Status of country caps
Each program year (1 July to 30 June), 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
When the cap for first Work and Holiday visas is reached for a country:
- we will update the status in the table below to 'paused' or 'closed'
- you cannot apply until the cap reopens.
Error message
If we 'pause' or 'close' the application cap, you will receive an error message when you try to apply.
Updating cap status
Changes to the application cap status may take time to reflect on this page because of technical constraints.
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 due to other operational reasons. 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 1 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 |
paused | 100 |
| Greece |
open | 500 |
| Hungary |
open | 500 |
India
|
CHECK BALLOT STATUS | 1,000 |
| Indonesia |
open | 5,000
|
| Israel |
open | 2,500 |
| Luxembourg |
open | 100 |
| Malaysia |
paused
| 1,100 |
| Mongolia |
paused | 100 |
| Papua New Guinea |
paused | 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 |
paused | 2,000 |
| Türkiye |
open | 100 |
| Uruguay |
open | 200 |
| Vietnam | CHECK BALLOT STATUS
| 1,500
|
** Due to the high interest in the Work and Holiday visa program in some high demand countries, such as Brazil and Spain, the department has paused application lodgement. This is to allow us to process applications throughout the year. Refer to our website for updates on when applications will reopen.
Working Holiday pre-application process (ballot)
Passport holders from China, India and Vietnam must take part in a visa pre-application process, to be randomly selected to apply for a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa. This is called a ballot.
We will manage visa applications for these countries through the ballot process instead of the application cap.
This change does not impact annual visa grant caps for countries participating in the ballot.
For more details, visit the New Work and Holiday visa pre-application process.
