Australian Working Holiday Visas and COVID-19

Changes to Australian Working Holiday Visas

On 4 April 2020, the Government announced changes to the Australian Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 and 462) to assist critical sectors during COVID-19.

As part of these changes, Working Holiday Makers (WHM) employed in the critical sectors of health care, aged care, disability care, childcare, food processing and agriculture will be exempt from the six month work limitation with one employer.

Moreover, this group are eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months.

For further information on Australian Working Holiday Visas, please visit COVID-19 FAQs and Minister’s Announcement.

Visa Conditions

WHM visa holders are unable to extend the period of validity of their visa to a later date under current legislation.
There are no legislative provisions for WHM visa holders to defer, freeze or extend a WHM visa that is in effect or a WHM visa that has been granted but is yet to be activated.
In the event a WHM visa holder chooses to depart Australia while their WHM visa remains in effect there is no legislative provision to suspend the validity of their visa until they choose to return at a later date. If they continue to meet the legislative requirements for the grant of a WHM visa they can lodge a fresh application in the future.
The age requirements to apply for a WHM visa remain unchanged. The age range eligibility for WHM visa holders cannot be increased in the event a visa holder had to depart Australia earlier than planned.
Eligibility criteria for the refund of a visa application charge remains unchanged. Please see our website for further details.

Further Information for visa holders is available on the Department’s website. This information will be updated as the Government’s response to COVID-19 evolves.

Working in a critical sector

If you are a Working Holiday Maker who works or intends to work in a critical sector, but haven’t yet completed your 3 or 6 months specified work, you may be eligible for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408 Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream) visa.

This visa allows you to remain in Australia if you have no other visa options and are unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. With this visa you may also continue your work in critical sectors during the pandemic.

For further information see: COVID-19 and COVID-19 FAQs.

The Department of Home Affairs advises that applicants should not book travel arrangements until their visa has been granted.

Travel Restrictions are in place. Please monitor the information available on the Departments’ website.

Further resources

You can click on the below links for more information:

Read more about applying for an Australian working holiday visa.

Visa Go Australia

5.0

Based on 22 reviews

See all reviews Write a review

Visa Go have been really supportive and knowledgeable in terms of the process. Sue Tempany is really knowledgable and responsive to any questions. I would fully recommend visa go. Swift service!

Gemma McGrath

11:12 22 Mar 23

Our process started with an initial conversation with Darren, before we were assigned our emigration agent Sue. The visa process itself is quite complicated, and I don’t know how we’d have even attempted to do this on our own!

Sue was amazing throughout, keeping us updated each step of the way, and providing detailed guidance at the start of each stage, which enabled us to start preparing and collating everything needed for the next part when the time came. Sue’s replies to the many emails that I've sent her way over the course of this process, were always prompt and patient, and nothing ever seemed to much trouble. Sue’s experience and understanding of the processes, timelines and the strict format in which things had to be done, meant that she was able to advise us and provide guidelines, which meant that when we submitted each stage, we were not having to worry about delays due to incomplete applications.

18 months on from that initial meeting - we have now been living and working in Australia for 8 months, and have recently changed onto a permanent visa.

We are extremely glad that we chose to work with Visa Go, and want to say a massive thank you to Sue, Darren and the team for all of their support and assistance throughout.

Lindsay Woolston

01:09 06 Mar 23

This was one of the most difficult challenges of my life to obtain a regional skilled migration visa for Australia. There were so many obstacles and hurdles to jump due to Covid lockdown and a race against ageism rules of turning 45. I certainly could not have done this without the help of visa go! Managed to secure an Invitation to apply from the Australian Government and with the assistance of my wonderful agent managed to fast track my ITA four days before my birthday! Never give up on your dreams. I now have my visa that can lead to PR thanks to Visa Go! You guys were awesome and really appreciate your help. ☺️

Callum Davidson

12:49 20 Aug 22

I can’t thank Kimberley and Darren enough for all the time, effort and support they gave us whilst going through our visa process. They answered any and all questions and made such a daunting undertaking much less stressful with all their advice and guidance. Would highly recommend!

Ashley Fleming

07:28 26 Jul 22

We would just like to say a huge thank you to the Visa Go Australia team, especially Sue our caseworker who has been fantastic since the start, everything went smooth through the whole process, we was kept updated and informed along the way. We would definitely recommend and we can’t wait to head down under now our Visa has been granted. Couldn’t of done it without you. Thank you again!

Sarah Gething

14:17 25 Jul 22

After 4 1/2 years since our first contact with Visa Go Australia, and just over 3 years since starting our process with them, our visa has finally been granted and I cannot thank Sue and Darren enough! We had a very complex skill assessment stage but without Sue helping us with what we had to do, it wouldn’t of been possible without her. I highly recommend using Visa Go if you’re ready to start your journey to Australia or anywhere else, they have made our dreams come true! Thank you Sue, Darren and Kimberley 😁

Darren Castle

04:54 20 Jul 22

I would highly recommend visa go.
Darren always took the time to answer any questions and help me through the process.
Within weeks he had my partner visa submitted and now I have my permanent residency!
I couldn’t thank Darren and the team enough 👍

Chris Lobb

23:35 19 Feb 22

Visa Go Australia are experts in their field.
My case officer, Sue, has been very professional and knowledgeable throughout the process providing great customer service, from providing the documents required to promptly replying to all queries.
So, to Darren, Kimberley and Sue, thank you all for your support to achieve my Visa.

