Three year WHV and changes to Seasonal Worker Program
Update (October 2026)
The third year Working Holiday Maker visa introduced here is still available in 2026. Since 1 July 2024, UK citizens no longer need to do specified work for a second or third 417 visa. The Seasonal Worker Program has since become part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. The Government has also proposed moving second and third year visas to a capped ballot. See “What this means in 2026” below.
Ministers Coleman and Littleproud have announced by media release changes to visa programs that will assist farmers access a larger number of overseas workers.
Changes to Working Holiday Maker visas
• Work and Holiday makers (subclass 462) will be able to undertake regional plant and animal cultivation work in additional priority areas to become eligible for a second visa.
• Extension of the period a WHM (subclass 417 and 462) may work with the same agricultural employer from six to 12 months.
• Introduction of a third year visa option for WHM (subclasses 417 and 462), who from 1 July 2019 onwards complete six months of regional work in the second year.
• Increase the number of places available for Work and Holiday Maker program (subclass 462) by
lifting annual caps available to a number of countries participating in the subclass 462 visa program.
These changes require a strict workforce test to be applied to ensure Australian workers are given the first opportunity for work.
Changes to the Seasonal Worker Program
• Increase work period in Australia to nine months for all workers (currently six months for some countries).
• Increase validity of labour market testing prior to taking on workers from three to six months.
• Reduce out of pocket expenses for employers (workers repay their full travel costs except for the first $300; a reduction from the previous $500).
Working Holiday Maker Visas – third visa amendments
Legislative Instrument – F2019L00196 – Migration Amendment (Working Holiday Maker) Regulations 2019, increases the maximum number of Subclass 417 and 462 visas a person may hold in Australia to three visas.
These Regulations increase the maximum number of ‘working holiday maker’ visas from two to three, where the visa holder meets additional work requirements.
The applicant is required to complete 6 months specified work in specified circumstances in order to be eligible for a third ‘working holiday maker’ visa.
Applicants for third WHV must have undertaken 6 months specified work while holding a second WHV and that this work was carried out on or after 1 July 2019.
This Instrument commences on 1 July 2019.
Subclass 462 – Extra postcodes for areas of work in all states, NT and Norfolk Island
Additional postcodes for NSW, Norfolk Island, the NT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and WA are specified for the work specified in Schedule 4 of this Instrument. Schedule 4 of this Instrument contains a list of jobs in the agricultural industry only.
Work and Holiday visas – Spain and Israel – increases
In common with general increases in the number of working holiday maker, and work and holiday visa places available, further places have been announced for citizens of Spain and Israel.
The number of places available to Spanish citizens will increase to 3,400.
The number for Israeli citizens will increase to 2,500.
These changes came into effect on 28 December 2018.
Citizens of both countries will be eligible to extend their stay for a second and third year where they meet the criteria for those extensions.
Minister Coleman’s full media release is available here
What this means in 2026
Working holiday makers on the Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas can still stay up to three years if they complete specified work in regional Australia: 3 months during the first visa for a second visa, and 6 months during the second visa for a third. Specified work is mostly regional work such as plant and animal cultivation, with some other industries and areas also listed for each visa. Applicants must generally be 18 to 30, or up to 35 for some countries such as Canada, France, Ireland and the UK. Places for 462 visas are capped by country.
The Seasonal Worker Program and the Pacific Labour Scheme were combined into the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which uses the PALM stream of the International Relations (subclass 403) visa. The 403 PALM stream charge is $365 from 1 July 2026.
Proposed change: as part of the September 2026 migration reforms, the Government plans to move second and third year working holiday visas to a capped ballot, with about 45,000 second year and 5,000 third year places, while keeping the regional work requirements. This is not yet law. See our October 2026 migration news.
| First visa | Second visa | Third visa | |
| Specified work needed | None | 3 months of specified work during the first visa | 6 months of specified work during the second visa |
| Applicant charge from 1 July 2026 | $840 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| UK citizens (417) | No specified work needed | No specified work needed (since 1 July 2024) | No specified work needed (since 1 July 2024) |
Working holiday FAQs
Can I still get a third Working Holiday visa?
Yes. You need to complete 6 months of specified work while on your second visa, unless you are a UK citizen on a 417 visa, who is exempt from the specified work requirement since 1 July 2024.
Can I work for the same employer for more than 6 months?
The general limit is 6 months with each employer. There are exceptions, for example for some plant and animal cultivation work and other permitted cases, so check before you agree to stay longer.
Is the Seasonal Worker Program still running?
It is now part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which lets approved employers recruit workers from Pacific countries and Timor-Leste for seasonal and longer term roles.
Will working holiday visas change?
The Government has proposed a capped ballot for second and third year visas. Until the law changes, the current rules apply.
Book a meeting for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.
Who Can Sponsor a Parent Visa? Settled Sponsors and the Form 40 Explained
Aged Parent Visa Age Requirement: Who Qualifies and What Happens if You Apply Too Early
Moving From a 173 or 884 to a Permanent Parent Visa: Timing and the 28 Day Window
Sponsoring Your Parents on the 870 Visa: Sponsor Requirements Explained
Parent Visa Processing Priority: How Direction 117 Changed the Queue