The Work and Holiday visa (462) ballot, explained
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If you hold a Chinese, Indian, or Vietnamese passport and want a first Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), you cannot just apply. You must first enter a ballot, be randomly selected, and then apply within a short window. This is the process step by step. For the visa itself, see the subclass 462 page.
Who has to use the ballot
Only first-time 462 applicants from China, India, and Vietnam. Everyone else from an eligible partner country applies directly. Second and third 462 visas are never balloted. The ballot exists because demand from these three countries is far higher than the annual places, so a random draw replaces a first-come rush. It does not change the number of visas granted to each country.
What it costs
AUD 25 to register. It is not refunded if you are not selected, if you withdraw, or if you withdraw by mistake. Being selected does not refund or reduce the AUD 840 visa charge you pay later.
Registering
You register in ImmiAccount, once per program year:
- Create an ImmiAccount and set up multi-factor authentication.
- Select New application, then the Visa pre-application registration dropdown, then Registration - Work and Holiday Visa (462).
- Choose your passport country, complete the form, and pay the AUD 25.
You need a valid passport and a valid national identity card:
- Indian passport holders must use a PAN card, not an Aadhaar card.
- Vietnamese passport holders must use a 12-digit national ID, not an old 9-digit card.
You must be 18 to 30 inclusive on the day you register. Once you submit, you cannot change your passport country, date of birth, or national ID, and you cannot register a second time in the same ballot.
The timeline
For program year 2026 to 2027 the dates were:
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration open | 4 June 2026 |
| Registration closed | 25 June 2026 |
| Selection period | 2 July 2026 to 30 April 2027 |
| First random selection | China and India 10 August 2026, Vietnam 26 August 2026 |
| Further selections | Published on the department's website after each draw |
Registrations that are not selected stay in the pool for later draws in the same year, then expire on 30 April 2027. Each new program year has a fresh registration period and you must register again.
If you are selected
You get a Notification of selection email. From the date of that email you have 28 calendar days to lodge the visa application in ImmiAccount, with the cut-off at midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time on day 28. Because of time zones, day 28 in your country may end earlier, so do not leave it to the last day.
Selection is only permission to apply. You still have to:
- Pay the AUD 840 visa charge
- Meet every 462 requirement: functional English, two years of undergraduate study or higher, evidence of funds, and a government support letter if your country requires one
- Apply from outside Australia
The department will not grant the visa just because you were selected.
If you are not selected
You are not eligible for a first 462 for that program year. You will not be notified, there is no waiting list, and the department will not respond to requests to be selected. Your options are to register again in the next program year, or to look at another visa such as the student visa if study is realistic for you.
Common mistakes
- Registering with an Aadhaar card instead of a PAN card, or an old 9-digit Vietnamese ID.
- Letting the 28-day application window lapse, or reading it against local time instead of AEST.
- Assuming selection means the visa is granted, and not preparing the funds, English, and education evidence in advance.
- Turning 31 before you apply. Your registration expires the day you turn 31.
Does the AUD 25 ballot fee count towards the visa charge?
No. The AUD 25 registration fee and the AUD 840 first Work and Holiday visa charge are separate. You pay the AUD 25 to enter the ballot, and if selected the AUD 840 when you lodge the visa application. Neither is refundable once paid.
Can I improve my chances in the 462 ballot?
No. Selection is fully random and automated, with no criteria and no weighting for age, funds, or when you registered. Registering early does not help, as long as you register before the period closes. Submitting one valid registration is all you can do.
What happens to my ballot registration if I turn 31?
It expires. You must be 18 to 30 inclusive when you register, and if you turn 31 while waiting in the pool your registration is removed and cannot be selected. Plan to enter in a program year where you will still be 30 or under when you would lodge the visa.
Common questions
Does the AUD 25 ballot fee count towards the visa charge?
No. The AUD 25 registration fee and the AUD 840 first Work and Holiday visa charge are separate. You pay the AUD 25 to enter the ballot, and if selected the AUD 840 when you lodge the visa application. Neither is refundable once paid.
Can I improve my chances in the 462 ballot?
No. Selection is fully random and automated, with no criteria and no weighting for age, funds, or when you registered. Registering early does not help, as long as you register before the period closes. Submitting one valid registration is all you can do.
What happens to my ballot registration if I turn 31?
It expires. You must be 18 to 30 inclusive when you register, and if you turn 31 while waiting in the pool your registration is removed and cannot be selected. Plan to enter in a program year where you will still be 30 or under when you would lodge the visa.