Yes. Anyone on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa can work for you in any industry, full time, part time or casual, with no sponsorship. Check their work rights for free on VEVO, pay them the award rate and 12% super, register with the ATO as an employer of working holiday makers so you can withhold 15% tax, and remember most can stay up to 6 months with you, or longer in hospitality, tourism, agriculture, health, care and childcare.
Last checked: 13 November 2026
Who working holiday makers are
Working holiday makers are young travellers, mostly aged 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for some countries), who come to Australia for up to 12 months at a time to travel and work. They come from the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, South America and many more countries. Most arrive with savings, a good level of English and work experience from home, and they want to start quickly.
There are two visas. The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is for passport holders from countries such as the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan and Korea. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is for countries such as the USA, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Chile, Argentina, Indonesia and Thailand. For you as an employer, both work the same way.
Step 1: check their visa on VEVO
Before someone starts, check they are allowed to work. The Home Affairs VEVO service is free. You need the worker’s permission and their passport details. VEVO shows the visa subclass, expiry date and conditions, including condition 8547, the 6 month work limitation. Save a copy of the result with their employee records.
Step 2: understand the 6 month rule
Most working holiday makers can work for the same employer for up to 6 months. Since 1 January 2024 there are wide exemptions: work in plant and animal cultivation, natural disaster recovery and the critical sectors of agriculture, health, aged care and disability services, childcare, and tourism and hospitality can go past 6 months anywhere in Australia. Some industries in northern Australia are also exempt, and working at a different location resets the clock. We explain it all in our 6 month rule guide.
Step 3: pay them properly
Working holiday makers have exactly the same workplace rights as Australian workers. That means:
- At least the minimum award rate for the job and classification. The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, or $33.05 for casuals with the 25% casual loading, and award rates rose 4.75% on the same date. Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator to find the right rate.
- Penalty rates, overtime and allowances under their award.
- A payslip within one working day of payday.
- Records kept for 7 years.
- Piece rates in horticulture must let them earn at least the minimum hourly rate for their level.
Underpaying visa workers carries heavy penalties, and the Fair Work Ombudsman actively checks industries that hire a lot of travellers.
Step 4: tax and super
Register with the ATO as an employer of working holiday makers. Once registered, you withhold 15% from the first dollar up to $45,000. If you are not registered you must withhold 30%, and penalties can apply. Ask every new worker for a tax file number declaration. If they don’t give you a TFN, you withhold at the top rate.
Super applies too: 12% of qualifying earnings. Since 1 July 2026, Payday Super means the money must reach their fund within 7 business days of each payday, and the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House has closed, so you need another way to pay. Workers can claim their super back when they leave Australia. Our working holiday maker tax guide has the details.
Step 5: help them with second year visa days
To get a second or third Working Holiday visa, most travellers need to do 3 or 6 months of specified work in regional Australia, such as farm work in an eligible postcode. UK citizens no longer need to. If your job counts, say so in your ad: it is one of the strongest reasons a traveller will pick your job. Give accurate payslips, because Home Affairs checks them. See our regional postcode checker.
Why employers hire working holiday makers
- Available now. Most are already in Australia, have a TFN and bank account, and can start this week.
- Flexible. Happy to work weekends, early starts, split shifts and short contracts.
- Experienced. Many are trained baristas, chefs, nurses, tradespeople and office workers at home.
- Mobile. They will move to regional towns, islands and outback stations where locals are hard to find.
Hire working holiday makers for free
Post a job in 2 minutes. Our team checks it, usually within one business day, and every application comes to your email with the CV attached.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sponsor a working holiday maker?
No. The 417 and 462 visas already include work rights. There is no sponsorship, nomination or fee for the employer.
Can a working holiday maker work full time?
Yes. They can work full time, part time or casual. Most work as casuals, but you can offer any type of employment.
Can I employ a working holiday maker as a contractor with an ABN?
Only if they are genuinely running their own business. If they work like an employee, they are an employee, even with an ABN, and you must use the working holiday maker tax rates and pay super. The ATO can apply penalties for getting this wrong.
How do I check if a working holiday maker can work for me?
Use VEVO, the free Home Affairs online check, with the worker’s permission and passport details. It shows their visa, expiry date and any work conditions.
What happens when their 6 months are up?
If your industry is not exempt, they need to move on or work for you at a different location. In some cases they can ask Home Affairs for permission to stay longer, with a support letter from you.
Is it free to advertise on Travellers At Work?
Yes. Posting a job is free, and every application comes to your email with the CV attached.
Sources: Home Affairs: 6 month work limitation, ATO: employers of working holiday makers, Fair Work: minimum wage from 1 July 2026, ATO: Payday Super. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
