Quarter-life Crisis? Try a Work & Holiday Visa
My quarter-life crisis hit right on time, at the ripe age of 25 years old. After only three years in the corporate world, I was already feeling burned out, anxious, and contemplating the purpose of my life. I literally told my mom that I felt that I was “wasting away” in Seattle. I knew that I couldn’t let all of my 20s happen in the same city, working the same job, living the same routine — that would be too easy, too comfortable. So the obvious logical next step was to quit my job and move to the opposite corner of the world—Australia. I’d heard of a few people doing a work & holiday visa there—it seemed like a relatively easy and quick visa to secure, and it allowed you to live in the country for a year and work if you wanted to. Sounded great.
Being the type B person that I am, I didn’t do much research beforehand. I kind of experienced my way through it (as I do with a lot of things in life). But that’s exactly why I want to write this post—to outline everything I learned about the process for anyone else curious about applying. If you're considering it, here's everything I wish I'd known from the start.
What is the Work & Holiday Visa?
While many countries offer working holiday programs, only a handful are open to U.S. citizens, those being Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Ireland, Singapore, and Japan. These visas are designed to let young people (typically aged 18–30) live, work, and travel abroad for up to a year. They’re a rare chance to immerse yourself in another culture without needing a job offer or employer sponsorship beforehand.
This post focuses specifically on Australia’s program, including the application process and insights from my own experience. On the Australian Work and Holiday visa, you can stay in the country for up to 12 months, with the freedom to take on short-term jobs as you go—whether you’re fruit-picking in the outback, pouring coffees in Melbourne, or snorkeling near the Great Barrier Reef on your days off. If you’re looking for a way to travel long-term while still earning money and building life experience, this is it.
Subclass 417 vs. Subclass 462: What's the Difference?
Australia offers two different iterations of this visa, the subclass 417 (Working Holiday), and the subclass 462 (Work and Holiday)… because why settle on just one when you can have two slightly different versions to keep everyone guessing ??
Well if you’re scratching your head, then I’ll explain. They’re pretty much the same in theory but differ slightly in eligibility, application requirements, and countries involved.
Subclass 417 is primarily for citizens from Commonwealth-associated countries like the UK, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. It often comes with more relaxed requirements (like an age cap up to 35) and easier renewal processes—who would have thought being part of the Commonwealth actually had perks??
Subclass 462—is for the “others”—the U.S., Argentina, China, Ecuador, Greece, just to name a few. It usually has a few more hoops to jump through (like proof of education and English proficiency).
Check your eligibility here:
What Kind of Work Can You Do?
This visa allows you to work anywhere in the country—but there’s a catch. You can’t work for the same employer for more than 6 months. I think the 6-month work limitation is put in place to encourage travelers to explore different industries and boost mobility across the country, which aligns with the cultural exchange aspect of the visa.
Consequently, most of the jobs available to visa holders are geared toward short-term and seasonal work. Think hospitality, farm work, tourism, construction, and more. With Australia facing labor shortages in various industries, these backpackers are stepping in to fill gaps in the workforce, supporting the economy and bolstering the country's labor pool where local workers are in short supply.
While it's possible to find casual office jobs, many employers see you as a temporary hire and are less willing to take you on for corporate roles.
Can You Study?
Yes, you can enroll in a course or educational program on this visa, but only for a maximum of 4 months. If studying is your main goal, it’s better to apply for a student visa.
Eligibility
Age: You must be 18–30 years old when you apply.
Education: Each country has slightly different education requirements, but for the U.S. it is a minimum of a high school diploma. In my application, I submitted my university diploma as my highest/most recent education.
English proficiency: If you are not from an English-speaking country, you need to pass a language test or provide proof of language courses.
Sufficient Funds: You must have at least $5,000 AUD in your bank account to be able to support yourself while in Australia. I provided a bank statement in my application showing proof of funds.
Health requirement: The so called ‘health requirement’ was a bit vague. I didn’t end up having to submit a specific medical exam, but the requirement likely depends on your nationality—you’ll be able to tell if you need to submit one in your online application.
Application Must-Knows
Cost: $650 AUD (around $420 USD), paid at the time of application. This is non-refundable—even if your visa is denied or you change your mind.
Apply from outside Australia: You must be offshore when you apply and when your visa is granted. The government says not to book your travel to Australia until after you have been granted your visa in writing.
Processing time: It varies. Officially, they say 30–120 days. But I actually got mine approved immediately after submitting it… kinda suspicious. I would definitely still be super safe and apply 3-6 months (or even longer) before you intend to arrive in Australia.
Visa Caps: Excluding the United States where there is no visa cap, all other countries have a limited number of visas available each year. The program year runs from July 1 to June 30, and once the cap is reached for a specific country, no more visas will be granted for that year. You can check the current status of country caps here: Visa Country Caps.
How Long Can You Stay?
You have 12 months to enter Australia after your visa is granted.
The visa becomes active the day you enter the country.
You can stay for up to 12 months, with multiple entries and exits allowed.
You can apply for a 2nd and even a 3rd year by completing specific regional work (more on that below).
Specified Regional Work (aka “The 88 Days”)
Most people on this visa end up falling in love with Australia and want to stay longer. To qualify for a second year, you need to complete 3 months (or 88 days) of specified regional work in your first year. To qualify for a third year, you’d need an additional 6 months.
What counts as specified work?
This type of work includes industries where Australia faces labor shortages—like:
Farming and harvesting
Fishing and pearling
Construction
Bushfire/natural disaster recovery
Hospitality and tourism (but only in Northern and very remote Australia)
These jobs can be competitive, so it’s smart to get started on finding one early. I highly recommend making it a priority to complete your 88 days within the first 6 months of arriving in Australia. That way you aren’t scrambling trying to find a job or complete your days right before your visa is up.
Even if you’re unsure about staying a second year, I would still encourage you to do your 88 days. It keeps the door open—you never know how you will feel at the end of the first year and you don’t want to regret not having the opportunity to stay longer in Australia. Plus, doing your 88 days is like a right of passage on this visa. It’s a chance to give back to the country that’s letting you live and work there.
Final Thoughts
If your quarter-life crisis is hitting and you have a gut feeling that you need a major life rebrand, seriously consider a working holiday visa. This decade of life is meant for exactly this—for taking risks, for fresh starts, for reinventing yourself however many times you need to. Moving to another country is hard and it is scary, but undoubtedly it will challenge you to grow in ways you would never think possible if you stay exactly where you are now. This is the time to move somewhere completely new, to experience life beyond the tiny sliver of the world you know. Do it now, and do it for yourself. You’ll never be any younger than you are right now. If you're curious, even just a little—go for it. You can always move back. But you might just find something that you didn’t even know you were looking for.
“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life." – Robin Sharma
