Australian Working Holiday Visa for Germans: Complete Guide (2026)
The Australian Working Holiday Visa is one of the most popular visas for young Germans who want to travel and work at the same time.
It allows you to stay for up to one year – with the possibility to extend to up to three years by completing certain types of work.
In this guide, you will find all the key information on eligibility requirements, age limit, costs, jobs, extensions, as well as clear answers to the questions German WHV applicants ask most often.
🎂 Age: 18 to 30 years for German citizens
🛂 Visa: Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417
⏳ Duration: 12 months, extendable up to 3 years
💼 Work: allowed (maximum 6 months per employer)
🌾 Extension: 88 or 179 days of eligible work required
💰 Proof of funds: may be requested upon entry
🏥 Travel & health insurance: not legally mandatory, but clearly expected in practice
✈️ Return ticket: not mandatory, but recommended
Who can apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa as a German citizen?
German citizens can apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa as long as a few basic requirements are met.
The process is intentionally simple and designed for young adults who want to combine travelling and working.
The main requirements include:
- German citizenship
- a valid German passport
- no previous stay in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa
- no employment contract before applying
For German applicants, there is no annual cap on the number of available visas. This means applications are not competing for a fixed quota.
Criterion | Germany |
|---|---|
🇩🇪 Eligible nationality | Yes |
🛂 Visa type | Subclass 417 |
♾️ Quota | Unlimited |
❌ Language test | Not required |
❌ Job offer in advance | Not needed |
Germany is one of the countries with the most flexible rules within Australia’s Working Holiday program.
For many applicants, travel and health insurance is one of the last points to clarify before submitting the visa application. Even if it is not always explicitly required by law, continuous insurance coverage for the full stay is clearly expected in practice – both during the visa process and when entering Australia.
👉 With HelloSafe, you can compare recognised Working Holiday insurance plans designed specifically for the Australian WHV – with instant insurance confirmation, transparent benefits, and the option of a refund if the visa is refused.
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What is the age limit for the Australian Working Holiday Visa?
For German citizens, the Australian Working Holiday Visa has an age limit of 18 to 30 years.
Only your age at the time of application matters.
Common questions mainly concern borderline cases, such as:
- “Can I still apply shortly before my 31st birthday?”
- “Does the age count at entry or at the time of application?”
- “Does the 35-year age limit also apply to Germans?”
The 35-year age limit only applies to certain nationalities (e.g. France, Canada, or the United Kingdom), but not to Germany.
The entry date is not what matters — the key date is when the online application is submitted. If you apply after your 30th birthday, you no longer meet the age requirement.
What are the requirements in 2026 for the Australian Working Holiday Visa?
The Australian Working Holiday Visa still has clearly defined requirements in 2026. Australian authorities mainly focus on identity, financial stability, and compliance with visa conditions.
The most important requirements include:
- a valid passport covering the full planned stay
- sufficient financial means to support yourself
- meeting the so-called “character requirements”
- compliance with the work restrictions
- suitable travel and health insurance coverage
Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
💰 Financial means | approx. 5,000 AUD |
🏥 Health/travel insurance | strongly recommended |
🧾 Criminal record | “Good character” required |
⏱️ Work | max. 6 months per employer |
Missing or unsuitable insurance often leads to follow-up questions during the visa process and can also cause issues at the border. In practice, continuous coverage for the full stay is clearly expected.
Is travel insurance mandatory for an Australian Working Holiday Visa?
Legally speaking, travel and health insurance is not explicitly mandatory for the Australian Working Holiday Visa. The official visa conditions do not include a formal obligation to have insurance before applying.
In practice, however, Australian authorities expect Working Holiday travellers to be properly insured for their entire stay. This can matter both during the visa application and during entry checks. If you cannot provide suitable proof of insurance, you may face additional questions or delays.
Without insurance, even everyday situations can quickly become expensive. Medical treatment, hospital stays, or an accident can generate very high costs in Australia, which must be paid entirely out of pocket. A medically necessary return to Germany is almost impossible to finance without insurance.
Situation | With insurance | Without insurance |
|---|---|---|
🏥 Doctor or hospital costs | Covered or reimbursed | Fully paid by you |
🚑 Accident or emergency | Covered | Very high personal costs |
✈️ Return transport to Germany | Usually included | Costs can reach tens of thousands of euros |
🛂 Visa application / entry | Proof easy to provide | Possible questions or issues |
😌 Financial security | High | Very low |
In practice, many applications and border checks expect valid insurance coverage for the full duration of the stay.
HelloSafe provides a selection of the best Working Holiday travel insurance plans for Australia. These policies are tailored to WHV travellers, the insurance certificate is available instantly, and a refund is provided if the visa is refused.
Compare the best WHV insurance plansAustralian Working Holiday Visa: Subclass 417 or 462 – which visa do Germans need?
A common question about the Australian Working Holiday Visa is whether Subclass 417 or Subclass 462 is the right option. The confusion mainly comes from the fact that both visas are grouped under the term “Working Holiday”, but they apply to different countries.
For German citizens, the answer is clear:
👉 Germans can only apply for the Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417.
The Subclass 462 visa is designed for other nationalities and has partly different requirements, such as additional education or language proof. These requirements do not apply to German applicants.
Visa type | For Germans |
|---|---|
Subclass 417 | ✅ |
Subclass 462 | ❌ |
During the online application, the correct visa is automatically shown once “Germany” is selected as nationality. This usually makes it easy to avoid choosing the wrong visa type.
How long can Germans stay in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa (1, 2 or 3 years)?
With a Working Holiday Visa, German citizens can initially stay in Australia for up to 12 months. Under certain conditions, it is possible to extend the stay to up to three years.
