462 Visa Ballot Australia: What Applicants from China, India & Vietnam Need to Know

Migratio Editorial · Last updated 12 October 2026

TL;DR: Applicants from China, India, and Vietnam cannot apply directly for the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. They must first enter a random ballot during a short annual registration window (three weeks, usually in June). A AUD 25 registration fee applies. Caps are set per country — 5,000 for China, 1,000 for India, 1,500 for Vietnam. Being drawn in the ballot gives you 28 days to lodge a full visa application; it does not guarantee a visa grant. If not selected, you can try again in the next program year.

Not to be confused with the ballot announced on 17 September 2026. That announcement concerns second and third working holiday visas (capped at 45,000 and 5,000 places), is not yet law as at 12 October 2026, and has no instrument or start date; the ballot described on this page is a separate measure for registering before a first 462 application. See Working Holiday Visa Ballot for Second and Third Years: What Has Been Announced. The Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa lets eligible young people from around 30 countries live, travel, and work in Australia for up to 12 months. For most of those countries, the process is straightforward: meet the eligibility criteria, lodge an application, and wait for a decision.

For applicants from mainland China, India, and Vietnam, there is an extra step. Because demand from those three countries far exceeds the available visa places, the Department of Home Affairs uses a ballot — a random draw — to decide who is even permitted to submit a formal visa application. The ballot is not a visa application. It is a registration of interest that, if successful, opens a narrow window to apply.

This article explains how the ballot works, what the relevant caps and deadlines look like for the 2026–27 program year, and what you need to have ready if you are selected.

Why a ballot exists for these three countries

Country caps for 2026–27

The 2026–27 registration window

What happens if you are selected

What happens if you are not selected

How the ballot differs from the visa application

Practical steps for ballot registration

The 462 ballot in context: what it does not determine

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to enter the ballot every year?

Yes, if you are from China, India, or Vietnam and have not yet held a Subclass 462 visa, you must enter the ballot for the relevant program year. There is no carryover from one year to the next — registrations that are not selected expire at 30 April of the relevant year. You can re-register in a future program year as long as you still meet the age requirement (18 to 30 at the time of registration for these three countries).

Is the AUD 25 ballot fee refunded if I am not selected or if I choose not to apply after selection?

No. The ballot registration fee is non-refundable in all circumstances — whether you are not selected, you are selected but choose not to lodge an application, or your visa application is subsequently refused. The AUD 25 covers the cost of processing your registration, not the visa itself.

Can I improve my chances in the ballot by doing anything specific during registration?

No. The selection process is random and automated. The Department of Home Affairs does not consider any factors such as the completeness of your registration, your qualifications, your English proficiency, or the date you registered within the window. Registering on the first day and registering on the last day carry identical odds. The only way to increase your chances across time is to register in each eligible program year.

If I am selected in the ballot, am I guaranteed a visa?

No. Selection in the ballot is an invitation to apply — it means you are permitted to lodge a formal visa application. You still need to meet all substantive requirements including age, English language, education, health, character, and financial requirements. The Department assesses your application in the normal way. If it does not meet the criteria, it can be refused even after you were selected in the ballot.

Does the ballot apply to second Work and Holiday (462) applications?

The ballot applies to first Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa applications from China, India, and Vietnam. If you have already held a first 462 visa and are applying for a second one — having completed the required 88 days of specified regional work — the second application follows a different process. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current requirements on second 462 visas, as conditions can change.

What if the annual cap for my country is filled before my registration is drawn?

Once all visa places for a country are allocated, no further invitations are issued from that country's registration pool for that program year, even if your registration has not expired. Registrations that are not drawn before places are filled (or before 30 April) simply expire. You would need to register again in the following program year.

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