The Department of Home Affairs has advised the pre-application ballot process for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa for the 2026-27 program year. Applicants from China, India and Vietnam must now register through a ballot before being eligible to apply for the visa.
Rather than applying directly, eligible applicants from China, India and Vietnam must first register in their respective country’s ballot. Only those randomly selected through the ballot will be invited to lodge a Subclass 462 visa application. An invitation to apply does not guarantee the visa -applicants must still meet all relevant eligibility criteria.
Ballot registration must be completed via the applicant’s ImmiAccount. Applicants may only register once per ballot round, and registration is only available while the ballot period is open.
Registrations for the China, India and Vietnam ballot for the 2026–27 program year will open on 4 June 2026 and close on 25 June 2026.
Key Considerations:
- 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 registration can be tracked through ImmiAccount
- Applicants may be in or outside Australia when they register, however if selected, the first Subclass 462 visa application must be lodged from outside Australia.
Click here: Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program
