Work and Holiday Visa -

Subclass 462

The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) lets young adults from about 30 partner countries, including the United States, China and India, travel around Australia for up to 12 months. You can work to help pay for your trip and study for up to 4 months. This guide explains who can apply, what makes the 462 different from the 417 visa, and how to apply.

What is the 462 visa?

The subclass 462 visa is the ‘sister visa’ to the Working Holiday (417) visa. Both sit under Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program, which the Australian Government has run since 1975 (Department of Home Affairs).

The 462 visa gives you 12 months in Australia from the date you first enter. You do not need an employer sponsor or a state nomination. Your trip must be a genuine holiday, with work and study as secondary activities.

Who can apply: 462 eligible countries

You can only apply for a 462 visa if you hold a valid passport from one of the following countries or jurisdictions.

List current as of August 2026, based on the Department of Home Affairs status of country caps page. Cap status can pause or close during the program year (1 July to 30 June) and reopen later in the same year — always check the Department’s current status before making firm plans.

Applicants from China, India and Vietnam must register for a ballot and be randomly selected before they can apply — see Country caps and the ballot below.

If your passport is not on this list, check our Working Holiday visa (417) guide instead. Nearly all working holiday makers fit into one of the two visas.

Other 462 visa requirements

As well as holding an eligible passport, you generally need to:

• be aged 18 to 30
• not be travelling with dependent children
• have enough money to support yourself early in your stay — as a guide, the Department looks for around AUD 5,000 in accessible funds, plus your travel costs
• meet health and character requirements
• intend a genuine holiday in Australia, with work being incidental to your trip

Some nationalities have extra requirements that do not apply to the 417 visa:

• Functional English: some nationalities must show at least a functional level of English.
• Tertiary study: some nationalities must show they have completed, or partly completed, a university-level qualification.
• Letter of government support: some nationalities need a letter of support from their home government as part of their application.

These extra requirements depend on your passport country. Check the current requirements for your country, or ask us to confirm them for you.

What can you do on a 462 visa?

Work rights

You can work in almost any job or industry while you hold a 462 visa.

The main limit is visa condition 8547. This means you generally cannot work for the same employer for more than 6 months. Some work is exempt, including jobs in agriculture, health, aged and disability care, childcare, and tourism and hospitality, as well as some industries in regional Northern Australia.

Study rights

You can study for up to 4 months (about 17 weeks) during your 12-month visa.

Travel

You can leave and re-enter Australia as often as you like within your visa’s 12-month validity, as long as the visa is still valid.

Second and third Work and Holiday visas

You can extend your time in Australia beyond the first 12 months.

• Second visa: apply for a second 462 visa after completing at least 88 days (about 3 months) of specified work in regional Australia during your first visa.
• Third visa: apply for a third 462 visa after completing at least 179 days (about 6 months) of specified work in regional Australia during your second visa.

Together, this can give you up to 3 years in Australia. See the Department’s specified work guidance for the full list of qualifying industries and eligible postcodes.

Country caps and the ballot

Most 462 countries have an annual cap on the number of first-time visas granted each program year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June (Department of Home Affairs). The Department can pause or close a country’s cap during the year, then reopen it later in the same program year.

Applicants from China, India and Vietnam face an extra step. You must register for the ballot during the registration window, then wait to be randomly selected before you can lodge a visa application. Being selected in the ballot does not guarantee your visa will be granted — it only gives you the chance to apply.

Because places and ballot timing can change, check the Department’s current status for your country before you make firm plans, such as booking flights.

How much does it cost, and how do you apply?

You apply for the 462 visa online, through an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. In general, you will need to:

• check whether your country needs a ballot, and register if it does
• create an ImmiAccount and start a new application once you are able to apply
• provide your passport, personal, education and travel details
• provide evidence of English or study, if your nationality requires this
• pay the visa application charge
• complete a health examination or provide biometrics if the Department asks you to
• wait for a decision in writing

The visa application charge is reviewed regularly and can change. As a guide, the base charge for a first application is around AUD 840, rising to around AUD 1,000 for a second or third application. Always check the exact current fee on the Department’s Visa Pricing Estimator before you apply, and do not book travel to Australia until your visa has actually been granted.

What should you do next?

Before you apply, check:

• that your passport is on the 462 eligible country list
• whether your country needs a ballot, a letter of government support, English evidence or study evidence
• the current cap status for your country
• that you have enough funds and a clear travel plan

If any part of this feels unclear, get advice before you apply. Applying with the wrong evidence, or at the wrong time, can cost you time and your application fee.

Can Work Visa Lawyers help?

Yes. Work Visa Lawyers can help you apply for a 462 visa with confidence.

We can assist with:

• confirming you meet the 462 visa requirements for your country
• guidance through the ballot process for China, India and Vietnam
• reviewing your English, study or government support evidence
• advice on qualifying for a second or third Work and Holiday visa
• planning your next visa once your working holiday ends

The 462 visa has more moving parts than the 417 visa. Getting advice early can help you avoid an easily avoidable refusal.

FAQ: Work and Holiday Visa (462)

Which countries are eligible for the 462 visa?

About 30 countries and jurisdictions, including the United States, China, India, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, plus several European countries. See the full list above, as eligible countries and cap settings can change.

What is the 462 visa ballot?

Applicants from China, India and Vietnam must register during a set window and be randomly selected before they can apply for a first 462 visa. It replaces a first-come, first-served process for these three countries only.

Do I need to prove my English for a 462 visa?

It depends on your nationality. Some 462 countries require evidence of at least functional English. The 417 visa does not have an English requirement for any nationality.

Is there a cap on 462 visas for my country?

Most 462 countries have an annual cap on first-time visas, which can pause or close during the year. The United States currently has no cap. Check the current status for your country before making firm plans.

Can I get a second or third Work and Holiday visa?

Yes, if you complete enough specified work in a regional area: 88 days for a second visa, and 179 days for a third.

What is a letter of government support?

For some 462 nationalities, your home government must support your application before you can apply. This is separate from the ballot and only applies to certain countries.

Disclaimer: This information is general only and does not take into account your personal situation. Australian migration rules, visa fees and country eligibility can change quickly. You should get advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer before making a visa decision.

REFERENCE LIST

• Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program overview — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/overview
• Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) — visa listing — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462
• Status of country caps (Work and Holiday subclass 462) — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/status-of-country-caps
• Working Holiday Maker program — latest news (cap, ballot and Letter of Support updates) — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/latest-news
• Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa pre-application process (ballot) — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/latest-news/new-work-and-holiday-subclass-462-visa-pre-application-process
• Specified work for Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462/specified-462-work
• 6 month work limitation — visa condition 8547 and exemptions — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/specified-work-conditions/6-month-work-limitation