How Does the New Visa Ballot Process Work for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462)?

In Short

• First-time applicants for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa from China, India and Vietnam must now enter a ballot before they can apply.

• Being selected in the ballot only gives an invitation to apply and does not guarantee a visa grant.

• The ballot system is designed to manage high demand and country caps more fairly.

Tips for Businesses
If your business relies on working holiday makers, be aware that candidates from China, India and Vietnam may face delays due to the ballot process. Encourage prospective workers to monitor ballot dates and register early through their ImmiAccount. Build flexibility into workforce planning, as not all applicants will be selected in each program year.

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Table of Contents

• The Working Holiday Maker Program: Subclass 417 and Subclass 462
• The Ballot Process 
• What Happens After the Ballot Selects Me?
• Why the Change?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Department of Home Affairs has announced significant changes to the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa program. These changes primarily affect the eligibility criteria and application process for first-time applicants. The article explains the new ballot system for first-time Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applicants from China, India and Vietnam, including how the process works, key dates and what applicants need to do to apply.

The Working Holiday Maker Program: Subclass 417 and Subclass 462

The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Program consists of two visa subclasses:

• Working Holiday Visa – Subclass 417; and
• Work and Holiday Visa – Subclass 462. 

Both visas allow for a 12-month stay in Australia, and the first application for either visa must be lodged from outside Australia. The main difference between the two subclasses lies in the eligibility criteria, particularly the applicant’s passport. Depending on the passport you hold, you may be eligible to apply for either the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa or the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.

The Ballot Process 

On 1 October 2024, the new pre-application ballot process commenced for the 2024–2025 program year, with ballot registrations opening for China, Vietnam, and India.

The Department of Home Affairs has indicated it will conduct an annual ballot for each participating country during every program year, with different registration and selection periods for each. The purpose of this process is to manage the high volume of applications expected from these countries, while adhering to the annual caps placed on Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) grants. The current annual caps are:

• China: 5,000 places
• India: 1,000 places
• Vietnam: 1,500 places

The pre-application ballot provides a fair, streamlined, and transparent way to manage demand, ensuring all eligible applicants have an equal opportunity to be selected. It does this by randomly selecting applicants from eligible partner countries where demand exceeds the number of available places for the program year.

To enter the ballot, applicants must pay a $25 AUD registration fee and complete a simple online form. Only passport holders from China, India, or Vietnam are required to participate in the ballot process in order to apply for a subclass 462 visa. Once the ballot closes, the Department will randomly select applicants and invite them to apply for the visa.

Ballot Registration

Ballot registration must be completed via the applicant’s ImmiAccount. You may only register once per ballot round, and registration is only possible while the ballot period is open. Each country will have a specific registration period, which can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. If you miss the registration period, you will need to wait until the next round opens, subject to continued eligibility.

The status of each ballot may change throughout the program year – for example, from pending to active, closed, or expired. This will depend on:

• when the ballot opens;
• the number of registrations and selections made; and
• whether the Department extends the registration or selection periods.

2025 to 2026 Visa Ballot Details

On 24 June 2025, the visa ballot process was launched for the 2025-2026 program year. Registration remained open for three weeks, from 24 June to 15 July 2025. The first random selection for each country was conducted on 16 July 2025. Subsequent random selections will be held throughout the program year until 30 April 2026.

What Happens After the Ballot Selects Me?

You can only apply for a subclass 462 visa if you are randomly selected through the ballot process. If selected, you will receive a Notification of Selection letter, which serves as proof of your selection and will outline the timeframe (within 28 days) within which you must submit your visa application.

If you are not selected, you will not be eligible to apply for a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa during this program year. The Department of Home Affairs does not notify unsuccessful applicants.

Why the Change?

The subclass 462 visa program has traditionally operated on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning applications were processed in the order they were received. While this may initially seem fair, the high volume of applications and the limited number of places allocated to each country each year have made the system increasingly competitive and difficult to navigate.

The introduction of the ballot system is intended to make the process fairer and more equitable, ensuring that applicants have an equal chance of being selected without feeling pressured to compete to submit their application first.

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Frequently Asked Questions