Home Affairs halts first-time Work and Holiday subclass 462 filings for 24 nations
| Argentina | 3,400 |
|---|---|
| Chile | 3,400 |
| Spain | 3,400 |
| Singapore | 2,500 |
| Israel | 2,500 |
| Thailand | 2,000 |
| Peru | 1,500 |
| Uruguay | 1,500 |
| Poland | 1,500 |
| Malaysia | 1,100 |
Australia freezes first-time subclass 462 intake across 24 countries
Australia paused new first-time applications for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa across 24 capped partner countries in August, shifting away from the open intake that began July 1.
Paused caps and slower visa processing
The Department of Home Affairs listed 24 capped partner countries as paused for first-time subclass 462 filings, halting new lodgments for the 2026-2027 program year. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that working holiday applications are moving forward more slowly than before, framing the slowdown as part of broader cuts to net overseas migration.
The freeze targets the first-time subclass 462 stream rather than the uncapped Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa. Applicants from uncapped 417 nations face slower processing queues, but their stream remains open to new filings.
Subclass 462 partner countries currently paused include:
Argentina, Chile and Spain (3,400 places each)
Israel and Singapore (2,500 places each)
Thailand (2,000 places)
Peru, Poland and Uruguay (1,500 places each)
Malaysia (1,100 places) and Slovak Republic (1,000 places)
Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Slovenia and Switzerland
Among capped partners, only San Marino and Türkiye retain open status with 100 places each. Applicants from China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia must register through a separate pre-application ballot system.
Action steps for remote workers and travelers
Remote workers, au pairs and backpackers from the 24 paused nations can't lodge a first subclass 462 visa until Home Affairs reopens cap allocations later in the program year. Because the country doesn't offer a standalone remote-work visa, nomads who intended to use this stream must either postpone departure or secure alternative, higher-cost visas with stricter work restrictions.
Applicants researching long-term stays in Australia should monitor the official country caps portal before booking travel. Existing visa holders and those lodging second- or third-year applications can still file, but they must factor in longer processing queues before their current permissions expire.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australia visa stream is paused for first-time applicants?
Can first-time subclass 462 applicants from the paused countries still lodge a visa application?
Which countries are still open for subclass 462 applications?
Do China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia apply for subclass 462 the same way as other countries?
Can second- or third-year subclass 462 applications still be filed?
Does Australia have a standalone remote-work visa?
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