Dreaming of working, traveling, and living in Australia? Here’s your chance to turn that dream into reality—if you’re a skilled worker, the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot is officially open for registrations from 24 June to 15 July 2025.
But wait—this isn’t your average application process. It’s a lottery-style, pre-application visa ballot system introduced to ensure fairness, transparency, and an equal shot at landing a golden opportunity in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
What’s Happening?
To manage high demand from countries like China, India, and Vietnam, Australia is running a visa pre-application ballot system for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa for the 2025–2026 program year. This process was launched on 1 October 2024, and the current round of registrations closes on 15 July 2025.
After that, the first round of random selections will take place on 16 July 2025—and selections will continue until 30 April 2026 or until all spots are filled!
Are You Eligible?
To enter this exciting ballot, you must:
- Be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) at the time of registration
- Hold a valid passport from China, India, or Vietnam
- Hold a valid national ID card
- China: Valid National ID
- India: Must have a PAN card (not Aadhar)
- Vietnam: Valid 12-digit ID (old 9-digit cards won’t work)
- Have a verified email address
- Pay a non-refundable AUD 25 registration fee
- Create or log into your ImmiAccount
And yes—you can register from inside or outside Australia, but if selected, you must apply for the visa from outside Australia.
How to Register?
- Apply: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/latest-news/new-work-and-holiday-subclass-462-visa-pre-application-process
- Select ‘New Application’ > ‘Visa pre-application registration’
- Choose ‘Registration – Work and Holiday Visa (462)’
- Select your eligible country
- Fill the form carefully and pay the AUD 25 fee
- Submit before 15 July 2025 – incomplete drafts will be ignored!
Once you submit and pay, your status will read ‘Received’. You’ll then enter the random ballot pool for your country.
What Happens Next?
- If selected, you’ll receive a ‘Notification of Selection’ email and will have 28 days to apply for the visa.
- If not selected, unfortunately, you won’t be contacted and no refunds will be issued.
- If you turn 31 before you apply—even if selected—you become ineligible.
Tip: Apply quickly if you’re 30 years old when selected!
Document Checklist If Selected
If your name is drawn, get ready to apply! You’ll need to:
- Submit your visa application through ImmiAccount within 28 days
- Upload a copy of your national ID
- Attach a copy of your passport (both old and new if renewed recently)
- Ensure all personal information matches what you provided in your registration
Mismatched details may lead to rejection or delayed processing—so double-check everything!
Application Dates to Remember
Mark your calendar: the registration window for the 2025-2026 Work and Holiday visa ballot opens on 24 June 2025 and closes on 15 July 2025. The first round of random ballot selections will take place on 16 July 2025, with further selections continuing right up to 30 April 2026.
If your registration is drawn, you’ll have 28 calendar days from the notification date to submit your full visa application via ImmiAccount—so be ready to act quickly once you receive that email.
