Processing times · Subclass 417
How long does the subclass 417 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) applications were finalised within 71 days, and 90% within 80 days. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 12 days. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 417 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 71 days | 80 days | 12 days |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 417
How the application moves
- First Working Holiday visas are lodged online from outside Australia and many are decided automatically where identity, age, passport country and funds are straightforward.
- Second and third visas require evidence of the specified work completed, which is assessed manually and can take longer.
What most often slows a 417 application
- Specified-work evidence (payslips, employer references, ABN details) that is incomplete or does not show the required days in an eligible industry and postcode.
- Health examinations where the applicant has spent time in certain countries or intends to work in health or childcare.
What to have ready before lodging
- Proof of funds and an onward ticket or funds for one, and, for a second or third visa, a complete record of specified work with payslips and employer details.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 417 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) applications were finalised within 71 days and 90% within 80 days, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 417 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 417. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462): processing times · fees
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 417 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 417 Working Holiday Visa 2026: Age, Fee & 2nd Year. General information only, not migration advice.