Updated September 2026.
The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is how most Irish people get to Australia. It lets you live and work here for a year, and up to three years if you do regional work. This guide walks you through exactly how to apply from Ireland in 2026, what it costs, and what’s changed.
Quick facts for Irish applicants
- Age: 18 to 35. You must apply before your 36th birthday.
- Cost: AUD 840 for your first visa, AUD 1,000 for a second or third (from 1 July 2026).
- Money: around AUD 5,000, plus enough for a flight home.
- Processing: expected to be around 3 months. Don’t book flights until it’s granted.
- Stay: 12 months from the day you arrive. Enter within 12 months of the grant.
- New in September 2026: second and third visas are moving to a ballot.
Are you eligible?
To get your first Working Holiday visa as an Irish citizen, you need to:
- hold an Irish passport and be aged 18 to 35 when you apply,
- apply online from outside Australia, and be outside Australia when the visa is granted,
- not bring dependent children with you,
- never have been in Australia on a Working Holiday visa before,
- have enough money to support yourself, and
- meet the health and character requirements.
If you hold a UK passport as well, check which one suits you best. UK passport holders no longer need to do regional work for a second or third visa. Irish passport holders still do.
How much does it cost?
From 1 July 2026 the visa application charge is AUD 840 for a first Working Holiday visa and AUD 1,000 for a second or third. Before July, all three cost AUD 670. Fees change, so check the official Home Affairs fees page before you pay.
On top of the visa, budget for:
- Funds: Home Affairs usually expects around AUD 5,000, plus enough for a flight out of Australia (or a ticket already booked).
- Health insurance: Home Affairs strongly recommends it. See below.
- A health check or police certificate, only if Home Affairs asks for one.
How to apply, step by step
- Create an ImmiAccount on the Home Affairs website. This is where you apply and track your visa.
- Choose the Working Holiday Maker (417) application and fill it in. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Upload your documents: your passport and evidence of funds, like a recent bank statement.
- Pay the fee. Nothing is processed until it’s paid.
- Do any extra checks you’re asked for. Home Affairs may ask for a medical exam, biometrics or police certificates. You’ll see the request in your ImmiAccount.
- Wait for your grant. Your visa is linked to your passport electronically, so there’s no sticker. Save a copy of the grant letter.
Start on the official first Working Holiday visa page. Only apply through the official site. Third-party sites charge extra for the same form.
How long does it take?
Processing slowed down in mid-2026. Home Affairs says it expects the average to settle at around three months. Apply well before you want to travel, and don’t book non-refundable flights until your visa is granted.
Once it’s granted, you have 12 months to enter Australia. Your 12 months of stay start the day you first arrive, and you can leave and come back as often as you like. Time spent outside Australia doesn’t extend the visa.
Health insurance
Ireland has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia, so you can get some public hospital care through Medicare. But it doesn’t cover ambulances, private treatment, dental, or getting you home if something goes badly wrong, and Home Affairs strongly recommends you get insurance.
- True Traveller covers working holidays and lets you buy cover even after you’ve left Ireland.
- Go Insurance is good for longer stays, and Irish Around Oz readers get 10% off.
Our travel insurance guide compares the options.
Working on your visa
You can do almost any job, but you can usually only work for one employer for up to 6 months. There are exceptions, for example if you work for the same employer in different locations, or in plant and animal cultivation. You can also study for up to 4 months.
Most people find work within a few weeks. The Irish Around Oz job board has roles from over 200 employers who want to hire Irish workers, from hospitality and construction to nursing and office jobs.
Tax, TFN and super
- Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online once you arrive. Without one, you can be taxed at 45%.
- Working holiday makers pay 15% tax on the first AUD 45,000 of income, as long as your employer is registered as a working holiday maker employer.
- Your employer pays super on top of your wages. You can claim it back when you leave, taxed at 65%. See our super guide and tax refund guide.
Getting a second and third year
To be eligible for a second Working Holiday visa you need to do 88 days (3 months) of specified work in regional Australia on your first visa. For a third, you need 6 months (179 days) on your second visa. Specified work includes farm work, fishing, mining and construction in eligible postcodes, plus tourism and hospitality in northern and remote Australia, and disaster recovery work. You must be paid properly under Australian workplace law, and keep your payslips.
The big change: the government announced on 17 September 2026 that second and third visas are moving to a ballot. Doing your days gets you into the draw, not a guaranteed visa. There will be 45,000 second-year places (about 57,000 people qualified last year) and only 5,000 third-year places (about 31,000 qualified). The start date and how it applies to people already doing their days haven’t been confirmed yet.
- Read what the ballot means for you
- Plan your days with our regional work guide
- Avoid the 15 most common working holiday visa mistakes
Want to stay longer than your working holiday? ☘️
With second and third visas no longer guaranteed, it’s worth knowing your options early. Get a free consultation on study options with our partners at Study Destination, or speak to a registered migration agent.
Before you fly
- Set up a cheap way to move money. CurrencyFair beats the banks by a mile. See our money transfer guide.
- Too much luggage? Send My Bag is usually cheaper than excess baggage, with 5% off for readers.
- Read our complete guide to moving to Australia from Ireland and grab the free checklist.
- Join the Irish Facebook group for the city you’re heading to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for an Irish Working Holiday visa to Australia?
18 to 35. You must lodge your application before your 36th birthday.
How much is the Working Holiday visa for Irish citizens in 2026?
AUD 840 for a first visa and AUD 1,000 for a second or third, from 1 July 2026.
How much money do I need to show?
Usually around AUD 5,000, plus enough for a flight out of Australia.
Can I apply from inside Australia?
Not for your first visa. You must apply and be granted it while outside Australia. Second and third visas can be applied for from inside or outside Australia.
Do Irish people still need to do farm work for a second year?
Yes. Irish passport holders need 88 days of specified work for a second visa and 6 months for a third. Only UK passport holders are exempt. From the September 2026 changes, it gets you into a ballot rather than guaranteeing the visa.
This guide is general information, checked against the Department of Home Affairs website in September 2026. Visa rules change often, so always check the official pages before you apply. It isn’t migration advice. Some links are affiliate links, which means Irish Around Oz may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.