The Australian government has temporarily stopped accepting new Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applications from citizens of 24 countries.
In addition, the government has announced it will move Work and Holiday visa applications from Indonesians to a ballot system. As a result, citizens of only two countries (Türkiye and San Marino) can actually apply for Australian Work and Holiday visas right now.
Australia has Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa agreements with a total of 30 countries. Of these, China, Vietnam and India are already on the ballot system.
Australia has Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa agreements with a further 19 countries. (This article explains the difference between the 417 and 462 visas.) The government has also slowed down the processing of Working Holiday visa applications.
It is highly unusual that the government would slow or suspend issuing visas to working holiday makers from almost all partner countries.
Work and Holiday (462) visa caps
Unlike with Working Holiday (417) visas, the Australian government places an annual cap on the number of 18-30 year-olds from each partner country that can apply for a Work and Holiday (462) visa.
The annual grant caps are on a per-country basis. They range from 100 visas per program year for citizens of Ecuador, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, San Marino or Türkiye — up to an annual quota of 5,000 for citizens of China or Indonesia.
The annual caps are based on Australia’s financial year, which runs from 1 July until 30 June. We’re currently close to the start of the 2026-27 program year, so it is very unlikely that most of the annual quotas have already been filled.
The annual caps apply to first-year Work and Holiday visas, and not to second or third year visas for people who are already in Australia.
Why would the government pause most new 462 visa applications?
You can see the status of each country’s first-year Work and Holiday Visa application cap on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Until recently, the Department explained that Work and Holiday visa applications from a particular country may be temporarily paused “when the cap is nearly filled or to spread out visa application lodgements throughout the program year.”
However, the wording on this website changed recently. The Department recently added that it may temporarily pause applications “to support the Government’s migration settings while ensuring the program operates sustainably.”
That seems to be what’s happening here. Rather than all the quotas being filled already, this is a deliberate political decision by the Australian government.
The Sydney Morning Herald noted that the Australian government is trying to reduce overall migration to Australia.
This is similar to what the Canadian government is currently doing. Like Australia (and New Zealand), Canada has working holiday agreements with dozens of countries and attracts many tens of thousands of young backpackers from around the world each year.
What’s going on with Working Holiday (417) visas?
Working Holiday (417) visas are not capped, so the Australian government can’t use the same mechanism to “pause” applications.
However, anecdotally, it has been delaying processing Working Holiday visa applications since early July 2026.
Existing Work and Holiday (462) applications, that were submitted before the suspension, are also being processed more slowly than usual (if at all).
In early August, the Department of Home Affairs posted the following notice about this on its website:
We are currently receiving a high volume of Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applications. As a result, applications will take longer than usual to be finalised.
Applications are assessed individually. If we require additional information, we will contact you or your authorised representative.
We will notify you of the outcome of your application in writing.
Do not book travel to Australia until you have received written confirmation that your visa has been granted.
What next?
The current situation is causing a lot of uncertainty and disappointment for people who were planning to come to Australia for a working holiday in the coming months and years.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do think that the Australian government will have to reopen Work and Holiday visa applications at some point in the short to medium term.
When Work and Holiday visa applications do reopen, it may initially only be for eligible people from some of the partner countries.
Ultimately, Australia needs backpackers and it would be very politically unpopular for the government to shut down Australia’s working holiday program.
If you’re thinking about coming to Australia for a working holiday, keep an eye out for announcements from the Australian government. This is a dynamic situation and things will change.
Matt is the founder of Working Holidays for Aussies. Passionate about travel and always looking for great deals, he believes that a gap year is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture and learn all the things they didn’t teach you in school.
Originally from Australia, Matt has travelled to over 100 countries, lived in 7 countries, and has extensive real-world experience with working holiday visas.
Learn more and connect with Matt Graham on LinkedIn.
