Staying three years in the same country on Working Holiday Visa is almost an exception. However, Australia is a unique case: after a first and second Working Holiday Visa (WHV Subclass 417) , it is possible, under strict conditions, to apply for a third Australian Working Holiday Visa . Since July 1, 2019, the Australian government has allowed a third year for WHV holders who completed 179 days of specified work during their second visa. This measure aims to provide long-term support to regions and sectors facing labor shortages, particularly in regional areas.

For Belgian citizens, this opportunity represents the chance to legally extend an already well-established experience. However, be aware: this is neither an automatic extension nor a simple administrative renewal. A third Working Holiday Visa in Australia requires a completely new application , adherence to eligibility criteria (age, eligible work, legal status), and meticulous preparation of supporting documents.

In this article, we detail precisely the conditions for obtaining a third Working Holiday Visa in Australia, the role of the Bridging Visa, the sectors concerned and the official application steps.

1. What is the 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia (Subclass 417)?

The 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia corresponds to a third participation in the Working Holiday Visa program (WHV Subclass 417). It allows eligible Belgian nationals to extend their stay in Australia for a maximum of 12 additional months , after a first and second Working Holiday Visa has been validated.

As with the first two years, this visa offers:

• the right to work legally in Australia ;
• the possibility of traveling freely within the territory;
• access to short-term training courses or programs ;
• the freedom to change employers .

This is not an automatic extension of the second visa. The third Working Holiday Visa constitutes a new, separate application , subject to specific conditions set by the Department of Home Affairs.

An exception to the single Working Holiday Visa principle

In most countries offering a Working Holiday Visa , it is only possible to obtain the visa once. Australia is an exception, allowing, under certain conditions, a second and then a third participation in the program.

For holders of the Subclass 417 visa (which includes Belgians), this possibility is based on a clear principle: having contributed to the Australian economy in sectors and regions identified as priorities.

Duration and calculation logic

The third Australian Working Holiday Visa is valid for a maximum of one year . If all three visas are taken consecutively from Australia, the final expiry date will be:

Date of entry into Australia with the first Working Holiday Visa + 36 months

This point is important: Australia does not allow more than three cumulative consecutive years under a Working Holiday Visa.

2. Conditions for obtaining a 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia

The third Working Holiday Visa in Australia is neither automatic nor guaranteed. It is based on specific criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs under the Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417 program. For Belgian citizens, here are the main conditions to be met.

1. Have completed 179 days of “specified work” during the 2nd Working Holiday Visa

This is the determining factor for accessing the 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia (Subclass 417) . The Australian government requires that you have completed:

At least 179 days of specified work during your 2nd Working Holiday Visa.

You must have completed these six months of “specified work” (minimum 179 calendar days) after July 1, 2019, the date of entry into force of the scheme allowing the granting of a third Working Holiday Visa.

What “179 days” really means

It's not simply a matter of having worked "six months" in a general sense. The Department of Home Affairs applies a precise logic:

• These are calendar days , not just days actually worked.
• If you work full time (5 days a week), weekends can be counted in the period.
• A day, even one of 12 hours, counts as only one day .
• The days do not necessarily have to be consecutive.
• You can have multiple employers.

On the other hand :

• Undeclared work never counts.
• Work-for-housing exchanges (work exchange type) are not eligible.
• The days completed during your first Working Holiday Visa cannot be carried over.

The strategic role of the Bridging Visa

A frequently misunderstood point concerns the Bridging Visa . If you applied for your second Working Holiday Visa from Australia just before your first visa expired, you automatically received a Bridging Visa while awaiting a decision. During this period:

• you were in a legal situation;
• you could work;
• Your eligible work counts towards the 3rd Working Holiday Visa.

In practical terms, you can include in the calculation of the 179 days any work completed between the end of your first visa and the activation of your second visa. However, please note: the work must be related to your second application, not your first year.

A strict rule: only during the 2nd Working Holiday Visa

This is where many people go wrong. Even if you worked 10 months on a farm during your first Working Holiday Visa, this grants you access to the second visa (if you have worked 88 days) , but it cannot be used for the third. The government is very clear:

The 179 days must be completed during the 2nd Working Holiday Visa (or associated Bridging Visa).

There is no possibility of "carryover" from one year to the next.

2. You must operate your business in an eligible sector and region

For your 179 days to be taken into account for a 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia (Subclass 417) , you must meet two cumulative conditions:

1. You must be employed in a sector that is officially recognized as “specified work” .
2. You must perform this work in an eligible geographical area , as defined by the Australian government.

If you do not meet one of these two criteria, the administration will not count your days, even if you have worked six full months.

Eligible sectors (“specified work”)

The third Working Holiday Visa in Australia is based on the same eligible sectors as the second visa . The Australian government defines these sectors to address labor shortages, particularly in rural areas.

The so-called “historical” sectors

These are the most well-known among Working Holiday Visa holders:

• Agriculture and horticulture
  (fruit picking, packing, planting, irrigation, livestock farming…)
• Livestock farming and pastoral work
  (cattle farms, sheep farms, dairies…)
• Fishing and aquaculture
• Forestry
  (planting, felling, forest management)
• Mining
• Construction and public works

These sectors have formed the basis of the system for several years. They aim to support rural areas where the local workforce is insufficient.

The sectors expanded in recent years

Following the major fires, floods, and health crisis , Australia has progressively expanded eligibility for “specified work”. The following can now be considered (depending on specific dates and areas):

• some jobs in tourism and hospitality , particularly in northern Australia;
• natural disaster recovery work (reconstruction after fires, floods, cyclones);
• bushfire recovery work;
• certain jobs in the health sector related to Covid-19 (during specific periods).

Please note: eligibility always depends on very specific criteria (dates, exact nature of the position, location). A job in the hotel industry, for example, will not automatically be accepted if it is located in a major metropolitan area.

Official source:  Australian Government – ​​Home Affairs: Specified Work

Location: Regional Australia

This is the most common mistake. A job may be eligible by nature… but refused if it is located in an unrecognized area . The work must be carried out in what Australia calls:

Regional Australia

This generally excludes major metropolitan areas:

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Canberra

Some areas around these cities may be accepted, but this depends strictly on the postal code .

Before accepting a job, always check the postcode of the workplace on the Australian government list https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/ (section specified work and regional areas ). Simply enter your prospective employer's postcode to immediately see if the area counts towards your third work permit.

Tip: Keep a copy of the eligible postcode and region name in your documents; this will be useful when you make your official application.

Special case: working more than 6 months for the same employer

As a general rule, a Working Holiday Visa holder cannot work for the same employer for more than 6 months . However, exceptions exist for:

• the specified work in the region;
• certain sectors are under strain.

It is crucial to verify whether an authorization extension is necessary.

For more details, see this article: Everything you need to know about a second Working Holiday Visa in Australia

3. Respect the age limit and choose the right time to deposit

As with the first and second visas, you must meet a strict age limit to obtain a third Working Holiday Visa in Australia (Subclass 417). For Belgian citizens, you must:

be between 18 and 30 years old inclusive at the time of application

You must submit your application before your 31st birthday.

Age is verified at the time of registration, not activation

This is a crucial point. It's not your age at the time of entry into Australia that matters,
but rather your age when you officially submit your application via ImmiAccount . Specifically:

• If you are 30 years and 364 days old at the time of deposit, it is valid.
• If you are 31 years old on the day of submission, the application will be refused.

There are no exceptions.

Case study: you are already in Australia on your second Working Holiday Visa

If you are currently in Australia and your second visa is still valid:

• You can submit your application for a 3rd Working Holiday Visa even the day before it expires.
• You will automatically be switched to Bridging Visa during processing.
• Your new visa will be activated at the end of the previous one.

Important: The final expiry date will be calculated from your first entry into Australia on a Working Holiday Visa . If you use all three visas consecutively, the logic is as follows:

Arrival date with the first Working Holiday Visa + maximum 36 months

The government ensures that the cumulative period does not exceed three consecutive years.

Case study: you are outside of Australia

If your second visa has expired and you have returned to Belgium (or elsewhere):

• You must submit the application from outside the building.
• You must wait until you obtain the visa before returning to Australia.
• You will then have 12 months to enter the territory.
• Once there, your visa will be valid for 12 months.

In this case, the total duration may extend beyond three calendar years, as visas are not chained together without interruption.

3. The official procedure for applying for a 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia

The third Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) must be applied for exclusively online, through your personal account on the Department of Home Affairs website. This is a completely new application , even if you have already obtained two Working Holiday Visas previously.

Step 1: Log in to your ImmiAccount

The application is made on the official Australian government website, via your ImmiAccount . If you have already made previous applications online, you must use the same account. Creating a new account is strongly discouraged unless you have completely lost access to your previous one.

Step 2: Select the correct visa

You must select:

Working Holiday Visa – Subclass 417

Be careful not to confuse this with the Subclass 462 visa (Work and Holiday), which applies to other nationalities. As a Belgian citizen, you are eligible for visa 417 .

Step 3: Fill out the online form

The form includes questions similar to those of the 1st and 2nd Working Holiday Visas:

• identity and passport;
• history of stay in Australia;
• state of health;
• possible criminal records;
• details regarding your 179 days of specified work.

This is where precision is essential. You will need to declare:

• the periods worked;
• the employers concerned;
• the sectors of activity;
• the locations.

Supporting documents may be requested immediately or at a later date.

Step 4: Provide the necessary documents

The documents generally required include:

• copy of passport;
• proof of the 179 days (pay slips, contracts, bank statements);
• possibly a criminal record;
• possibly medical examinations (if requested).

It is recommended that you have scanned all of your documents before starting the application.

Step 5: Pay the visa fees

In 2025, the fees for a Working Holiday Visa are:

670 AUD

Payment is made online by credit card. Once payment is validated, your application is officially submitted.

Step 6: Wait for the decision

The delivery times vary:

• Some visas are granted in a matter of minutes;
• others may take several weeks;
• Longer delays are possible if additional medical examinations or evidence are requested.

During this time :

• If you are in Australia and your second visa expires, you will automatically switch to a Bridging Visa .
• If you are outside Australia, you must wait for the agreement before entering the territory.

The confirmation email

If your visa is granted, you will receive an email stating:

“You have been granted a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)”

Your visa is electronically linked to your passport. Feel free to print the acceptance letter, just in case.

The rights of Working Holiday Visa holders

Even on your third Working Holiday Visa, you have the same rights as Australian workers . This includes, in particular:

• the holidays and breaks provided for by Australian legislation;
• payment for overtime or night work, according to the applicable collective agreement (Award);
• the freedom to change employers while respecting visa rules;
• the right to report any abusive situation to the Fair Work Ombudsman .

If you have any doubts or difficulties, you can consult the official website: https://www.fairwork.gov.au or contact the multilingual helpline on 13 13 94 (from Australia).

In summary: the 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia, a third year with conditions

Obtaining a 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia allows you to legally extend your stay for up to three consecutive years under the Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417. This third year is subject to strict criteria: 6 months of specified work (minimum 179 calendar days), compliance with eligible zones and sectors, age limit and an application submitted according to the rules.

Thorough preparation, complete supporting documents and a good understanding of official requirements are essential to avoid any refusal.

Need support for your 3rd Working Holiday Visa in Australia?

At VisaVacancesTravail.be , we support young Belgians at every stage of their project:

• personalized advice tailored to your situation;
• assistance with administrative procedures.
• assistance with job searching in regional areas,
• handling of all bookings (job assistance / guaranteed job, optional English courses, accommodation, flights…).

You can also participate in a free online information session to discover our Working Holiday Visa packages for Australia , from the Basic Package (settling in + administrative procedures) to the Plus Package (guaranteed job, eco-volunteering, half-pair...). Don't hesitate to contact us!