Working Holiday Visa (462): Which Countries Are Paused?

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The Department of Home Affairs has paused new first-time Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applications from the majority of its partner countries. Of the 29 countries participating in the capped subclass 462 program, 23 are currently paused, two remain open, and four are managed through a pre-application ballot rather than the standard cap system.

The Department's country cap system for the subclass 462 program operates under three main statuses for each partner country: open, paused, or closed, with a fourth ballot pathway for a small number of high-demand countries. A paused status generally means the Department is deliberately spacing out applications rather than that a country's allocation has been exhausted, and the Department has indicated paused caps may reopen later in the same program year.

Countries Currently Paused, Open or Under Ballot

As at 26 August 2026, the following 23 countries are paused for new first-time Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applications:

• アルゼンチン

• オーストリア

• ブラジル

• チリ

• チェコ共和国

• エクアドル

• ギリシャ

• ハンガリー

• イスラエル

• ルクセンブルク

• マレーシア

• モンゴル

• パプアニューギニア

• ペルー

• ポーランド

• ポルトガル

• シンガポール

• スロバキア共和国

• スロベニア

• スペイン

• スイス

• タイ

• ウルグアイ

Two countries remain open on a first-in, first-served basis, each with an annual allocation of 100 places:

• サンマリノ

• トルコ

Four countries are managed through a pre-application ballot rather than a standard open or paused status, meaning applicants must register and be selected before they can lodge a first application:

• 中国

• インド

• ベトナム

• Indonesia  (Ballot not yet open; the Department has indicated registrations are expected to open later in 2026, with the opening date to be published once confirmed)

Country cap status can change with limited notice. Check the Department of Home Affairs' Status of Country Caps page directly before making any application or travel plans.

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How the Pause Came to Light

Unlike many other recent migration policy changes, this pause was not accompanied by a formal ministerial media release. It was first identified by industry observers on the Department of Home Affairs website before being publicly confirmed. At a press conference in Sydney, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Work and Holiday Maker visas were being processed more slowly than previously, without providing further detail on the scope or duration of the change.

Why the Pause Matters

There were more than 200,000 working holiday-makers in Australia as at 30 June 2025, and the program plays a significant role in sectors reliant on flexible, short-term labour, including agriculture, hospitality and regional tourism. A pause affecting 23 of 29 partner countries, alongside a not-yet-open ballot for a further country, has implications not only for prospective applicants planning travel to Australia, but also for Australian employers and communities who rely on working holiday-makers to fill seasonal and casual roles.

The pause forms part of a broader pattern of changes to Australia's migration settings introduced through 2026, alongside separate changes affecting family-stream and skilled visa processing priorities, as the government works toward its stated target of reducing Net Overseas Migration.

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What Applicants and Employers Should Do

If you hold a passport from a paused country and were planning to apply for a Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa, your country's cap status can change with limited notice, and the Department's website may not reflect the most recent status for up to 48 hours. Checking current status directly before making travel or work arrangements is essential, rather than relying on media reports or previously checked information, including the list above.

If your country is Indonesia, note that the ballot pathway is not yet active. There is currently no route to lodge a first Work and Holiday visa application from Indonesia, and applicants should watch the Department's published updates for the ballot's opening date rather than attempting to apply through the standard process.

If you already have an application on hand, the pause affects new lodgements rather than necessarily your existing application, though processing timeframes across the program have generally slowed. The pause also applies specifically to first Work and Holiday visas; the Department has confirmed there are no caps affecting second or third Work and Holiday visa applications. Employers who rely on working holiday-makers for seasonal or casual labour should factor potential delays into workforce planning, particularly where recruitment has traditionally drawn on one of the paused or ballot-affected countries.

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Whether you're applying for a Work and Holiday visa, waiting on an existing application, or an employer trying to plan around these changes, our migration lawyers can help you understand your current position and what options are available under the Department's current settings.

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