Requirements for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 462) in Australia in 2026

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 462) lets eligible young people from specific countries and regions live, work and study in Australia for up to 12 months. Unlike the more widely known subclass 417, the subclass 462 is specifically for passport holders from countries that have a bilateral Work and Holiday arrangement with Australia — including the United States, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina and several others.

The application is made entirely online through the Department of Home Affairs. There is no paper form and no requirement to attend an Australian embassy in most cases. Understanding the eligibility rules and gathering the right documents before you apply will significantly reduce the chance of delays or refusal.

What this procedure is and what it’s for

The Working Holiday visa (subclass 462) is a temporary visa that allows eligible passport holders aged 18 to 30 (or up to 35 for passport holders from certain countries, including Canada, France and Ireland) to holiday in Australia while supplementing their funds through short-term work and study.

It is designed for people who want to travel through Australia, experience the culture and work in various jobs — rather than commit to a single long-term employer. Holders can work for any employer, but are generally limited to working for the same employer for no more than six months unless an exception applies.

The responsible body is the Department of Home Affairs. Applications are submitted online through ImmiAccount, the Department’s official portal at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

Eligibility is restricted to nationals of countries that have a bilateral Work and Holiday agreement with Australia. The current list includes the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and others. You must check the Department of Home Affairs website to confirm your country is included, as the list is subject to change.

Key eligibility requirements:

• You must hold a passport from an eligible country.
• You must be aged 18 to 30 at the time of application (or 18 to 35 for nationals of Canada, France, Ireland and a small number of other countries — verify your country’s age limit on the Department of Home Affairs website).
• You must not be accompanied by dependent children during your stay.
• You must meet health and character requirements.
• You must have sufficient funds to support yourself (generally at least AUD 5,000).
• You must hold, or be able to obtain, a return or onward ticket, or have sufficient funds to purchase one.
• You must not have previously held a subclass 462 visa (a second or third visa may be available if you meet specific work requirements in regional Australia — see below).

Documents required

Gather all documents before starting your ImmiAccount application. Uploading clear, complete scans at the time of application avoids delays caused by requests for further information.

Identity and travel documents

• Valid passport — must be valid for the entire intended stay; upload the biographical data page (photo page).
• If you hold passports from more than one country, upload all of them.

Evidence of eligibility

• Proof of age — your passport date of birth is usually sufficient; a birth certificate may be requested if there is any discrepancy.
• Proof of nationality — your passport serves as this document.
• Evidence that your country of passport is on the eligible country list (no separate document needed — the system checks this automatically).

Financial evidence

• Bank statement or equivalent showing available funds of at least AUD 5,000, dated within the last three months. The statement must show your name and account balance clearly.
• If funds are held in a foreign currency, the equivalent in AUD must be evident or you should include a currency conversion note.

Return or onward travel

• Return or onward airline ticket, or evidence of sufficient funds to purchase one (the bank statement above can serve this purpose if the balance clearly exceeds the AUD 5,000 threshold).

Health requirements

• Most applicants are required to undergo an immigration medical examination conducted by a panel physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs. You arrange this through the eHealth portal (HAP — Health Appointment Portal). Results are sent directly to the Department; you do not submit them yourself.
• A chest X-ray may be required depending on your country of residence and travel history.

Character requirements

• Police clearance certificate from each country where you have lived for 12 months or more (cumulative) in the last 10 years, if you are aged 18 or over. Certificates must be original or certified copies and, if not in English, accompanied by a NAATI-accredited translation.
• Applicants from some countries may be asked to provide an FBI Identity History Summary (US nationals) or equivalent national police check.

Additional documents (if applicable)

• If you have previously held a subclass 462 visa and are applying for a second or third visa: payslips, employer letters or tax records (ATO group certificates or income statements) proving the required number of days of specified work in a regional area or in a specified sector.
• If you have a criminal conviction or health condition: additional supporting documentation as requested by a case officer.

Document format notes

• All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation by a NAATI-accredited translator.
• Scanned copies are accepted for most documents; originals are not posted to the Department of Home Affairs.
• Police certificates must generally be issued within the last 12 months at the time of application.

Steps to complete the procedure

The entire application is completed online. There is no requirement to attend an Australian embassy or consulate in most cases, though a face-to-face interview may be requested in rare circumstances.

1. Check eligibility — confirm your nationality is on the eligible country list and that you meet the age requirement for your passport country. Do this on the Department of Home Affairs website before anything else.

2. Create an ImmiAccount — go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and register for an ImmiAccount if you do not already have one. This is the only portal through which subclass 462 applications are submitted.

3. Book and complete your medical examination — log in to the HAP (Health Appointment Portal) at health.homeaffairs.gov.au to find a panel physician near you and book your appointment. Complete the examination before or shortly after lodging your visa application. Results are transmitted electronically to the Department.

