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New Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa Pre Application Ballot Opens 4 June 2026
20 May 2026 11 min read
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that the new visa pre application process, commonly known as the visa ballot, for the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa will open for the 2026 27 program year on Thursday 4 June 2026 and close at the end of Thursday 25 June 2026. The ballot applies to high demand partner countries where annual demand for places significantly exceeds the available cap. For the 2026 27 program year these countries are China, India and Vietnam.
The ballot replaces the previous first come first served lodgement model for these three countries and provides what the Department describes as a "fair, streamlined and transparent" way of selecting applicants randomly. This article walks through every aspect of the new process so prospective applicants and migration professionals can prepare with confidence.
The Working Holiday Maker program operates under bilateral arrangements with partner countries. Each participating country has an annual grant cap negotiated with Australia. China, India and Vietnam consistently see demand that far exceeds their caps, which previously forced applicants to compete on the speed of their internet connection during a brief lodgement window. The visa ballot replaces that race with a randomised draw and a calm 28 day application window for selected candidates.
All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time. Future random selection dates will be published on the Department's website soon after they occur.
To register for your country's ballot you must satisfy all of the following at the time of registration.
You can be inside or outside Australia when you register. However, if you are selected, the resulting first Work and Holiday visa can only be applied for from outside Australia.
The national identity card is now a mandatory identity document, separate from the passport. The Department has issued the following specific rules for the three ballot countries.
The ID card details on your ballot registration must exactly match the details on your subsequent visa application. A mismatch will prevent you from submitting the visa application.
You can save the form as a draft, but a draft does not enter the ballot. Only submitted and paid registrations enter the random selection pool.
Once your payment is received, the registration status moves from "draft" to "received" and the registration enters the ballot pool. You can update certain details, such as a renewed passport number, while the status remains "received". You cannot change your country of passport, your national identity card, or create a second registration in the same ballot.
The Department will send a Notification of Selection letter by email immediately when your registration is randomly selected. Notification is treated as having occurred on the day the email is sent. You then have 28 calendar days from that date, ending at midnight AEST, to lodge a complete first Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa application in ImmiAccount.
The Notification of Selection letter is an invitation to apply, not a guarantee of grant. You must still meet every eligibility requirement of the Subclass 462 visa, including age, funds, character, health, English language and the country specific tertiary study or letter of support requirements.
If you are not selected, you will not receive any notification. Registrations remain in the pool for further random draws until 30 April 2027. The AUD 25 fee is not refunded if you are not selected, if you withdraw, or if your registration expires because you turn 31.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalised guidance on the Work and Holiday visa ballot, please contact our team.