Student Visa 500 vs Working Holiday 417 at a Glance
#The right visa depends on your primary purpose. Use the Student Visa (subclass 500) for full-time CRICOS-registered study. Use the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) for an extended holiday supported by temporary work if your passport and age qualify.
| Feature | Student Visa (subclass 500) | Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Full-time study | Holiday with temporary work |
| Main eligibility | CoE, Genuine Student, OSHC, and required English/financial evidence | Eligible passport, age, funds, and first/second/third-visa criteria |
| Standard 2026 primary fee | A$2,500 | A$840 |
| Study | Full-time CRICOS course | Up to 4 months |
| Work | Usually 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited during scheduled breaks | Broad work rights, usually no more than 6 months with one employer unless an exception or permission applies |
| Typical first grant | Aligned with course, within sector limits | Up to 12 months |
| Health cover | OSHC generally required | Travel/health insurance strongly recommended; Medicare access depends on circumstances |
| Family | Eligible partner and children can be included | Cannot include dependent children on the visa |
Neither visa guarantees permanent residence. Each has separate conditions and any later visa requires a new application.
Choose the Student Visa When Study Is the Main Goal
#The Student Visa (subclass 500) is the appropriate route when you intend to complete a degree, diploma, vocational qualification, school program, postgraduate research course, or eligible English-language course lasting more than the short study period allowed on a working-holiday visa.
You normally need:
- A valid Confirmation of Enrolment for a CRICOS course
- A credible Genuine Student case
- OSHC for the required period
- English and financial evidence when required by the Home Affairs checklist
- Approved welfare arrangements if under 18
Most students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Master's-by-research and doctoral students generally have unrestricted work hours after their course starts.
Choose this visa because the course itself is worthwhile. Student work rights cannot replace proof of funds, and completing an Australian qualification does not automatically produce a graduate visa or PR.
Choose the Working Holiday Visa When Travel Is the Main Goal
#The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) suits eligible passport holders who want a 12-month holiday and intend to use temporary employment to help fund the trip.
Eligibility depends on your passport and age. The usual age range is 18 to 30, with an upper limit of 35 for specified partner countries. First-visa applicants generally apply from outside Australia and must show enough money for the initial stay plus onward travel.
Subclass 417 permits up to four months of study or training. It is therefore not a substitute for a multi-year degree. Work is flexible, but condition 8547 generally limits work with one employer to six months unless an exemption applies or Home Affairs gives permission.
A second or third Working Holiday Visa can be available after qualifying specified work and other requirements. Those later grants are not automatic, and the required work, location, evidence, and timing must match the rules for the application.
Fees, Funds, and Health Cover
#For most applications lodged from 1 July 2026, the standard Student Visa primary charge is A$2,500 and the Working Holiday Visa 417 charge is A$840. Charges can change and payment surcharges can apply, so verify them in Home Affairs' pricing estimator.
The larger financial difference is not the application fee alone:
- Student applicants can be required to show A$29,710 for 12 months of personal living costs, plus tuition, travel, and family costs.
- Working Holiday applicants generally need sufficient initial funds, commonly evidenced around A$5,000, plus an onward fare or funds to buy one.
- Students normally need compliant OSHC for themselves and accompanying family.
- Working Holiday holders should arrange suitable health insurance; access to Medicare depends on citizenship and reciprocal arrangements.
Do not choose a Working Holiday Visa merely to avoid the student financial test if full-time study is your actual purpose. Equally, do not pay for a long CRICOS course only to obtain broader travel time if study is not genuinely your main reason for applying.
Switching Visas and Planning What Comes Next
#Changing purpose requires a new visa application; the conditions do not convert automatically. Before applying in Australia, check whether your current visa permits an onshore application and whether a No Further Stay condition applies.
A Working Holiday holder who later chooses substantial study needs a CoE and must meet all Student Visa requirements, including Genuine Student, funds, English evidence where required, and OSHC. A Student Visa holder who later wants subclass 417 must independently meet the passport, age, location, and prior-visa rules.
After eligible Australian study, some graduates consider the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). A Working Holiday holder may consider a second or third 417 after qualifying specified work. Neither pathway guarantees employer sponsorship or permanent residence.
Compare the actual activity you intend to do over the next year. If the calendar is built around classes and qualification outcomes, use the student route. If it is built around travel with incidental work and no more than four months of study, a working holiday is usually the closer fit.
Decision Checklist
#Ask these questions before applying:
-
Is full-time study or travel the genuine primary purpose?
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Does your passport qualify for subclass 417, and are you within its age limit?
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Will your study exceed four months?
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Can you meet the Student Visa financial and OSHC requirements?
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Do you need to bring a partner or dependent child?
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Are the student work limit or the working-holiday employer limit compatible with your plans?
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Are you eligible to lodge from your current location?
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Is the planned course valuable even if no later Australian visa is granted?
Use the official Home Affairs pages for the final comparison. Conditions and charges can change, and the grant notice controls the rights of an individual visa holder.