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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed during a press conference on 16 August that processing of Work and Holiday Maker visas has slowed.
But updates to the Department of Home Affairs website suggest the impact may be more significant, with Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Maker visa applications being temporarily paused for passport holders from 24 countries.
The Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa allows eligible young people from participating countries to holiday in Australia while undertaking short-term work and/or study.
The pause does not impact applicants for Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visas who hold passports from a different set of eligible countries, such as the UK.
For many industries, including agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and regional businesses, Work and Holiday Makers play a critical role in meeting seasonal and short-term labour needs.
Interstaff explores what the pauses mean for businesses and visa applicants.
Countries paused
The Department’s website states: There has been strong demand for the Work and Holiday program and applications for some countries may exceed the number of places available. When this occurs, applications have to be temporarily paused.
Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa applications by passport holders of the below countries are subject to annual grant caps and are being paused.
| Country | Status | Annual grant cap |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Paused | 3,400 |
| Austria | Paused | 500 |
| Brazil | Paused | 500 |
| Chile | Paused | 3,400 |
| Czech Republic | Paused | 500 |
| Ecuador | Paused | 100 |
| Greece | Paused | 500 |
| Hungary | Paused | 500 |
| Indonesia | Paused | 5,000 |
| Israel | Paused | 2,500 |
| Luxembourg | Paused | 100 |
| Malaysia | Paused | 1,100 |
| Mongolia | Paused | 100 |
| Papua New Guinea | Paused | 100 |
| Peru | Paused | 1,500 |
| Poland | Paused | 1,500 |
| Portugal | Paused | 500 |
| Singapore | Paused | 2,500 |
| Slovak Republic | Paused | 1,000 |
| Slovenia | Paused | 200 |
| Spain | Paused | 3,400 |
| Switzerland | Paused | 200 |
| Thailand | Paused | 2,000 |
| Uruguay | Paused | 1,500 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, 19 August 2026. Status may change.
Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa applications by passport holders from China, India, and Vietnam are also subject to annual grant caps, but demand is limited by a pre-visa application ballot process in which applicants are randomly selected.
What this means for businesses and visa applicants
The pause means that new Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa applications are temporarily unavailable to passport holders from the countries listed above. Affected applicants will receive an error message advising of the pause if they attempt to lodge an application.
The Department may change a country’s status from ‘Paused’ to ‘Open’ or ‘Closed’ during the current program year, which runs until the end of June 2027.
Businesses and prospective visa applicants should monitor these status updates closely.
At this stage, only Indonesia and Mongolia are explicitly marked on the Department’s website as countries that may reopen later in the program year.
No countries are currently marked as ‘Closed,’ a status that indicates applications will not reopen until the next program year begins.
Does the pause impact second or third applications for Work and Holiday Visas?
It may be possible to apply for a second or third Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa if eligible. Annual caps only apply to the number of grants for first 462 Work and Holiday Visas.
The Work and Holiday Maker visa program has attracted increased scrutiny over the past year due to strong demand and its contribution to Net Overseas Migration (NOM), which refers to the difference between the number of international arrivals and departures over a 12-month period. Read more.
Sustainable people strategy: Global talent
The pause does not impact Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa holders holding passports from a different set of eligible countries to the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa. Unaffected applicants include passport holders from the UK.
The Department’s website states that processing times for Subclass 417 and 462 Visa applications are taking longer than usual due to a high volume of applications.
Businesses and visa applicants should plan for these delays.
Industry Impact
Pausing Work and Holiday Visa applications could exacerbate labour shortages for businesses that rely on seasonal and temporary workers, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and regional industries.
The pause may make it more difficult for employers to fill lower-skilled or short-term roles that are often less attractive to the domestic workforce.
The Home Affairs Minister has identified the PALM visa scheme as an alternative visa option for the agriculture industry. However, the PALM scheme is unlikely to replace the flexibility and broad industry coverage provided by the Work and Holiday visa program.
Getting advice
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents support employers and their workforce with end-to-end migration strategy, including skilled and semi-skilled visa options that support long-term settlement outcomes.
Access our immigration insights to explore:
- Migrant workforce and labour market updates
- Work rights and visa conditions
- Temporary and permanent visa pathways
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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