British backpackers in Australia in 2026 are the largest Working Holiday group in the country: the UK received 79,412 Working Holiday (subclass 417) visas in 2024-25, up 68% in a year and nearly four times the 2021-22 total, and 54,989 UK citizens held one on December 31, 2025, or 30.7% of all holders. New Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement rules raised the age limit to 35 and, from July 1, 2024, removed the farm-work requirement for second and third visas. UK grants eased 10.8% in the first half of 2025-26.
British Backpackers in Australia 2026 – Introduction
British backpackers in Australia in 2026 are now a bigger share of the Working Holiday program than at any point in the Home Affairs data in this report. The UK was already the largest source country, and the rule changes under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement pushed its share of all Working Holiday (subclass 417) grants from 24.4% in 2023-24 to 31.2% in 2024-25. The most recent Home Affairs report covers the six months to December 31, 2025.
Terms are used in this report as the Department of Home Affairs defines them. The Working Holiday Maker program has two visas, the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), which UK citizens use, and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). Figures are visa grants, which count each first, second and third visa separately, so they do not equal the number of people. Data run through October 30, 2026, and 2025-26 figures are provisional.
Interesting Facts About British Backpackers in Australia 2026
UK WORKING HOLIDAY VISA, KEY NUMBERS (1 block = 2,000 visas or people)
Grants, 2024-25 | ███████████████████████████████████████▌ 79,412
Holders in Australia, Dec 31, 2025 | ███████████████████████████▌ 54,989
Grants, July to Dec 2025 | █████████████████████ 42,759
Lodgements, 2024-25 | ███████████████████████████████████████▌ 79,649
Grants, 2021-22 | ██████████ 20,090
| Fact | Confirmed Data |
|---|---|
| UK Working Holiday visa grants, 2024-25 | 79,412, up 68.1% from 47,238 |
| UK share of all subclass 417 grants, 2024-25 | 31.2%, the largest of any country |
| UK grants, 2021-22 | 20,090, so 2024-25 was about 3.95 times higher |
| UK holders in Australia, December 31, 2025 | 54,989, 30.7% of 179,386 |
| UK holders in Australia, June 30, 2024 | 29,744 |
| UK grants, July to December 2025 | 42,759, down 10.8% from 47,960 |
| Eligible age for UK applicants | 18 to 35 since July 1, 2023 |
| Specified work for second and third visas | Removed for UK applicants from July 1, 2024 |
| Grant rate, UK first visas, July to Dec 2025 | 99.2% |
| WHM tax rate | 15% on the first $45,000 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program reports, June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2025; Australian Taxation Office.
The UK has been the top source of Working Holiday visas for decades, and the gap widened in 2024-25. The 79,412 grants were about 1.9 times France’s 41,937 and more than three times Ireland’s. Britain accounted for nearly one in three of all subclass 417 visas granted.
Part of the rise came from the same people returning for more visas. UK second visas jumped from 6,300 to 28,606 and third visas from 681 to 8,423 in 2024-25, while first visas rose only 5.3% to 42,383. The grant counts therefore count repeat visas, and they overstate the number of new arrivals.
British Working Holiday Visa Grants by Year: 2020-21 to 2024-25
UK WORKING HOLIDAY (SUBCLASS 417) VISA GRANTS PER YEAR (1 block = 2,000 visas)
2020-21 | ███▌ 7,433
2021-22 | ██████████ 20,090
2022-23 | ███████████████████ 38,177
2023-24 | ███████████████████████▌ 47,238
2024-25 | ███████████████████████████████████████▌ 79,412
| Program year | UK Grants | Change | All 417 Grants | UK Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 7,433 | Border closures | 31,207 | 23.8% |
| 2021-22 | 20,090 | +170% | 79,896 | 25.1% |
| 2022-23 | 38,177 | +90% | 178,306 | 21.4% |
| 2023-24 | 47,238 | +24% | 193,922 | 24.4% |
| 2024-25 | 79,412 | +68% | 254,905 | 31.2% |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program report, June 30, 2025. Percentage changes and shares calculated from published counts.
UK grants fell to 7,433 in 2020-21 when Australia’s borders were closed, then recovered every year. The 2024-25 total of 79,412 is more than ten times the 2020-21 figure.
The UK’s share of the whole program held between 21% and 25% until 2024-25 and then reached 31.2%. In that year the whole program also grew, with grants up 31% to 254,905, so the UK grew faster than the program as a whole. Home Affairs links the program’s growth to age increases and changes to specified work rules.
First, Second and Third Visas: Why UK Grants Surged
UK WORKING HOLIDAY GRANTS BY VISA STAGE, 2024-25 (1 block = 1,000 visas)
First visa | ██████████████████████████████████████████ 42,383
Second visa | ████████████████████████████▌ 28,606
Third visa | ████████▌ 8,423
| UK visa stage | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Jul to Dec 2024 | Jul to Dec 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First visa | 40,253 | 42,383 | 24,706 | 20,702 |
| Second visa | 6,300 | 28,606 | 18,604 | 12,501 |
| Third visa | 681 | 8,423 | 4,650 | 9,555 |
| Total UK grants | 47,238 | 79,412 | 47,960 | 42,759 |
| UK share of all second visas | 18.3% | 39.7% | Not shown | 39.5% |
| UK share of all third visas | 14.5% | 34.6% | Not shown | 52.0% |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program reports, June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
The jump in 2024-25 came from second and third visas. UK second visa grants rose 354% to 28,606, and third visa grants rose 1,137% to 8,423, after UK applicants no longer had to complete regional or farm work to qualify. In the six months to December 2025, the UK took 52.0% of all third visas granted, up from 34.6% for the previous full year.
