairs is direct about processing times. Their guidance says your application may take longer to process than the times shown in their processing guide, due to the volume of Working Holiday visa applications they receive. Their advice is unambiguous — do not arrange travel to Australia before they tell you in writing that your visa has been granted.
Can you apply for a second or third visa?
Yes — and this is where it gets interesting if you’re thinking longer term. A second Work and Holiday visa (also subclass 462, also 12 months, also AUD 670.00) is available if you currently hold, or have previously held, a subclass 462 visa. The key extra requirement: you must have completed 3 months of specified subclass 462 work during your first visa.
If you’re applying from inside Australia, you also need to hold a substantive visa, or your last substantive visa must have expired less than 28 days ago.
The source page notes you can also apply for a third Work and Holiday visa if you meet certain eligibility criteria — though the Department of Home Affairs page does not detail those criteria on this listing page.
One warning you should not skip
If you hold a Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa (subclass 417 or 462) and we grant you another visa, your WHM visa will end.
That’s the Department’s own wording — and it matters. Even a seemingly harmless visa like the eVisitor (subclass 651) or the Transit visa (subclass 771) will cause your subclass 462 to cease on the date the new visa is granted. That could stop you from working in Australia and may affect your ability to apply for another Working Holiday Maker visa. If you’re already on a 462, be very careful before applying for any other visa.
One more thing: declare your location correctly
The Department is explicit: you must declare your current location correctly on your visa application form. If your location is incorrect, they may not be able to grant your visa. This catches people out — don’t guess, don’t round up. State exactly where you are when you apply.
What to do next
Check current processing times using the Department’s visa processing time guide tool (linked from the official page below). Gather your documents, confirm your age and passport eligibility, and apply through ImmiAccount — the Department’s online portal. If you’re unsure whether your work history qualifies for a second visa, or if your situation is complicated by other visas you’ve held, that’s exactly the kind of question a registered migration agent can answer for your specific case.
This is general information, not migration advice. For your specific case, consult a MARA-registered agent — find one in our directory.
First published by the Department of Home Affairs — Immigration and citizenship website. Read the full source at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462
