Australia has temporarily suspended the acceptance of Working Holiday Maker visa applications from 24 countries

The Australian government has restricted access to the Working Holiday Maker youth visa program for citizens of 24 countries. The changes apply to subclass 462 and affect the plans of prospective applicants who were considering combining travel across the continent with temporary employment and study. Learn more about the reasons for the suspension, the full list of countries, and the specifics of the lottery system for certain categories of applicants

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Travelobiz recently reported on new restrictions regarding Australia’s youth visa program. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has decided to temporarily suspend the acceptance of new applications for the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa (subclass 462) from citizens of 24 countries.

We’ll discuss the reasons behind this decision, the full list of countries affected by the restrictions, and special conditions for certain categories of applicants later in this article.

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The practical guide from the Visit World portal provides structured information on visa procedures, employer requirements, and the process for obtaining the necessary documents to work in various countries around the world.

What is the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa in Australia?

The Working Holiday Maker program allows young foreigners who meet the established requirements to combine traveling the country with temporary employment and study. The duration of stay under this visa can be up to 12 months.

The program’s goal is to help participants partially fund their stay in Australia and gain international work and travel experience. The Subclass 462 visa is one of the program’s tools and is typically issued under country-specific quotas.

About new priorities for Australian work visas in 2026—read more at the link.

Why has Australia suspended the acceptance of WHM visa applications?

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, country-specific quotas may be temporarily suspended for two main reasons: the number of applications submitted is approaching the annual limit, and the need to distribute the workload of processing documents evenly throughout the program year.

This situation has arisen due to high demand for Australian immigration programs. Currently, the department warns that processing times for WHM visa applications are longer than usual due to the significant volume of applications. The suspension is not permanent: quotas may be reinstated within the same program year.

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List of countries for which Subclass 462 visa applications are currently closed

The restrictions took effect just a few weeks after the start of the 2026–2027 program year. The list of countries whose citizens are currently unable to submit new Subclass 462 visa applications includes: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uruguay.

The Australian authorities recommend that applicants regularly check the official website of the Ministry of the Interior so as not to miss the resumption of applications during the current program year.

By the way, the cost of a student visa to Australia reached a record 2,000 AUD in 2026.

Special conditions for citizens of India, China, and Vietnam: the lottery system

For three countries—India, China, and Vietnam—Australia has a separate selection mechanism for Subclass 462 visa applicants. Instead of the standard quota-based procedure, a lottery system is used here: applicants first register to participate in the lottery, and only those selected at random are eligible to apply for a visa.

For Indian citizens, Australia allocates up to 1,000 spots annually under the first Work and Holiday visa program. Registration for the 2026–2027 lottery closed on June 25, 2026. According to official data, the lottery format is used because demand significantly exceeds the number of available spots.

Basic Requirements and Cost of the WHM Visa for Indian Applicants

Program participants must be between 18 and 30 years old. A valid Indian passport that meets the established requirements is mandatory. The first Work and Holiday visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months, engage in short-term work, and study for a maximum of four months.

The cost of the initial Subclass 462 visa application is currently 840 Australian dollars, excluding additional fees. Indian applicants who have already been selected in the 2026–2027 lottery are not subject to restrictions applicable to other countries—the main question for them is when the next application round will open.

About working in Australia in 2026—we discuss this in this article.

What should potential Working Holiday Maker visa applicants do?

Those directly affected by the suspension should follow a few recommendations:

1. Regularly check the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs for updates on the resumption of quotas.
2. Prepare a complete set of documents in advance so you can submit your application as soon as the application period opens.
3. Consider alternative visa categories for temporary stays or work in Australia.
4. Stay updated on official announcements regarding changes to the WHM program rules.

The general trend indicates that Australia is increasingly relying on quotas, lotteries, and controlled application intake to manage immigration demand.

See also: Australia’s National Innovation Visa (NIV). Requirements, benefits, and application process.

Legal Employment Abroad: How to Prepare?

Planning a work trip abroad requires an understanding of the legal nuances, visa procedures, and employment conditions in a specific country.

For those considering legal employment outside Ukraine, the Visit World portal has prepared a detailed work guide with step-by-step instructions on preparing documents, finding employers, and adapting to a new country.

Order the work guide from Visit World and get up-to-date information on opportunities for legal employment abroad!

Reminder! In a previous article, we explained how to move to Australia in 2026.

Photo: Magnific