Applications for first Work and Holiday visas opened on 2 July 2026 for program year 2026-27
Applications for most countries subject to annual caps under the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) program opened on 2 July 2026 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
This opening date allowed scheduled departmental systems maintenance, conducted at the start of the program year on 1 July, to be completed before applications are lodged.
Status of country caps
Each program year, there is a limit, or ‘cap’, on the number of first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas that we can grant to applicants from certain countries.
There are no caps for second or third Work and Holiday visas.
Application cap status
A country cap status may change status from ‘open’ to ‘paused’ or ‘closed’ during a program year.
We may pause a cap to:
- limit the number of applications received at a given time to spread out lodgements and facilitate visa processing throughout the program year
or
- closely monitor the number of applications allowed when the country is close to meeting its annual grant cap.
We will reopen a ‘paused’ cap later in the same program year to allow new applications. To apply, you will need to monitor our website to check when the cap changes from ‘paused’ to ‘open’.
We will not reopen a ‘closed’ cap. This is because all places for the program year have been filled already. To apply, you need to wait until the cap restarts next program year.
Error message
If we temporarily 'pause' or definitively 'close' the application cap, you will get an error message when you try to apply.
Updating cap status
Updates to each country’s application cap status may not be published immediately due to technical constraints, please allow up to 48 hours for changes to be reflected on the website.
Application cap indicators
Open – Applications are currently open. For details on how to apply online, visit the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.
paused – Applications are temporarily paused. This may happen when the cap is nearly filled or to spread out visa application lodgements throughout the program year. Check this page regularly for updates on when applications will reopen.
Closed – Applications are closed and will reopen at the start of the new program year on 2 July.
First Work and Holiday visa application cap status
| Partner country | Status of application cap
| Annual grant cap
|
|---|
| Argentina |
Open | 3,400
|
| Austria |
Open | 500
|
Brazil
|
paused
| 500 |
Chile
|
Open | 3,400 |
China
|
CHECK BALLOT STATUS
| 5,000 |
| Czech Republic |
Open
| 500 |
| Ecuador |
Open
| 100 |
| Greece |
Open | 500 |
| Hungary |
Open | 500 |
India
|
CHECK BALLOT STATUS | 1,000 |
| Indonesia |
*paused | 5,000
|
| Israel |
Open | 2,500 |
| Luxembourg |
Open | 100 |
| Malaysia |
paused
| 1,100 |
| Mongolia |
*paused | 100 |
| Papua New Guinea |
Open | 100 |
| Peru |
Open | 1,500 |
| Poland |
Open | 1,500 |
| Portugal |
paused
| 500 |
| San Marino |
Open | 100 |
| Singapore |
Open | 2,500 |
| Slovak Republic |
Open | 1,000 |
Slovenia
|
Open | 200 |
Spain
|
paused
| 3,400 |
| Switzerland |
paused
| 200 |
| Thailand |
Open | 2,000 |
| Türkiye |
Open | 100 |
| Uruguay |
Open | 1,500
|
| Vietnam | CHECK BALLOT STATUS
| 1,500
| |
*paused Please note that applications for Indonesia and Mongolia will open later in the year. Further detail on timing will be provided in due course.
Working Holiday pre-application process (ballot)
For some countries, visa applications are managed through the WHM visa ballot process rather than an application cap.
Eligible passport holders from China, India and Vietnam must participate in a visa pre-application process to be considered for random selection in the ballot.
The ballot does not change the annual visa grant caps for these countries.
For more information, visit the Work and Holiday visa pre-application process.
