88 days with a United Kingdom passport
United Kingdom passport holders may not need to complete specified work at all: applications for a second or third 417 Working Holiday visa made on or after 1 July 2024 are exempt from the requirement.
The conditions
You must apply using a valid UK passport showing your nationality as British Citizen or British National (Overseas), and apply on or after 1 July 2024. Rule: UK passport holders do not need to meet the specified work requirement when applying for a second or third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa on or after 1 July 2024.
Where specified work counts on a 417 Working Holiday
If you choose to do specified work anyway — or your circumstances change — these are the rules for your visa subclass.
| Work category | Where it counts |
|---|---|
| Plant and animal cultivation | Regional Australia |
| Fishing and pearling | Regional Australia |
| Tree farming and felling | Regional Australia |
| Construction | Regional Australia |
| Mining | Regional Australia |
| Tourism and hospitality | Northern Australia or Remote and Very Remote Australia or Additional tourism and hospitality postcode |
What changed on 1 July 2024
Under the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement, Migration (Specified Subclass 417 Work Exemption) Instrument (LIN 24/039) 2024 exempts UK passport holders from the specified work requirement for second and third Working Holiday (subclass 417) visas, for applications made on or after 1 July 2024.
The exemption applies to valid UK passports showing the holder's nationality as British Citizen — and it includes British National (Overseas) passports. If you previously entered Australia on a 417 using a different passport (for example an Irish one), you can still apply for your second or third visa without specified work, as long as you apply using your UK passport.
What UK passport holders still need to follow
The exemption removes the specified work requirement only. Everything else about the visa still applies: the age window (18–35 for UK applicants), the general 6-month limit on working for a single employer without permission, the 4-month study limit, and health and character requirements.
If you plan to do farm or regional work anyway — many people do for the experience or the pay — nothing stops you; it just isn't required for your next visa.
Check a specific job and town
The checker applies the 417 Working Holiday rules — including any passport exemption — to your exact situation.
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Official sources
Second Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
Department of Home Affairs · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗Third Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
Department of Home Affairs · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗Migration (Specified work and areas for subclass 417 visas) Instrument (LIN 22/012) 2022 — Compilation No. 3
Federal Register of Legislation · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗Working Holiday Maker program
Department of Home Affairs · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗Migration (Specified Subclass 417 Work Exemption) Instrument (LIN 24/039) 2024
Federal Register of Legislation · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗New WHM arrangements for UK passport holders
Department of Home Affairs · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗
Other passports
General information only, based on rules last checked 12 August 2026 — not immigration advice.