4. Obtain police clearance certificates — apply for police clearances from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more (cumulative) in the last 10 years. Processing times for police checks vary by country; allow several weeks if needed.

5. Gather and scan all documents — prepare clear, legible scans of your passport, bank statement, police certificates and any other required documents. Arrange translations if needed.

6. Lodge the application in ImmiAccount — start a new application for visa subclass 462, complete all sections of the online form, upload your documents and pay the visa application charge. You will receive an acknowledgement with a Transaction Reference Number (TRN).

7. Monitor your application — log in to ImmiAccount regularly to check for requests for further information (RFIs) from a case officer. Respond to any RFI promptly and within the timeframe given.

8. Receive the visa grant — if approved, your visa details are linked to your passport electronically. There is no physical visa label required. You can verify your visa status using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/check-conditions-online.

Estimated total time from starting your application to receiving a decision: typically 1 to 8 weeks for straightforward applications, though this can vary significantly depending on health examination results, police certificate processing and application volumes.

Fees and timelines

• Visa application charge (VAC): AUD 635 (as of the 2025–26 financial year). Fees are reviewed annually on 1 July; check the Department of Home Affairs website for the current amount before paying.
• Payment method: credit or debit card via ImmiAccount at the time of lodgement. The fee is non-refundable once the application has been lodged, even if it is refused.
• Medical examination fee: varies by panel physician and country; typically AUD 300–500 for a standard examination plus chest X-ray. This is paid directly to the panel physician and is separate from the VAC.
• Police certificate fees: vary by country. For example, a national police check in Australia costs approximately AUD 42 through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC); fees for overseas checks differ.
• Processing time: most straightforward applications are processed within 1 to 8 weeks. Complex cases involving health issues, character concerns or missing documents can take several months.
• Visa validity: the visa is generally granted for 12 months from the date of first entry into Australia, not from the date of grant. You typically have 12 months from the date of grant to make your first entry.
• Second and third visas: if you complete the required days of specified work in a regional area or in an eligible sector during your first or second subclass 462 visa, you may be eligible to apply for a second or third visa, each valid for a further 12 months.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Applying with an expired or soon-to-expire passport. Your passport must be valid for the full period of your intended stay. If your passport expires before your planned departure from Australia, renew it before applying. The visa is linked to the passport number used in the application.
• Submitting bank statements that are too old or unclear. The Department requires recent financial evidence — generally within the last three months. Ensure the statement clearly shows your full name, account number and current balance. A screenshot from a banking app is often not accepted; use an official statement.
• Forgetting to obtain police clearances from all relevant countries. Many applicants overlook countries where they lived for shorter periods. Count cumulative months carefully across the last 10 years. Missing a required police certificate is one of the most common reasons for delays.
• Not arranging a NAATI-accredited translation for non-English documents. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept translations produced by the applicant or by a translator who is not NAATI-accredited (for documents translated in Australia). Using an unaccredited translator will result in the document being rejected.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the subclass 462 if I have already held a subclass 417 Working Holiday visa? Yes. The subclass 462 and subclass 417 are separate visa subclasses. Holding or having previously held a subclass 417 does not prevent you from applying for a subclass 462, provided you meet all the eligibility criteria for the 462 — including holding a passport from an eligible country and meeting the age requirement.

Do I need to be outside Australia when I apply? In most cases, yes — you must be outside Australia when you lodge your subclass 462 application. There are very limited exceptions. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for your specific situation before applying from within Australia.

Can I study on a subclass 462 visa? Yes, but study is limited to a maximum of four months during the visa period. If you want to study for longer, you would need a different visa, such as the Student visa (subclass 500).

What counts as specified work for a second or third subclass 462 visa? Specified work includes work in agriculture, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, construction, and bushfire recovery work in a regional area, as well as work in aged care and some tourism and hospitality roles in specified regional areas. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the current list of eligible work and regional postcodes. You must complete at least 3 months (88 days) of specified work for a second visa, and a further 6 months (179 days) for a third visa.

What happens if my visa application is refused? If your application is refused, you will receive a written decision explaining the reasons. Depending on the grounds for refusal, you may be able to apply for a merits review through the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), or you may be able to lodge a new application if the issue can be corrected. The application fee is not refunded on refusal.

What to do now

The three most important steps to take immediately are: confirm your country is on the eligible country list on the Department of Home Affairs website, book your immigration medical examination through the HAP portal, and begin the process of obtaining police clearance certificates from all relevant countries — as these often take the longest to arrive.

Once those are underway, create your ImmiAccount and begin filling in the online application form so you are ready to lodge as soon as all documents are in hand.

Requirements, fees and processing times for the subclass 462 visa can change. Always verify current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging your application. Do not rely solely on third-party websites or migration agents for the most current information.