On October 01, 2024, Australia officially opened its Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa ballot (pre-application process) for young travellers from China, India, and Vietnam, offering an exciting opportunity for eligible individuals to work and holiday in the country. Separate visa ballots have been launched for these three nations, allowing passport holders to register for the random selection process to apply for a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).
The pre-application registration process is open to applicants both within and outside Australia, but those selected must apply for their initial subclass 462 visa from outside the country. The Australian government has set annual caps on the number of visas that can be granted for each program year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. The visa caps for the 2024–2025 year are 5,000 for China, 1,000 for India, and 1,500 for Vietnam.
Ballot registration for China, India, and Vietnam opened on October 1. It will remain open until November 8 for China, October 31 for India, and has already closed for Vietnam as of October 10.
This ballot system ensures a fair and transparent selection process for applicants from partner countries where the demand for visas exceeds the available slots. To register, applicants must pay a non-refundable registration fee of AUD 25.
The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), priced at AUD 650, offers several benefits:
- The ability to engage in short-term work to help fund their stay.
- The opportunity to study in Australia for up to four months.
- Unlimited travel to and from Australia during the visa’s validity.
- The chance to complete three months of specified work, making them eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa.
To qualify for the visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a passport from an eligible country.
- Be aged between 18 and 30 years.
- Apply from outside Australia.
- Not be accompanied by dependent children.
- Apply individually, as family members cannot be included in the application.
- Have not previously entered Australia on a subclass 462 or 417 visa unless applying for a second Work and Holiday visa.
The Working Holiday Maker visa program aims to foster cultural exchange and strengthen ties between Australia and its partner countries, offering young travellers the chance to experience Australian life while contributing to the local workforce.