Subclass 462 Country Caps 2026 – Applications Open on 2 July

Subclass 462 country caps 2026 have officially been announced by the Australian Government, with applications for the First Work and Holiday Visa opening on 2 July 2026 (AEST).

If you’re planning to travel, work, and explore Australia under the Work and Holiday Maker (WHM) program, it’s essential to check your country’s Subclass 462 application cap indicator and current application status before lodging your visa application.

Understanding the 462 Application Cap Indicators

For the First Work and Holiday visa applications, individual partner countries are managed under an annual grant cap.

Note: these restrictions apply only to first-time applicants; there are no caps for second or third Work and Holiday visas.

During the program year, your country’s status will fluctuate between three states:

• Open: Applications are being accepted normally.
• Paused: Applications are temporarily on hold. This is heavily used by the Department to spread out visa processing timelines or to carefully audit numbers when a country is nearing its limit. Paused caps will reopen later in the year.
• Closed: The annual allocation has been entirely filled. Closed caps will not reopen until the next program year cycle begins.

Important System Note: If a cap is temporarily paused or definitively closed, the ImmiAccount system will trigger an error message if you attempt to submit an application.

First Work and Holiday Visa Country Caps & Status

Below is the official and updated breakdown of the annual grant allocations for the Subclass 462 country caps 2026, including the current application status for each eligible partner country.

The Working Holiday Pre-Application Process (Ballot)

For select partner nations, the standard application caps are entirely replaced by a randomized lottery system. Passport holders from these specific countries cannot apply directly on 2 July; instead, they must register for the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa ballot process to be randomly selected for an invitation to apply.

The country caps for the ballot system remain unchanged but are managed through this separate pool:

• China: 5,000 places (Check ballot registration status)
• India: 1,000 places (Check ballot registration status)
• Vietnam: 1,500 places (Check ballot registration status)

Secure Your Australian Journey

Don’t risk missing out on your country’s allocation. Book an appointment with our registered migration team today. We will guide you through the application window, ensure your documents meet rigorous structural compliance checks, and help you lock in your future Australian adventure smoothly.

Related Articles