Extensions are linked to completing eligible work (“specified work”). The more years you plan to stay, the more eligible workdays you must be able to prove.
Visa year | Condition |
|---|---|
🟢 1st year | none |
🌾 2nd year | 88 days of eligible work |
🌱 3rd year | 179 days of eligible work |
Not every job is accepted for an extension. Both the industry and the location matter. If you plan to extend, you should research early and keep clean documentation of all jobs.
What are the 88 days and which jobs count for extending the WHV?
The 88 days equal three months of eligible work and are required to obtain a second Working Holiday Visa. For a third visa, you must prove a total of 179 days. What matters is not only the number of days, but also the industry and work location.
Only so-called “specified work” is accepted. Work outside the eligible sectors or regions does not count, even if it is legal and paid.
Sector | Counts for the 88 days |
|---|---|
🚜 Agriculture / harvest | Yes |
🐄 Livestock / fishing | Yes |
🏗️ Construction | Yes |
⛏️ Mining | Yes |
🏨 Tourism & hospitality (regional) | Yes |
🏙️ Office or city jobs | No |
A common mistake is assuming that any farm or hospitality job automatically counts. That is not the case.
To qualify for an extension, every workday must be properly documented, for example with payslips, contracts, and employer details. Without complete documentation, the work may not be recognised.
A job that is not recognised can result in your entire extension being invalid.
Never stay in Australia without proper insurance — make sure you have the right cover for your entire trip.
Compare the best WHV insurance plansWhat jobs are allowed with an Australian Working Holiday Visa?
With a Working Holiday Visa, you can legally work in Australia to fund your stay. Many jobs are casual or seasonal, with frequent opportunities for backpackers and WHV holders. Keep in mind: for visa extensions, only specific jobs (e.g. farm work) count as eligible work.
Australia has a high minimum wage, which also applies to WHV workers. (The national minimum wage is currently around 24.10 AUD per hour.)
Industry | Typical jobs | Average wage* |
|---|---|---|
🚜 Agriculture | Harvest, farm work | approx. 23–28 AUD/hour |
(≈ €14–17 / hour) | ||
🍽️ Hospitality | Waiting, kitchen work | approx. 23–30 AUD/hour |
(≈ €14–18 / hour) | ||
🏗️ Construction | Labouring | from 25 AUD/hour |
(≈ €15 / hour and more) | ||
⛏️ FIFO jobs (mining) | Helper, driver | approx. 35–45 AUD/hour |
(≈ €21–27 / hour) | ||
⚠️ FIFO (annual salary) | Entry-level roles | 55,000–70,000 AUD/year |
(≈ €33,500–42,700 / year) |
*Estimates before tax, depending on region, season, and employer.
Australia has one of the highest legal minimum wages in the world. Working Holiday Visa holders are entitled to the national minimum wage, regardless of origin or visa type.
How much does an Australian Working Holiday Visa cost in 2026?
The cost of a Working Holiday Visa is not limited to the visa fee alone. In addition to the official price, you should also plan for required and additional costs linked to the application and entry.
Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
🛂 Visa | approx. 650 AUD |
🏥 Insurance | depends on provider |
💳 Minimum budget | ≥ 5,000 AUD |
The visa fee is paid directly when submitting the online application. In addition, Australian authorities expect you to have enough funds to get started. These funds may be checked when you enter Australia.
Comparing travel and health insurance before departure can save several hundred euros and helps you choose the right protection for the full duration of your stay.
FAQ
Yes. Without a Tax File Number (TFN), you cannot work properly in Australia. Employers need it to register you and tax your salary correctly.
The application is free and can be done online after you arrive. Without a TFN, your income will initially be taxed at a higher rate until you provide it.
As early as possible after arrival. Many apply within the first few days, as soon as they can provide an address.
The sooner you have your TFN, the fewer issues you will face with payroll and taxes.
WHV holders are treated as Working Holiday Makers for tax purposes. This means your income is taxed at a fixed rate from the first dollar.
This rate is higher than for Australian tax residents, but it is clearly regulated by law.
Yes. If you have worked, you generally must submit a tax return (Tax Return).
This also applies if you only worked for a few months or have already left Australia.
That depends on your income and how much tax you already paid.
In many cases, WHV travellers receive a partial refund, especially if they worked only briefly or overpaid tax.
Yes. Superannuation is Australia’s retirement savings system. Your employer automatically pays contributions into a super fund — even for short-term jobs.
The money belongs to you, but it is locked for the time being.
After permanently leaving Australia, you can claim it back through the DASP process.
However, a high tax rate is deducted. Many travellers are surprised by how much is taken.
Common mistakes include:
- not filing a tax return
- opening multiple super accounts and losing track
- missing refund deadlines
- making incorrect assumptions about tax-free income
Good organisation saves time and money in the end.
A return ticket is not mandatory, but you must be able to prove that you can leave Australia again.
This can also be shown through sufficient funds to buy a ticket later.
Yes. Changing jobs is explicitly allowed.
However, remember the rule that you can work for a maximum of six months for the same employer (with a few exceptions).
Without completing 88 days of eligible work, you cannot extend to a second WHV.
Your first visa will still remain valid until it expires normally.
Yes. The Working Holiday Visa allows multiple entries and exits as long as the visa is valid.
Yes — for most people, as long as expectations are realistic.
Australia still offers good wages, international experience, and a lot of flexibility. At the same time, rents are expensive and job hunting can take time, especially in major cities.
The WHV is particularly worthwhile for flexible travellers who are willing to take on basic jobs. It is less suitable for those who expect immediate job security or a clear career step.
