The Ultimate Australian Strategy
Maximize your Australian journey with strategic visa planning. Transition seamlessly from a structured Student Visa into an unrestricted Working Holiday Visa.
Visa Structures Compared
Compare the main Australian visa options for young travellers, side by side.
Subclass 417
Working Holiday
- Unlimited work hours (6-mo limit per employer)
- Study up to 4 months max
- Extendable to 2nd & 3rd years via regional work
- Zero specific educational prerequisites
Subclass 462
Work and Holiday
- Unlimited work hours (6-mo limit per employer)
- Study up to 4 months max
- Extendable to 2nd & 3rd years
- Strict educational & language prerequisites apply
Subclass 500
Student Visa
- ✓ Strict 48 hours/fortnight work cap during active terms
- ✓ Unlimited hours authorized during scheduled breaks
- ✓ Full-time academic study is legally mandated
- ✓ Duration spans entire length of enrolled course
Why Going Student → WHV Pays Off
Doing a Student Visa first, then a WHV, gets you much more out of your time in Australia.
Earn More
Travellers earn $45,000+ on average across both visas. You build local experience working part-time while you study, so you're ready to earn full-time the moment your WHV starts.
- → No slow start when your WHV begins
- → University partner discounts
More Time in Australia
By doing one visa after the other, you can spend 3 to 5 years in Australia. That's plenty of time to settle in, make lasting friends, and explore the country at your own pace.
- → Build a strong network of friends
- → Plan your regional travel without rushing
Stay Compliant
With university support behind you, our travellers reach a 96% compliance success rate. Going through your university makes the switch between visas smooth and stress-free.
- → Help keeping track of your visa rules
- → Smoother, faster processing
Your Journey Timeline
How the path from study to working holiday plays out, step by step.
Settle In and Study
Get to know Australia while you study on the Subclass 500. Keep to the 48-hour-per-fortnight work limit, and start planning your next visa in Year 2.
Pivotal Transition
Convert student status to full working rights precisely. Immediate unthrottling of hour caps. Assemble travel pods from your established academic network.
Earn Without Limits
No cap on how much you can earn. Focus on regional work to extend your stay, and make the most of the adventure.
Which Path Is Right for You?
A simple way to decide based on what matters most to you.
Choose the WHV if you want:
- To earn well and travel freely
- To try out different industries
- To extend your stay with regional work
- To see as much of the country as possible
Choose the Student Visa if you want:
- To gain real skills and a recognised qualification
- To work towards settling in Australia long term
- To put down roots and build a community in one place
- To build professional connections through your university
Start Your Journey
Get transition support, helpful tools, and access to our 15+ partner universities. Plan your path today.