462 First Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	First Work and Holiday (subclass 462)
Purpose	Holiday with short-term work
Stay	Up to 12 months
Visa cost	AUD840.00, unless exempt
Age	18–30 inclusive at application
Apply from	Outside Australia
Decision location	Outside Australia
Eligible passports	30 participating countries
Work rights	Any work; six-month employer limit
Study	Up to four months
Travel facility	Multiple entries during visa
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health insurance	Strongly recommended
Family sponsorship	Cannot include family members
Dependent children	Cannot accompany visa holder
Second visa pathway	Three months specified work
Visa extension	Cannot extend this visa
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Citizenship	Not stated in the source

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Purpose

The First Work and Holiday visa lets eligible young people take an extended holiday in Australia and undertake short-term work to help fund their trip.

You may:

• Have a holiday in Australia.
• Do any kind of work.
• Study for up to 4 months (17 weeks).
• Travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid.
• Complete 3 months of specified subclass 462 work to become eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa.

Stay and Travel

This is a temporary visa.

• Enter Australia within 12 months of visa grant.
• The 12-month stay starts on your first entry.
• You may leave and return as often as you wish during that period.
• Time outside Australia does not extend the 12-month stay.
• This visa cannot be extended.

If you want to stay longer, apply for another visa. You may be eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa after completing specified work.

Important travel rules

• Enter Australia using the passport linked to your visa grant.
• If you receive another visa after grant, such as an eVisitor or Transit visa, your Work and Holiday visa and work rights may cease.
• An ETA grant does not cease the Work and Holiday visa, but entering Australia starts the 12-month visa period.
• Update the Department if you receive a new passport. Failure to do so may delay boarding or prevent travel.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be aged 18 to 30 inclusive when applying.
• Lodge before midnight AEST/AEDST on the day before your 31st birthday.
• Hold a valid passport from an eligible country.
• Apply and be outside Australia when the decision is made.
• Apply on your own.
• Not be accompanied by dependent children.
• Not have previously entered Australia on a subclass 462 or subclass 417 visa.
• Meet education, English, health and character requirements.
• Have enough funds for your stay and departure.
• Pay, or arrange to pay, Australian Government debts.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement.
• Meet immigration-history requirements.

You may still be granted the visa if you applied aged 30 but turn 31 before the decision.

Eligible passport 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.

Ballot requirement

If you hold a passport from China, India or Vietnam, you must participate in the pre-application ballot and be randomly selected before applying.

Annual country caps

First Work and Holiday visas are capped each program year for each eligible country, except the United States of America.

The program year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Once a country cap is reached, no further visas are granted until the next program year.

Check the status of country caps before applying.

Education Requirements

Education requirements depend on your passport country.

Passport country	Required education
Argentina, Austria, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Mongolia, PNG, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, Uruguay, Vietnam	Tertiary qualification or two undergraduate years
Brazil, India	Two years post-secondary study
Chile	Tertiary qualification or approved third undergraduate year
Israel	Secondary certificate and military service/exemption
Malaysia	Tertiary qualification or two undergraduate years
Thailand	Tertiary qualification
Switzerland	Two years after compulsory schooling
United States	Secondary certificate or equivalent

For most listed countries, acceptable tertiary qualifications include degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas. Certificates I–IV and senior secondary certificates are generally not accepted as tertiary qualifications.

English Requirement

You must have at least functional English.

You may meet this requirement through:

• An eligible passport from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand or Republic of Ireland.
• An Israeli passport and English Bagrut examination at three study units.
• Specified education completed entirely in English.
• Assessment by an Australian Adult Migrant English Program provider.
• An approved English test taken within 12 months before application.

Accepted test results include:

Test	Minimum result
IELTS	Average band score 4.5
PTE Academic	Overall score 30
Cambridge C1 Advanced	Overall score 147
TOEFL iBT	Total score 32

TOEFL iBT is accepted only if taken on or before 25 July 2023.

Government Support Letter

You must provide a government support letter, or specified alternative, if you hold a passport from:

• Ecuador
• Greece
• Indonesia
• Malaysia — Good Conduct Certificate
• Mongolia
• Peru
• Poland
• San Marino
• Slovenia
• Thailand
• Türkiye

Applicants from the other participating countries do not need a government support letter.

Funds, Health and Character

Financial capacity

You must show you have enough money to support yourself and leave Australia.

This is usually:

• About AUD5,000 for initial stay; and
• Enough money for an onward ticket, or evidence you already hold one.

Health and character

You must meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

You may be asked for:

• Health examinations.
• Biometrics.
• Australian police certificate, where required.
• Overseas police certificates.
• Military service or discharge records.

You may not be eligible if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused.

Cost

The visa application charge is AUD840.00, unless exempt.

You may also need to pay for:

• Health examinations.
• Police certificates.
• Biometrics.

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. The source specifically identifies eligible applicants holding a valid Papua New Guinea passport.

Work Rights and Conditions

You can do any kind of work.

Usually, you can work for the same employer for no more than 6 months. Check your individual conditions in your visa grant letter or through VEVO.

You must:

• Comply with all visa conditions.
• Obey Australian laws.
• Pay Australian tax when working.

Australian workplace laws protect migrant workers. If you earn over the relevant amount, your employer must pay superannuation into your superannuation fund. You may be able to access your superannuation after leaving Australia.

Study

You may study for up to 4 months, or 17 weeks.

If study is your main reason for coming to Australia, consider a Student visa.

Family Provisions

You cannot include family members in your application.

Dependent children cannot accompany you at any time while you hold this visa, including for a short visit.

The source states that applicants who are parents of a child under 18 cannot apply online. As applicants must apply online, this is an important restriction.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is strongly recommended.

You are personally liable for healthcare costs in Australia. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare arrangements with Australia.

Documents

Prepare clear colour scans of documents. Attach each document only once.

You will generally need:

• Current passport identity pages.
• Birth certificate showing both parents’ names.
• Alternative identity evidence, if no birth certificate is available.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Education qualification evidence.
• English-language evidence.
• Government support letter, if required.
• Evidence of funds and onward travel.
• Character documents, if requested.
• Health examination or biometrics evidence, if requested.

Translation requirements

All non-English documents must be translated into English.

Provide both original documents and translations.

Translators outside Australia must include their:

• Full name.
• Address and telephone number.
• Qualifications and experience.

You do not need to certify documents for an online application.

How to Apply

1. Check whether your country cap is open.
2. If required, participate in and be selected through the ballot.
3. Gather supporting documents.
4. Create or log in to an ImmiAccount.
5. Complete the online application.
6. Attach documents.
7. Pay the application charge.
8. Record the transaction reference number.
9. Provide further documents, biometrics or health examinations if requested.
10. Wait for the written decision.

The Department will not process the application until the fee is paid.

After Applying

• Do not arrange travel until the visa is granted in writing.
• Attach missing documents through ImmiAccount as soon as possible.
• Tell the Department about mistakes using Form 1023.
• Notify the Department of changes to your passport, relationship status, or the birth of a child.
• Keep the visa decision notification if the visa is granted.

Processing times are only a guide. Applications may take longer if information is incomplete, documents are missing, or information needs verification.

Visa Record

Your visa is digitally linked to your passport. You will not receive a visa label.

Use VEVO to check your visa details and conditions.