The mix is shifting again. In July to December 2025, UK first visas fell 16.2%, second visas fell 32.8%, and third visas more than doubled, up 105.5% to 9,555. That pattern fits a wave of Britons who arrived under the new rules now reaching a third year, although Home Affairs does not give a reason.
How Many British Backpackers Are in Australia Now?
UK WORKING HOLIDAY (417) VISA HOLDERS IN AUSTRALIA (1 block = 1,000 people)
June 30, 2024 | █████████████████▌ 29,744
Dec 31, 2024 | ██████████████████████████████ 46,129
June 30, 2025 | ██████████████████████████████████ 50,006
Dec 31, 2025 | ██████████████████████████████████████▌ 54,989| Country | Holders, Dec 31, 2024 | Holders, Dec 31, 2025 | Change | Share, Dec 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 46,129 | 54,989 | +19.2% | 30.7% |
| France | 23,256 | 29,398 | +26.4% | 16.4% |
| Italy | 12,574 | 15,654 | +24.5% | 8.7% |
| Ireland | 18,146 | 14,833 | -18.3% | 8.3% |
| Taiwan | 13,437 | 13,558 | +0.9% | 7.6% |
| South Korea | 12,367 | 13,215 | +6.9% | 7.4% |
| All countries | 164,055 | 179,386 | +9.3% | 100% |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program report, December 31, 2025; June 30, 2025 report for earlier dates.
On December 31, 2025, 54,989 UK citizens held a Working Holiday visa in Australia. That is nearly double the 29,744 at June 30, 2024, and about 1.9 times the number of French holders. The UK share of the 179,386 subclass 417 holders was 30.7%.
These are visas held at a point in time, not arrivals. The UK count rose 19.2% in the year to December 2025 while grants in the half-year fell, likely because holders from the large 2024-25 cohorts are still in Australia on second and third visas, although Home Affairs does not break this down. Ireland, the other large source with age limits to 35, fell 18.3%.
New Rules for British Backpackers: Age 35 and No Farm Work
ELIGIBLE AGE RANGE FOR UK WORKING HOLIDAY APPLICANTS (YEARS) (1 block = 1 year)
Before July 1, 2023 (18 to 30) | █████████████ 13 years
From July 1, 2023 (18 to 35) | ██████████████████ 18 years
| Date | Rule change for UK passport holders |
|---|---|
| May 31, 2023 | Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement enters into force |
| July 1, 2023 | Maximum age for a Working Holiday visa rises from 30 to 35 |
| July 1, 2024 | Specified work requirement removed for second and third visas |
| July 1, 2024 | Arrangements fully implemented; up to three visas, so up to three years |
| July 1, 2024 | Some sectors can keep the same employer past 6 months without permission |
| Standard rule | Work up to 12 months; generally no more than 6 months with one employer |
| Standard rule | Study up to 4 months during the stay |
| Other nationalities | 3 months of specified work for a second visa, 6 months for a third |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program reports (June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2025); Home Affairs arrangements for UK passport holders.
Two changes under the free trade agreement matter most. The age limit rose five years, from 18 to 30 to 18 to 35, widening the eligible span from 13 to 18 years. Since July 1, 2024, UK passport holders no longer have to complete specified work in sectors such as agriculture to qualify for a second or third visa, which other nationalities still must do.
The rule change shows in the data. In 2024-25, 46.5% of all second visas granted did not nominate an industry because of the UK exemption, and by July to December 2025 that share was 47.8%. For third visas, 59.6% of those granted in the latest half-year did not nominate an industry. These shares cover all nationalities, since the exemption is a UK rule.
Where Backpackers Work: Specified Work and Second Visas
SECOND WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS GRANTED, 2024-25, BY INDUSTRY (ALL NATIONALITIES)
Not specified (mostly UK exempt) | ██████████████████████ 33,490
Agriculture, forestry, fishing | █████████████ 20,074
Accommodation and food services | ██████▌ 10,014
Construction | ████ 6,560
Mining | █ 1,841
| Industry of specified work | Second visas, 2024-25 | Share | Third visas, 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not specified | 33,490 | 46.5% | 10,742 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 20,074 | 27.9% | 6,332 |
| Accommodation and food services | 10,014 | 13.9% | 2,898 |
| Construction | 6,560 | 9.1% | 2,859 |
| Mining | 1,841 | 2.6% | 1,519 |
| Total | 71,979 | 100% | 24,350 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program report, June 30, 2025. Data cover all subclass 417 nationalities; no breakdown by UK citizens is published.
