- Stay: 12 months, with the option of a second and third year
- Age: 18 to 30 when you apply
- Cost: AUD 840 for a first visa
- Extra rules: education and English requirements, and some countries need a government letter of support
- Ballot: China, India and Vietnam passport holders must be selected in a ballot first
Last checked: 25 October 2026
Eligible countries
Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Uruguay, United States of America and Vietnam.
Requirements
- Be 18 to 30 years old when you apply (lodge before your 31st birthday in Australian Eastern time).
- Meet the education requirement for your country. Home Affairs lists these in a table on its website, and most countries need some tertiary study.
- Have functional English, unless your passport country is exempt.
- For some countries, get a letter of support from your government.
- Have enough money, which is usually about AUD 5,000 plus your flight out.
- Apply from outside Australia, with no dependent children.
The 462 ballot
If you hold a passport from China, India or Vietnam, you must enter the visa pre-application process (ballot) and be randomly selected before you can apply for a first Work and Holiday visa.
Second and third year on a 462
Specified work for a 462 is narrower than for a 417. It covers:
- plant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified regional areas
- fishing and pearling, and tree farming and felling, in northern Australia only
- construction in northern Australia and other specified regional areas
- tourism and hospitality in northern or remote and very remote Australia
- bushfire, flood, cyclone and other disaster recovery work in declared areas
See second and third year requirements for how to count your days.
Find specified work
Search farm and regional jobs that may count towards your next visa.
Frequently asked questions
Can Americans get a working holiday visa in Australia?
Yes. US passport holders can apply for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) if they are 18 to 30 and meet the education and English requirements.
Is there a ballot for the 462 visa?
Yes, for China, India and Vietnam passport holders. They must be randomly selected in the pre-application ballot before they can apply.
Does hospitality work count for a 462 second year?
Only tourism and hospitality work in northern Australia or remote and very remote Australia counts, plus a few listed postcodes.
Official sources: Home Affairs: Work and Holiday visa (462) · Home Affairs: 462 specified work. Rules change, so always check the official source before you apply or sign anything.