The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is Australia's second working holiday visa subclass, covering nationalities not eligible for the subclass 417. It operates on a similar basis to the 417 — allowing eligible young people to holiday in Australia and supplement their trip with short-term work — but differs in the countries covered, the government endorsement requirement that applies to some nationalities, and the annual place caps that apply under some bilateral arrangements.

Like the 417, the 462 is a temporary 12-month visa with second and third visa options for applicants who complete specified regional work. For current eligible passport countries, annual caps, and endorsement requirements by country, refer to the DHA subclass 462 page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) — the visa criteria
• DHA: Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/work-holiday-462
• DHA: First Work and Holiday visa (462) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/work-holiday-462/first
• DHA: Specified work for WHM 462 — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/work-holiday-462/specified-work

Eligible countries

The subclass 462 covers a different set of countries from the subclass 417, under separate bilateral working holiday arrangements. Countries covered by the 462 include (but are not limited to): the United States, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Portugal. The full current list of eligible nationalities is on the DHA subclass 462 page — the list changes as new bilateral arrangements are entered into.

Age requirement — 18 to 30 (no extended age to 35)

The age limit for the subclass 462 is 18 to 30 years old at the time of application — there is no extended age limit to 35 for any nationality under the 462 (unlike the 417, where Canadian, French, and Irish citizens can apply up to age 35). The applicant must be under 31 years old on the day they submit the application.

Government endorsement or letter of support

A distinguishing feature of the 462 for some nationalities is the requirement to obtain a letter of support or endorsement from the applicant's home government before lodging the visa application with DHA. The requirement varies by country:

• Some countries require the applicant to apply to their home country's government for an endorsement, which is then submitted with the DHA visa application
• Some countries have a quota system — the home government manages the endorsement process, and only a limited number of endorsements are available each year
• Other countries do not require government endorsement — the applicant can apply directly to DHA

Applicants should check the specific endorsement requirements for their nationality on the DHA subclass 462 page before beginning the application process, as the home country process can take additional time.

Annual place caps

Some bilateral arrangements under the 462 include annual place caps — a maximum number of 462 visas that can be granted to nationals of a particular country in a given year. Caps vary significantly by country. Once a cap is reached for a particular nationality in a given year, no further 462 visas can be granted to that nationality until the next year. For current place caps by country, refer to the DHA subclass 462 page.

Visa duration, work rights, and study

Like the 417, the first subclass 462 is granted for 12 months from the date of grant and allows the holder to:

• Work for any employer in Australia
• Study for up to 4 months (aggregate)
• Travel to and from Australia multiple times

The same 6-month employer limit (condition 8547) applies — the holder cannot work for the same employer for more than 6 months without DHA permission. An applicant can be granted the first subclass 462 once only.

Second and third Work and Holiday visa — specified work

Like the 417, the 462 offers a pathway to a second and third visa through completion of specified regional work:

• Second visa: Requires completion of 3 months (88 days) of specified work in a designated regional area while holding the first 462
• Third visa: Requires completion of a further 6 months of specified work in a regional area while holding the second 462

The specified work categories for the 462 are the same as for the 417 (agricultural, mining, construction, and other regional industries). For current specified work types eligible for the 462 second/third visa, refer to the DHA specified work for 462 page. Also see the WHM specified work page.

462 vs. 417 — choosing the right visa

The main practical difference between the 462 and 417 is determined by nationality — most eligible applicants do not have a choice between the two:

• Nationals of 417-eligible countries (UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, etc.) apply under the 417
• Nationals of 462-eligible countries (USA, China, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.) apply under the 462
• Some nationals may be eligible under both — the application requirements (particularly the government endorsement requirement for the 462) may influence which pathway they choose

The 417 has no annual caps and no government endorsement requirement — it is simpler administratively for most applicants. The 462 adds the government endorsement layer and may have caps, depending on the country.

The subclass 462 program has grown significantly with the addition of new bilateral arrangements, particularly the 2023–2024 expansion to include India and additional countries. The government endorsement requirement for some nationalities (particularly the USA requirement for applicants to obtain a home government letter) adds an administrative step that can cause delays. For the most current list of 462-eligible countries, annual caps, government endorsement requirements, and processing times, refer to the DHA subclass 462 page.