Australia adds A$25 ballot fee for Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)

Australia has shifted its Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) away from a first-come, first-served model to a randomized ballot for certain first-time applicants. Citizens of mainland China, India and Vietnam seeking their first subclass 462 visa must now register through ImmiAccount, pay a A$25 fee, and be selected before they can lodge a full visa application.

What changed

The change took effect on September 16, 2024. Under the ballot, affected applicants register in a separate electronic draw run for each country. Registration costs A$25 (roughly US$16) and is nonrefundable. Only one registration is allowed per person per program year, and submitting more than one triggers automatic disqualification.

Selection into the ballot is not the same as approval. Invited applicants still have to meet the visa's education, English-language, financial, health and character requirements, and pay the separate A$635 visa application fee. If selected, invitees generally have 28 calendar days to submit their full application.

The rule applies only to first-time subclass 462 applicants holding Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese passports. Visitor visas are unaffected, as are second and third subclass 462 applications for Chinese and Vietnamese passport holders. Other Work and Holiday partner countries continue to use the standard direct application process.

Current program year

Registration for the 2026-27 program year ran from June 4 to June 25 and is now closed. The Department of Home Affairs will keep drawing random selections from that pool until all registrations expire on April 30, 2027. Applicants already in the pool should monitor their ImmiAccount and associated email through that date. Registrations that aren't selected simply expire.

What it means for nomads

The subclass 462 visa lets eligible travelers aged 18 to 30 live, travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months, making it a popular entry point for younger remote workers wanting extended time in the country. For applicants from the three affected nationalities, the ballot adds both a small upfront cost and a real element of uncertainty: you can no longer guarantee a spot by applying quickly.

Practically, that means planning around the ballot timeline rather than a filing rush. If you're in the current pool, keep your documents ready so you can meet the tight 28-day window if you're picked. If you missed the 2026-27 registration period, you'll need to wait for the next program year's window to open. Applicants from other partner countries can carry on with the usual process.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.