Live, work and travel across Australia for up to 12 months. Since September 2024, Indian passport holders can join the program — but a mandatory ballot comes first. Here's how it works, who's eligible, and exactly what to prepare.
The Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) is part of Australia's Working Holiday Maker program. It lets eligible young adults take an extended holiday in Australia and work to help fund their trip. India became a partner country in September 2024 under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), opening this pathway to Indian passport holders for the first time.
The visa is valid for 12 months, allows multiple entries, lets you work for up to 6 months with any one employer, and study for up to 4 months. For Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese citizens, the first step is not the visa application itself — it is the visa ballot.
Book a consultation for an honest assessment of whether the 462 ballot and visa suit your situation.
2026–27 program year: Ballot registrations open for a short window each year. For 2026–27, registrations run until 25 June 2026, with random selections from 2 July 2026 to 30 April 2027. Dates change every program year — always confirm the current dates with the Department of Home Affairs or speak with our team before relying on them.
To be eligible for a first Subclass 462 visa as an Indian citizen, you generally need to:
The ballot is a random, automated selection process. It gives registered applicants the chance to be invited to apply — it is not the visa itself, and it does not consider personal or compassionate circumstances.
During the registration window, log in to ImmiAccount and complete the Work and Holiday (462) pre-application registration. Enter your passport and Indian national ID details exactly — errors cannot be corrected after submission.
Pay the non-refundable AUD $25 registration fee. Only registrations showing a "Received" status enter the ballot pool. You may register once per program year — multiple registrations lead to disqualification.
The Department conducts random selection rounds across the program year. If you are not selected in one round, you stay in the pool for later rounds — there is no need to re-register.
Selected applicants receive an invitation and have a limited window (around 28 days) to lodge a complete visa application through ImmiAccount, meeting all requirements and paying the visa application charge.
Prepare these in two stages — first for the ballot, then for the visa application if you are selected. Having documents ready early reduces stress during the short application window.
Tip: Visa application charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs and are indexed periodically (commonly treated as around AUD $670, but verify the exact amount on the day you lodge). Always check current fees and conditions on the official Home Affairs website, or ask our team.
The Subclass 462 can be extended beyond the first 12 months. By completing three months (88 days) of eligible "specified work" in approved regional areas and industries — such as tourism and hospitality, agriculture, construction, mining, or natural-disaster recovery — you may qualify to apply for a second visa, and after further specified work, a third visa. The list of eligible postcodes and industries is updated periodically, so check current rules before relying on a particular job or location.
As MARA-registered migration agents, we provide accurate, up-to-date guidance based on current Australian migration legislation. For the Subclass 462, we can help you:
We give honest, individual advice — we cannot influence the random ballot or guarantee a visa outcome, and we will always tell you where the genuine risks and limitations lie.
Yes. India joined Australia's Working Holiday Maker program in September 2024 under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). First-time Indian applicants must be selected through the Subclass 462 ballot before they can lodge a visa application.
For first-time Indian applicants, the ballot is a mandatory first step — you cannot lodge a 462 application without being selected. Being selected does not grant a visa; it only gives you the right to apply, and you must still meet every requirement.
The ballot registration fee is AUD $25, paid through ImmiAccount. It is non-refundable whether or not you are selected. The visa application charge is separate and applies later, only if you are selected and choose to lodge.
Australia sets an annual cap of 1,000 first Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visas for India per program year (1 July to 30 June). Because registrations have reached the tens of thousands, the ballot is highly competitive.
You generally need at least two years of post-secondary (tertiary) study — such as a degree or diploma — and functional English, for example IELTS 4.5 overall, PTE Academic 30, TOEFL iBT 32, OET, or Cambridge CAE 147. Completing eligible study in English may also satisfy the English requirement.
You must show access to sufficient funds to support yourself on arrival — generally around AUD $5,000 — plus funds for a return or onward ticket. Bank statements are commonly used as evidence.
You can register for the ballot from anywhere in the world. However, if you are selected, you must be outside Australia when you lodge your first Subclass 462 visa application.
Yes — by completing three months (88 days) of eligible specified work in approved regional areas and industries during your stay, you may qualify to apply for a second, and later a third, Work and Holiday visa.
You remain in the pool for later selection rounds in the same program year without re-registering. If you are not selected by the time registrations expire, you would need to register again in a future program year. We can also discuss alternative pathways, such as student or skilled visas.
The ballot window is short and details change every year. Talk to our registered migration agents to check your eligibility and prepare with confidence.