Working Holiday Visa Age Now 35 for Korea, Germany, Finland and Cyprus

If you hold a passport from South Korea, Germany, Finland or Cyprus, the door to a Working Holiday visa just opened wider. From 1 July 2026, the maximum age for a subclass 417 Working Holiday visa rose from 30 to 35 for citizens of these four countries. If you had quietly written the idea off because you thought you had aged out, it is worth another look.

This guide sets out what actually changed, a timing point that catches people out, and what the visa can and cannot do for you, because a Working Holiday visa is often the first step in a much longer plan.

What changed on 1 July 2026

Until now, most subclass 417 applicants had to be between 18 and 30 at the time they applied. A handful of countries had already negotiated a higher cap of 35. On 1 July 2026, four more joined that list: Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea. Citizens of these countries can now apply for a subclass 417 visa if they are aged 18 to 35 inclusive.

The change comes from bilateral arrangements between Australia and each of those countries, and it is reflected on the Department of Home Affairs Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) page and the department’s Working Holiday Maker program news.

The timing point people miss

Your age is assessed at the moment you lodge the application, not when a case officer decides it. You can apply up to 11:59 pm AEST on the day before your 36th birthday. Lodge in time and a later decision does not matter, even if it lands after you turn 36.

That is a generous rule, but the deadline is fixed and unforgiving. A document that fails to upload, a payment that does not process, or a passport that needs renewing can all delay lodgement. If you are close to 36, apply well before your 36th birthday. Give yourself a clear buffer so a technical problem does not cause you to miss the deadline.

Why five extra years is a bigger deal than it looks

Raising the cap from 30 to 35 does more than add a few birthdays. It brings in a different kind of applicant. People in their early thirties usually arrive with a trade or a profession, real savings, and a clearer idea of what they want from a year in Australia. This is not only about backpackers and fruit picking anymore.

If that is you, think of the Working Holiday visa as a low-commitment way to test whether Australia is where you want to build something longer term. Work here, see how your occupation is treated, and find out whether an employer would sponsor you or whether your skills line up with a skilled visa. Working in Australia gives you direct information about the local job market and sponsorship prospects that research from abroad cannot provide.

A note for our Korean clients

The Republic of Korea being on this list matters. Korea has always sent a strong cohort of working holidaymakers to Australia, and for many the age-30 ceiling arrived just as they finished study, military service and a first job, right when they were finally ready to go. Five more years changes that calculation entirely.

We act for Korean clients regularly, and we have Korean-speaking lawyers who can talk you through this in your own language. If it helps, start with our Korean-language pages and then come and talk to us about how a working holiday year could set up a longer stay.

What the visa does, and what it does not do

A subclass 417 visa lets you work and travel in Australia for up to twelve months. You can work for any employer, generally for up to six months with a single employer, and study for up to four months. You will need to show you have enough money to support yourself at the start, typically around AUD 5,000. As at 1 July 2026, the application charge is AUD 840 for a first Working Holiday visa and AUD 1,000 for a repeat application, set by the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874), registered on legislation.gov.au.

What it does not do is lead straight to permanent residence. It is a temporary visa. The value, if you want to stay, is in what you do with the year. Time spent in a shortage occupation, references from Australian employers, and a documented work history can all feed into a later skilled or employer sponsored application. Planning that pathway from early in your working holiday year, rather than late, gives you more time to meet the requirements of a subsequent visa.

Should you apply now or wait?

If you are comfortably within the age range and ready to go, there is little reason to wait. If you are approaching 36, apply with room to spare. And if your real goal is to stay in Australia beyond the working holiday, get advice on the pathway before you leave home, so your year here builds toward something instead of just passing.

If you would like a clear read on whether the Working Holiday visa fits your plans, and what comes after it, our team can map it out with you. You can start with our Working Holiday visa guide or get in touch to talk it through.