Head to head · Checked 30 October 2026
417 Working Holiday vs 462 Work and Holiday
You do not choose between them; your passport does. The 417 covers the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, most of Western Europe and several Asian countries; the 462 covers the United States, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and a longer list of partner countries, some with a ballot and most with an annual cap. Both give twelve months of work and travel, both allow a second and third visa on specified work, and the differences are in age limits by country, the 462’s education and English requirements for some nationalities, the ballot, and the specified work that counts.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 30 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Who
- Passport holders of the 417 partner countries · Passport holders of the 462 partner countries
- Age
- 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada and others · 18 to 30, or 35 for a few countries
- Extra requirements
- None beyond the standard criteria · Education and English requirements for most nationalities; a ballot for some
- Cap
- No annual cap · Annual caps for most countries
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About the CPD →Side by side
| 417 Working Holiday | 462 Work and Holiday | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Passport holders of the 417 partner countries | Passport holders of the 462 partner countries |
| Age | 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada and others | 18 to 30, or 35 for a few countries |
| Extra requirements | None beyond the standard criteria | Education and English requirements for most nationalities; a ballot for some |
| Cap | No annual cap | Annual caps for most countries |
| Length | 12 months, up to 3 years with specified work | 12 months, up to 3 years with specified work |
| Government charge | $840 for a first or second visa; $1,000 for a third | Set at the same level as the 417; see the fees page |
| Specified work | Regional farm, construction, mining and other listed work; UK passport holders exempt | Northern or regional Australia in listed industries, including tourism and hospitality |
| Watch out | The 6-month limit with one employer unless permission is granted | The ballot timing and the cap for your country |
Charges are the current government application charges (from 1 July 2026, main applicant) — see the fee calculator for your family's total. Checked 30 October 2026.
The honest verdict
You do not choose between them; your passport does. The 417 covers the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, most of Western Europe and several Asian countries; the 462 covers the United States, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and a longer list of partner countries, some with a ballot and most with an annual cap. Both give twelve months of work and travel, both allow a second and third visa on specified work, and the differences are in age limits by country, the 462’s education and English requirements for some nationalities, the ballot, and the specified work that counts.
Which side of that line you fall on depends on facts a table cannot hold — your age, score, occupation's lists, and what evidence you can actually assemble. That is consultation territory, not guesswork territory.
More head-to-heads: 482 vs 494 · 190 vs 491 · 189 vs 190 · 482 vs 186
General information only, not migration advice. Settings shown are the general rules; exemptions and stream variations exist. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
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Questions we get asked first
417 Working Holiday or 462 Work and Holiday — which is better?
You do not choose between them; your passport does. The 417 covers the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, most of Western Europe and several Asian countries; the 462 covers the United States, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and a longer list of partner countries, some with a ballot and most with an annual cap. Both give twelve months of work and travel, both allow a second and third visa on specified work, and the differences are in age limits by country, the 462’s education and English requirements for some nationalities, the ballot, and the specified work that counts.
What is the main difference between the 417 Working Holiday and the 462 Work and Holiday?
Who: 417 Working Holiday — Passport holders of the 417 partner countries; 462 Work and Holiday — Passport holders of the 462 partner countries. Age: 417 Working Holiday — 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada and others; 462 Work and Holiday — 18 to 30, or 35 for a few countries. Extra requirements: 417 Working Holiday — None beyond the standard criteria; 462 Work and Holiday — Education and English requirements for most nationalities; a ballot for some.
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