Farm work is still the largest named pathway. Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 20,074 second visas, or 27.9%, followed by hospitality at 10,014 and construction at 6,560. Home Affairs does not publish the industry breakdown for UK citizens alone, so these figures describe the whole program.
Under standard rules, backpackers can generally stay with one employer for no more than six months, and since July 1, 2024 certain sectors have exemptions. Whether UK applicants now do less farm work than before is not measured in the published data.
Pay, Tax and Superannuation for British Backpackers
WORKING HOLIDAY MAKER TAX RATES, 2025-26 (%)
$0 to $45,000 | █████ 15%
$45,001 to $135,000 | ██████████ 30%
$135,001 to $190,000 | ████████████ 37%
Over $190,000 | ███████████████ 45%
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tax rate on first $45,000 | 15%, from the first dollar; no tax-free threshold |
| Tax rate, $45,001 to $135,000 | 30% |
| Employer not registered as a WHM employer | 30% withheld from the first dollar |
| Superannuation guarantee, 2025-26 | 12% of ordinary time earnings |
| Super refund | Claimable after leaving through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment |
| Tax return, 2025-26 (self-lodged) | Due October 31, 2026 |
Source: Australian Taxation Office, Employers of working holiday makers; ATO-aligned guides (Nanak Accountants, ExpatTaxes), 2026.
Working Holiday Makers pay a special rate. Under the ATO’s regime, income up to $45,000 is taxed at 15% from the first dollar, with higher rates above that, and there is no tax-free threshold. A UK backpacker earning $30,000 would pay $4,500 in tax at that rate, if the employer is registered.
Employer registration matters. An unregistered employer must withhold at 30%, which can mean overpaying until a tax return is lodged. Super is paid at 12% on top of wages in 2025-26 and can be claimed back on departure, although the departure payment is taxed.
British Backpacker Migration Trends: Grants Ease, Stock Stays High
UK WORKING HOLIDAY GRANTS, JULY TO DECEMBER (HALF-YEAR)
2024-25 half-year | █████████████████████████████▌ 47,960
2025-26 half-year | ███████████████████████████▌ 42,759
| Measure | Jul to Dec 2024 | Jul to Dec 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK applications lodged (417) | 48,213 | 43,908 | -8.9% |
| UK grants (417) | 47,960 | 42,759 | -10.8% |
| UK first-visa applications lodged | 24,771 | 20,950 | -15.4% |
| UK third-visa applications lodged | 4,702 | 10,069 | +114.1% |
| All 417 grants | 139,030 | 133,494 | -4.0% |
| All 417 holders in Australia | 164,055 | 179,386 | +9.3% |
| UK share of 417 holders | 28.1% | 30.7% | +2.6 points |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program report, December 31, 2025. UK share of holders at December 2024 calculated from 46,129 of 164,055.
British backpacker demand is cooling slightly from a record year. UK applications lodged fell 8.9% to 43,908 in July to December 2025, and first-visa applications fell 15.4%, the fastest decline among first-time applicants. Across all nationalities, grants fell 4.0%, so the UK decline was larger than the program average.
The number of Britons in the country is still rising. UK holders reached 54,989, a 30.7% share, as third-visa applications more than doubled. These are provisional half-year figures, and the Home Affairs report for the full 2025-26 program year was not available when this report was written.
Frequently Asked Questions About British Backpackers in Australia 2026
How many British backpackers go to Australia each year?
The UK received 79,412 Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa grants in 2024-25, but that counts first, second and third visas. 42,383 were first visas.
How many British backpackers are in Australia now?
54,989 UK citizens held a Working Holiday visa in Australia on December 31, 2025, 30.7% of all holders.
What is the age limit for a UK Working Holiday visa?
18 to 35, since July 1, 2023, for UK passport holders including British National Overseas holders.
Do British backpackers still need to do farm work for a second visa?
No. UK passport holders who applied on or after July 1, 2024 do not need specified work for a second or third visa.
How long can British backpackers stay in Australia?
Up to three years in total, with a first, second and third visa of 12 months each.
Why did UK Working Holiday grants rise so much in 2024-25?
Second visa grants rose 354% and third visa grants rose 1,137% after the specified work rule was removed, and the age limit had risen to 35 in July 2023.
Are UK Working Holiday numbers still rising?
Not in the latest half-year. UK grants fell 10.8% to 42,759 in July to December 2025, though the number of holders rose 19.2% over the year.
What share of Working Holiday visas go to the UK?
31.2% of subclass 417 grants in 2024-25, and 32.0% in July to December 2025.
How much tax do British backpackers pay in Australia?
15% on the first $45,000, if the employer is registered, with no tax-free threshold, and 30% between $45,001 and $135,000.
Do backpackers get superannuation?
Yes. Employers pay 12% in 2025-26, and it can be claimed back after leaving Australia, although the refund is taxed.
What is the difference between a 417 and 462 visa?
The 417 Working Holiday visa is for 19 partner countries including the UK, with no caps. The 462 Work and Holiday visa covers 31 countries, generally with caps and extra requirements.
How easy is it for British citizens to get a Working Holiday visa?
The grant rate for UK first visas was 99.2% in July to December 2025, and 99.6% in the six months before that.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
