Which countries can get an Australian working holiday visa? Ages and rules

The short answer

Passport holders from 19 countries and regions can apply for the Working Holiday (417) visa, and passport holders from about 30 other countries can apply for the Work and Holiday (462). The age limit is 18 to 30, or up to 35 for some 417 countries. You must apply before your 31st (or 36th) birthday.

This list was checked on the Home Affairs website on 16 October 2026. Lists and rules change, so confirm yours before you plan.

Working Holiday (417) countries

Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea moved to an age limit of 35 from 1 July 2026. Applications must be lodged by 11:59 pm AEST on the day before you turn 36 (or 31).

There is no annual cap on the 417.

Work and Holiday (462) countries

The 462 age limit is 18 to 30 for everyone.

• 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, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam.

Extra rules for 462 passports

• Education: most countries need a tertiary qualification or two years of university study. Some differ, for example Israel, Switzerland and the USA. See the table for your passport.
• English: you need at least functional English. Passports from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland qualify automatically; everyone else uses a test or other evidence.
• Letter of support: needed from some governments: Ecuador, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia (Good Conduct Certificate), Mongolia, Peru, Poland, San Marino, Slovenia, Thailand and Türkiye.
• Annual caps: every 462 country except the USA has a limit on first visas each program year (1 July to 30 June). Check whether your country is open, paused or closed.

Ballots: China, India and Vietnam

First-time 462 applicants from China, India and Vietnam must register in a ballot, pay an AUD 25 fee and be randomly selected before they can apply. You must be 18 to 30 to register, and a selected registrant has 28 days to apply. Being selected doesn’t guarantee a visa.

For 2026–27 the registration period has closed, and selections run until 30 April 2027. Indonesia is due to move to a ballot too, with registrations expected to open later in 2026. Watch the Home Affairs latest-news page.

If your country isn’t listed

Then you can’t apply for either visa. Other visas exist, but they have different rules and we don’t give migration advice. Home Affairs has a visa finder.

Always check Home Affairs

Always check the Department of Home Affairs for the latest rules before you apply. Visa settings, fees and country lists change, and this guide is general information, not migration advice.