The 2026-27 Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for China, India, and Vietnam passport holders selection process is underway, with random draws occurring from 2 July 2026 to 30 April 2027. If you registered, you remain in the pool for the entire program year. Being unsuccessful in an early round does not exclude you from future ones.

About the Visa Ballot Draw

Each draw is random and automated. The Department of Home Affairs does not publish registration numbers or draw schedules in advance, and there is no way to check where you stand in the queue or improve your odds once you are registered.

Annual caps for first-time Subclass 462 grants in 2026-27 remain:

• China: 5,000 places
• India: 1,000 places
• Vietnam: 1,500 places

Demand has historically exceeded these caps by a wide margin, so being patient through several draw rounds is normal and doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong with your registration.

Selection Notification

If your registration is drawn, you will receive a Notification of Selection email. This is an invitation to apply, not a visa grant. From the date of that email, you have 28 calendar days to lodge a full Subclass 462 visa application. If you miss that window, the invitation lapses and you will not get it back for this program year.

Prepare While You Wait

Budget for the visa application charge, which increased on 1 July 2026 to $840 for a first Subclass 462 application ($1,000 for second and third-year applications). You can view all visa fees on our Visa Application Charges page.

A valid passport with plenty of time left before it expires.

The visa requires proof that you can support yourself in the early stages of your trip.

Prepare your English proficiency test results (e.g., IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, or Cambridge English) if you are not eligible for an exemption.

Some applicants need a health examination, so it is worth checking in advance whether you will need one.

Confirmation that you will be outside Australia at the time you lodge. First Subclass 462 applications must be made from offshore.

Applicants must also be under 31 at the time of both selection and application.

If you are not Selected

If you’re not selected this year, you’ll need to wait for the next ballot.

Registration for 2027-28 is expected around mid-2027. While you wait, keep your documents ready and check your email regularly.

Contact This is Australia on +61 (0)7 5592 0755 or contact our team to discuss your next steps.