Specified work and visa conditions
Working Holiday Makers in Australia must comply with the following mandatory conditions:
Those seeking to apply for a second or third WHM visa must also meet specified work requirements to be eligible for a further visa grant.
Visa condition 8547 (max. 6 months work with same employer)
Working Holiday Makers in Australia can work in any occupation or industry while in Australia. This is generally for up to 6 months with one employer.
Mandatory visa condition 8547 limits you to a maximum period of 6 months’ work with any one employer. If your work does not fall within an exemption to condition 8547, you will have to seek permission to work longer than 6 months for the same employer.
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs has made the decision to continue the previous exemption process relating to visa condition 8547. This began from 1 January 2024, and will continue while consultation on the Working Holiday program settings and reform process is underway. This is in line with the Migration Strategy released on 11 December 2023.
If you have submitted a request for approval to work for longer than 6 months for the same employer, you can continue working for the same employer until you receive a written outcome of your request.
You must submit your request before the initial 6-month period lapses. If you submit your request after the initial 6-month period has lapsed, you have to stop working for the same employer and wait for the outcome of your request.
For information on exemptions to condition 8547 and to request permission to work longer than 6 months for the same employer, see 6-month-work-limitation and
Applying for permissions to work longer than 6 months with one employer.
Visa condition 8548 (max. 4 months of study)
Mandatory visa condition 8548 limits you to a maximum period of 4 months study or training during your stay in Australia. The purpose of the condition is to ensure study or training on Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas is incidental. Study should not be the primary intention or purpose for stay, unlike a student visa.
Condition 8548 applies to both subclasses 417 and 462, if you applied on or after 1 July 2006. Condition 8548 applies to all kinds of study undertaken on a full or part time basis.
The study and training limitation applies to each visa. If we grant you a second or third subclass 417 or subclass 462 visa, you will be able to undertake study or training for up to 4 months on each visa.
Correspondence and online courses, which you may otherwise have undertaken outside Australia, or that are provided by an overseas education provider, are not subject to condition 8548. You may undertake such courses with no limit on the period of study. Workplace based training is not considered to be study or training under condition 8548. The WHM program considers workplace based training to be employment.
Specified work arrangements
The Department is temporarily applying flexibility to the specified work requirement. This gives greater weight to the specified work industry. It supports the Government's continued initiatives to address labour shortages in Australia. This means that work that supports the ongoing operations of a specified industry in an eligible postcode may be accepted.
All workers in Australia have the same rights and protections at work. This is regardless of citizenship or visa status.
You can also choose to undertake specified work to become eligible for a second or third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.
UK passport holders can be granted a second or third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa without having to meet any specified work requirements if they apply on or after 1 July 2024 using their UK passport. For more information, see New arrangements for UK passport holders.
For more information on specified work arrangements, see:
