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Migration Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Age Criteria) Regulations 2026

🇦🇺 AustraliaWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 30 Jun 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 90%

Current rules

-Age requirements for subclass 417 and 462 are now in Schedule 1. -Applicants must meet the applicable age requirement when they lodge a valid application. -If an applicant meets the age requirement at lodgement, reaching the age limit during processing does not make them ineligible because of their age. -Applicants who are already over the applicable age limit cannot lodge a valid application.

Overview

Australia has enacted new regulations, the Migration Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Age Criteria) Regulations 2026, to modify the age criteria for the Working Holiday Maker programme. These amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 are authorised under the Migration Act 1958 and will take effect on 30 June 2026. The specific nature of the age criteria changes is not detailed in the provided information.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Applicants for Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
  • Applicants for Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
  • Applicants close to the applicable maximum age
  • Applicants whose applications may take time to process

What changed in the latest version

Before

The Migration Regulations listed age requirements for visa subclasses 417 and 462 in Schedule 2. Australia checked an applicant's age when deciding on their visa. An applicant could become too old while their application was being processed.

After

The age requirements for visa subclasses 417 and 462 are now in Schedule 1. Applicants must meet the right age requirement when they send in a complete and correct application. If an applicant meets the age requirement when they send in their application, they will not become ineligible because of their age if they turn too old while Australia processes their application. Applicants who are already over the right age limit cannot send in a complete and correct application.

This change affects who can get a Working Holiday Maker visa because it changes the age rules. Depending on the exact changes, more or fewer people might be able to get this popular visa. This will affect young people travelling and temporary workers who plan to come to Australia.

Explained simply

Australia is changing the age limits for people who want to come work and travel in the country for a short time, which is called the Working Holiday Maker programme. We don't know exactly what the new age limits will be yet, but these changes will start on 30 June 2026.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v3Effective 30 Jun 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    Migration Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Age Criteria) Regulations 2026

    Australia has made new rules called the Migration Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Age Criteria) Regulations 2026. These rules change the Migration Regulations 1994. The Migration Act 1958 allows these changes. This document does not say exactly what the age changes are. The new rules start on 30 June 2026.

Timeline

  1. Takes effect

    30 Jun 2026

    The Migration Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Age Criteria) Regulations 2026 amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to change the age criteria for the Working Holiday Maker programme. The precise nature of these changes is not detailed in the provided text.

Other routes in this country

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