Working Holiday Visa Australia at 31-35: Germany, South Korea, Finland and Cyprus now eligible (July 2026)
hought you had missed the Working Holiday window? If you hold a German, South Korean, Finnish or Cypriot passport, you just got five more years.
On 1 July 2026, the Australian Government raised the maximum age for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) from 30 to 35 for these four countries. The change is the result of updated bilateral agreements and it took effect immediately for applications lodged on or after that date.
Here is everything you need to know, including a rule change about when your age is assessed that catches people out.
What changed on 1 July 2026
Two things, and both matter.
1. The age limit went up for four countries. Passport holders from Germany, South Korea, Finland and Cyprus can now apply for a subclass 417 visa if they are aged 18 to 35 inclusive. Until 30 June 2026, the cutoff for these countries was 30.
2. Your age is now checked at lodgement, not at grant. The age requirement moved from the visa grant stage to the application stage. In practice, this means you must be within the age range on the day you lodge. If you are not, the system will not accept your application at all, so you can no longer lodge, pay the fee, and get refused later. This applies to all Working Holiday Maker applicants, not just the four new countries.
The second change is actually good news. Under the old rules, some applicants lost their application charge on a refusal. Now the eligibility check happens before you pay.
Which countries can apply up to 35
With this update, ten countries now have access to the Working Holiday visa up to age 35:
| Country | Maximum age | Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 35 | Subclass 417 |
| Cyprus | 35 (new, July 2026) | Subclass 417 |
| Denmark | 35 | Subclass 417 |
| Finland | 35 (new, July 2026) | Subclass 417 |
| France | 35 | Subclass 417 |
| Germany | 35 (new, July 2026) | Subclass 417 |
| Ireland | 35 | Subclass 417 |
| Italy | 35 | Subclass 417 |
| South Korea | 35 (new, July 2026) | Subclass 417 |
| United Kingdom | 35 | Subclass 417 |
All other subclass 417 countries remain at 30, and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) age limits are unchanged. The government did issue a new instrument for the 462 on the same day, but it only tidied up the administrative framework. No new countries, no new age limits.
What "up to 35" actually means
You are eligible as long as you have not turned 36 on the day you lodge your application. So if you are 35 years and 11 months old, you can still apply.
A few practical points:
- The age test applies each time you apply. If you are going for a second or third Working Holiday visa, you need to be 35 or under at that lodgement too.
- You do not need to be in Australia or outside Australia at a specific age. Only the lodgement date counts.
- Being granted the visa at 35 means you can arrive and activate it within the usual 12-month window, even after turning 36.
What this means if you are 31-35 and from one of the four countries
Realistically, applying in your thirties is a different experience from applying at 22. A few things to plan for:
Budget. You still need to show access to sufficient funds, generally around AUD 5,000 plus the cost of an onward or return fare. Visa application charges also increased on 1 July 2026, so check the current fee before lodging. We covered the full fee changes in our guide to the Australian visa fee increases from July 2026.
Driving. If you plan to drive in Australia, your German, Korean, Finnish or Cypriot licence will need either an International Driving Permit or a certified NAATI translation, depending on the state and how long you stay. For most working holiday makers settling in one place for several months, a NAATI translation is the more practical option. We compared both in our guide to IDP vs NAATI translation for driving in Australia.
Documents. Bring or prepare digital copies of your birth certificate, police checks, qualifications and any medical records. If they are not in English, Australian authorities, employers and licensing bodies will only accept translations done by a NAATI-certified translator.
Work at 31-35. Nothing changes on the work rights side. Same 6-month limit per employer, same option to unlock a second and third year through specified work. If anything, older applicants tend to land better-paid roles, especially with trade or professional experience.
Why Australia raised the limit
Australia has been progressively lifting the Working Holiday age cap through bilateral negotiations since 2019, starting with Canada and Ireland. The pattern is consistent: partner countries negotiate reciprocal access for Australians, and Australia gains workers in sectors with chronic shortages such as hospitality, agriculture and construction.
Germany and South Korea are two of the largest Working Holiday source countries, so this round is significant. Expect a wave of new arrivals from late 2026 as the news spreads.
How to apply
- Check you hold an eligible passport and are 18 to 35 on the day you lodge.
- Gather your documents: passport, proof of funds, and any translations you need.
- Create an ImmiAccount and lodge your subclass 417 application online.
- Wait for the grant before booking flights. Processing times vary, but most applications are decided within weeks.
FAQ
I am 34 and German. Can I apply? Yes. You can lodge a subclass 417 application any time before your 36th birthday.
I turned 31 last year and thought I had missed out. Do I get another chance? Yes, if you hold a passport from Germany, South Korea, Finland or Cyprus. The new limit applies to all applications lodged from 1 July 2026, regardless of when you turned 31.
Does the change apply to second and third Working Holiday visas? Yes. The 18-35 range applies at each lodgement, so you could in theory start at 35 and complete a second year at 37.
Did the age limit change for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)? No. The 462 instrument issued on 1 July 2026 was administrative only. Age limits for 462 countries are unchanged.
Do I need my documents translated? If any document is not in English (driving licence, birth certificate, police check, diploma), you will need a certified translation from a NAATI-accredited translator for it to be accepted in Australia.
Get your documents ready before you land
If you are planning your move, sort your translations before you arrive. EzyTranslate provides NAATI-certified translations of driving licences, birth certificates and other documents from German, Korean, Finnish and Greek, delivered digitally within 24 hours and accepted Australia-wide.