Rosie Whitmarsh

09:38 16 Dec 21

Good and efficient services, clear information on what documents to provide and quick answers to my questions. Got two visas approved with Kimberleys help 😊.

Lesley Botschuyver

03:09 17 Oct 21

Visa Go Australia provided amazing service when applying for a partner visa. They provide great support and advice throughout the process to ensure your application is done perfectly. Kimberley was always very patient answering my questions, and following up on things I missed. I would highly recommend Visa Go to anyone applying for an Australian visa.

Rebecca Wolody

10:01 07 Oct 21

Visa Go were fantastic at helping me secure my partner visa . The whole process was very simple and well explained - and I got the permanent residency after only a few months which was amazing. Kimberley was very helpful and supportive throughout the process and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone!

Sam Hodson

11:11 17 Sep 21

Kimberley and Darren helped myself and my partner with our Australian residencies and we couldn’t be happier. Even through lockdown Kimberley was attentive and on the ball at all times, my visa process took no time at all! I’ve already recommended friends to visa go as they truly know what they are doing and are there to help and make the process as straight forward as possible. Highly recommend!!!

Mary Pegasiou

21:20 16 Sep 21

I used Visa Go to apply for my Partner Visa and I have been super impressed with the service and turnaround time. Kimberley was very thorough with her communication and kept us updated through out the whole process. I can’t recommend the service enough!

Jake Forrest

14:06 20 Jul 21

My agent with Visa go was Kimberley Chatt. She was fantastic the whole way through. Always had very professional and prompt responses whenever I had a query. I felt like she went above and beyond to help me understand each step of the process. I now have my permanent partner visa in Australia and couldn't be happier. She turned what can often be a long arduous ordeal into a streamlined easy process. I would highly recommend this agency to anyone looking to immigrate to Australia. Thanks again Kimberley!

Ross Findlay

09:00 25 Jan 21

My Husband and I used Visa Go Australia to support us through our Visa process. Our Visa advisor was Sue, Sue was great from start to finish, always so helpful and replied to our emails and calls so quickly.
Our visa process took 11 months (as expected for the visa we applied for) and Sue kept us on track and up to date all the time, extremely organised and always happy to help and provide us with her support.
I highly recommend Visa Go Australia, we couldn't imagine trying to go through this process without Sues help and guidance. Samantha Mills

Samantha Mills

20:05 17 Dec 20

Visa Go provided an excellent service. They were professional, helpful and efficient throughout the visa process and Sue, my designated migration agent, always had words of encouragement to help deal with the tedium of the paperwork. I am a professional and I thought using a migration agent was probably unnecessary. I thought I could manage the paperwork process myself. However, it quickly became clear to me that an agent's assistance was very necessary. Visa Go's knowledge was invaluable and I have no hesitation in recommending their services.

Lorna Balfour

11:07 17 Dec 20

Using Visa Go Australia was the BEST decision we made when planning for our move to Australia. My husband is British and needed an offshore 309 spouse visa. Sue made our life so much easier supporting us every step of the way. I was impressed with her knowledge, every question I had was answered quickly and with confidence. There is a huge amount of time and effort your agent does in the background so that you don't have to. I always felt like a priority and that I was in the safe hands of an expert. Not to mention how kind and friendly the agents are. I would highly recommend this company to anyone - 5 star service!

Lisa Garside

19:48 05 Dec 20

Amazing Darren and deanne changed our lives helping us Emmigrate to a new country.

John Docherty

15:17 19 Aug 20

Visa Go Australia were integral in getting our visas granted, without them the whole process would have been so difficult for us to get everything right, they were always so happy to help no matter how silly the question. They split the process up in to manageable chunks and made sure that we were always ready for the next step which really minimised the stress of it all.
Can't thank Darren and Kimberley enough.
Calam, Charlie and Rory

Chaz Manning

20:16 19 Jul 20

Me and my partner Cynthia have successfully been granted our partner visa for Australia and could definitely not have done it without all of the never ending help from Sue. Any visa process is always stressful, yet they helped so much with any problems we had along the way. I can't recommend this company enough! If you're worried about applying for a visa, you can rest assured that with their experience and knowledge, partnered with how lovely they always are even with the smallest of questions that you will be having your visa granted in no time with minimal stress!
Thank so much for all your help!
Jonas & Cynthia

Jonas Forshaw

12:02 27 Jun 20

We were recently granted a PR Visa and the work that Sue puts in in the background is commendable. Darren and Sue have been great to work with over the last 2 years and we were kept up to date the whole way.
I would highly recommend anyone applying for a visa to do it through them.
They made sure we had all the information at every step of they way and nothing was ever a problem if I called or emailed.
Thank you so much to all of the team!
Denny, Victoria and Caitlyn

Victoria Pullinger

09:12 31 May 20

I can not recommend these enough, was with us all the way, even when things got frustrating, no fault of the company, just how long the process takes. You do have to be patient and understand they have to wait on the migration department. It is worth using an agent. They completed a PMV300 for us and are now doing the next stage. It really does unburden a lot of stress during what is a stressful time. Even long after I was given advice and guidance when the job had already been completed. Honest, reliable and understanding. Thank you and keep well all. Marie & Jodie

Marie Curly-Locks

23:10 14 May 20